New books about anxiety

Here are two recent books that take different approaches towards dealing with anxiety. One, by a psychologist, encourages readers to frame the situation differently and to regard anxiety as a useful emotion. The other, by a medical doctor, is much more specific about steps which can be taken to combat and lessen anxiety.

In FUTURE TENSE Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Hunter College (the City University of New York), describes “Why Anxiety Is Good for You (Even Though It Feels Bad).”  She argues for “three fundamental principles:” listen to and be curious about anxiety since it provides information about the future; let it go if it is not useful; and, if it is, then act upon it. That sounds very basic, but Dennis-Tiwary is encouraging her readers to view anxiety in a new light, less as a danger and more as an embodiment of hope. She stresses that anxiety – like all emotions – “will inevitably pass.” In the meantime, she refers to research about “the best ways of letting go: cultivate experiences that slow you down and immerse you in the present” with examples like taking a walk or reaching out to a friend. Dennis-Tiwary writes in a thoughtful, compassionate manner, sharing both her own personal experiences and scientific research; notes comprise about ten percent of this useful text.

THE SELF-HEALING MIND by Gregory Scott Brown Provides “An Essential Five-Step Practice for Overcoming Anxiety and Depression, and Revitalizing Your Life.” Brown, a board-certified psychiatrist and mental health writer, also acknowledges the benefits of changing perspective and redefining mental health, but he stresses “the five pillars of self-care.” These are: bringing attention to breath, sleep, spirituality, nutrition, and exercise. Brown offers examples and brief explanations for each of these (e.g., commenting on differences between REM and NREM sleep in an easy to understand manner). He shares statistics (we take an average of twenty thousand breaths a day), results from scientific studies, and personal incidents (like the Yoga Nidra class he tried) – all of which add interest. The text covers a range of important points with about ten percent devoted to notes in support of any follow-up research.  In terms of aiding our students, we have several other titles in the collection which look specifically at mindfulness, sleep, or nutrition and which are likely to provide even more immediate suggestions for action.  THE SELF-HEALING MIND may be of more interest to parents as a summary that reinforces other findings.