Download The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Anxiety A Guide to Breaking Free from Anxiety Phobias and Worry Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy A New Harbinger SelfHelp Workbook John P Forsyth PhD Georg H Eifert PhD 9781626253346 Books

Product details Series A New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook Paperback 368 pages Publisher New Harbinger Publications; Second Edition, Revised edition (April 1, 2016) Language English ISBN-10 162625334X

The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Anxiety A Guide to Breaking Free from Anxiety Phobias and Worry Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy A New Harbinger SelfHelp Workbook John P Forsyth PhD Georg H Eifert PhD 9781626253346 Books Reviews

• Anxiety has been a lifetime affliction for me. I've read many books on anxiety management, many within the cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) framework. I have felt like I understood how to apply CBT, and it has given some relief to my anxiety. But I have found that anxiety never completely goes away (for me, at least). That's where this book enters. As I began to read the book I came across the proposition that anxiety may very well always be there for me, and that at some point the very fight with anxiety (or the efforts to manage it) is the real problem. This was scary and comforting all at the same time. It was scary since I initially hoped that the book would help me deliver a death-blow to my anxiety; it was comforting in that letting go of the fight seemed like a completely novel and fascinating idea for me. Even though I had never thought of letting go of anxiety management, something about the idea agreed with my intuition. I was excited to read on, and I found the writing to be crisp, gentle and reassuring. I enjoyed reading it. But despite the authors' warnings about using the "techniques" and exercises of the book as a way to directly stop anxious thoughts, I found that very hard to do. As I would try to just observe and note my thinking, the desire and hope that this very act would quell my anxiety continued to have a subtle presence. In this sense, I was not really being very "mindful," even though I thought I was. But the desire to stop anxious thoughts is a thought just like any other to step back from and simply notice. The authors' make this completely clear, so no fault there. I'm not sure why this was so hard for me to do, and I became constantly frustrated that my anxious thoughts were not going away. I write this just to warn everyone not to make the same mistake I did. Read the book, and when in doubt just follow the instructions. Eventually, I found the book did help me a lot, but it is definitely an ongoing practice. Be patient and kind with yourself, and remember that your anxious thoughts AND your desire to get rid of them all exist within the space of the thinking mind. Just observe this, note it, and and let the struggle end. Peace will come if you tread lightly on this delicate practice. This is the advice I would have given myself early on. I hope you can benefit from this excellent book.
• I strongly believe in the principles of ACT therapy as they are laid out here. I think the path to freedom really is focusing on actions, not on feelings. However, I didn’t get a whole lot out of this book.
  
  I think that I am not the intended audience. I have extreme anxiety and panic, but I have never fallen into the trap of avoidance. I just white-knuckle my way through all sorts of situations. This book solely focuses on overcoming avoidance behavior. As a result, I ended up skimming a lot of it.
  
  It is also extremely repetitive. They convinced me in chapter 1 that most of the strategies people use to “manage” their anxiety don’t work. Then they continued for another 100 pages going over and over this concept.
• I'm halfway through it, and this book is helping to change my thinking! I spend way too much time trying to plan for every disastrous possibility, and am always waiting for a time when everything is calm and in order to start living. This, coupled with therapy with a good psychologist, is making a dent in long-practiced negative habits. I recommend it!
• Working on this book currently and I find that it is different from many self-help books because it is so upfront about what thoughts might be going through someone's mind while working through the book.
• Learning to be mindful can be difficult. Especially for those like me who suffer from PTSD. I find these daily reflections and practice sessions to be quite easy and take a little time. The effects however last throughout the day. It doesn't get any easier than this
• This workbook explains the concepts of ACT and Mindfulness in a very readable and relatable way to non-clinical consumers. I often recommend this to clients instead of other ACT books I have read. Great staple to have on your clinical bookshelf.
• Psychologist recommended, give real strategies for change. Methods backed by significant research. I considered getting the digital version, but having the book and writing in it seems much more effective.
• I am a mental health therapist. I recommend it to my clients because it works.