Overcoming anxiety is a challenge for many people. Just this week, I heard a guest on a radio show describe how he had repeatedly checked that his phone was turned off on the way to the studio because of his anxiety that it might ring while he was on air.
Whether it’s at home, work or in social situations, most people experience similar anxieties. Did we plug out the hair straighteners? Lock the front door? Will we know what to say if we’re asked a question in an interview? Will we forget our lines on stage? Will our knees knock when we make that speech? Whatever the situation, we generally survive the moment and forget it once the stressful moment has passed.
But for some people, at least some of the time, anxiety can be overwhelming. They become paralysed by worry and their fear manifests in unpleasant physical symptoms and can even change their behaviour. Their anxiety may adversely affect family or work relationships or prevent them from engaging in social activities. It can even make some people avoid situations entirely out of fear that they will not be able to manage.
Personal development author Gill Hasson’s latest book, Overcoming Anxiety : Reassuring ways to break free from stress and worry and lead a calmer life, aims to help readers understand why they get anxious and learn techniques to better manage their thoughts and behaviours.
Hasson encourages her readers to focus on what they can change, rather than what is outside of their control. She shows how to reframe negative thoughts and move forward in a more positive way. She also discusses the importance of reaching out for support and connecting with others.
At just under 200 words, Overcoming Anxiety is fast read with practical tips, techniques and examples that are easy to relate to. Worth a look if you’re anxious or a worrier. If nothing else it may reassure you that you’re fears are normal!
Overcoming Anxiety by Gill Hasson is published by Capstone. [Disclosure: An ARC was provided by the publisher].