9 Books To Read If You Struggle With Anxiety

Lindsay Mack 2 weeks ago

 

 Managing anxiety can be a giant pain in the *ss. If you have social anxiety, for instance, then it can take a tremendous amount of effort to calm yourself enough to engage in social situations (such as a networking event). And when you actually get there and do your very best to be normal and engaging, you will probably worry about appearing “uptight” or being “unable to relax.” Sometimes it just feels like you can’t win. But if you check out these books to read if you struggle with anxiety, chances are you’ll feel far less alone. 

 

 While other people may be less than empathetic (especially those who discount anxiety as something that’s just “all in your head”), books are endlessly patient. Some of these reads are first hand accounts of others who have coped with anxiety, whereas others are designed to help you find ways to manage your condition. Still others are just books aimed at pure relaxation, so you can focus on something soothing if your anxiety starts getting out of hand. Overall, these reads are great companions for any anxiety sufferer, whether you’re looking for ways to lessen your anxiety, or you simply want to hear the stories of others who have also coped with this condition. 

 

1. 'Hardcore Self Help: F**k Anxiety' by Robert Duff, Ph.D.

 

If traditional self-help books feel too soft for your tastes, then Hardcore Self Help: F**k Anxiety may be more to your liking. Written in a conversational tone (with enough swearing to make a sailor blush), this book offers information and advice about anxiety in a humorous, entertaining way.

2. 'The Mindfulness And Acceptance Workbook For Anxiety' by John P. Forsyth and Georg H. Eifert, Ph.Ds 

 

To actively work on getting your anxiety under control, The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Anxiety may be an excellent choice. By learning to accept your anxious responses instead of just struggling to push past them, this book may help you reclaim your life from anxiety.

3. 'Anxious In Love' by Carolyn Daitch Ph.D. and Lissah Lorberbaum MA 

 

Anxiety may complicate your relationships, but you and your partner can find ways to work through it. As demonstrated in the book Anxious in Love, there are easy techniques you can use to soothe your anxiety and maintain great communication with your SO.

4. 'The Grace Of Crows' by Tracy Shawn

 

In Tracy Shawn's novel The Grace of Crows, the protagonist suffers from a devastating anxiety disorder. But as she addresses her family's many problems, as well as the needs of a long-lost friend, she begins to find ways of overcoming her fears.

5. 'On the Outside Looking In' by Daniela Grazia 

 

Daniela Grazia's On the Outside Looking In is a powerful memoir of the author's struggle with her anxiety. She gets very specific with the details of her disorder (such as the intense struggle to make small talk with coworkers) in ways that might hit home.

6. 'Monkey Mind: A Memoir Of Anxiety' by Daniel Smith

 

Not all books about anxiety are full of doom and gloom. In fact, Monkey Mind: A Memoir of Anxiety is pretty hilarious. He analyzes — and makes fun of — the disorder in an uplifting way.

7. 'Walking on Custard & the Meaning of Life' by Neil Hughes

 

Another humorous take on anxiety, Neil Hughes' Walking on Custard & the Meaning of Life is a (sort of) self help book. His comedic take on managing anxiety, told with a variety of fictitious stories and graphs, helps take some of the sting out of the disorder.

8. 'I Don't Want To Be Crazy' by Samantha Schutz

 

Is there poetry in disorder? Samantha Schutz's I Don't Want To Be Crazy is a poetic memoir of the author's struggle with an anxiety disorder as a young adult. Chances are, you will recognize yourself among her lines.

9. 'Meditation and Mindfulness for Beginners' by Chris Douglas

 

Could meditation help calm your mind? It may be worth a shot. Chris Douglas' Meditation and Mindfulness For Beginners provides easy-to-follow instructions on how to meditate. You can start practicing in no time.