Anxiety Resources

Understanding Anxiety

Overview

• Normal Anxiety vs Anxiety Disorder by Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder by Osmosis

• OCD & Anxiety Disorders by CrashCourse (an overview of all anxiety disorders)

Neuroscience

• Neuroscience of Anxiety by Neuro Transmissions (Medications)

• Psychology of Anxiety by Neuro Transmissions (CBT)

Bibliotherapy

Self-Help

• Rewire Your Anxious Brain by Katherine Pittman, PhD & Elizabeth Karle, MLIS

• Declutter Your Mind by S.J. Scott & Barrie Davenport (Mindfulness)

• The Anxiety Toolkit by Alice Boyes, PhD (CBT)

• Feeling Great by David D. Burns, MD (CBT)

• A Liberated Mind by Steven C. Hayes, PhD (ACT)

• Unwinding Anxiety by Judson Brewer, PhD, MD

• Chatter by Ethan Kross

• Dare by Barry McDonagh

• Hardcore Self Help: F**k Anxiety by Robert Duff, PhD

• Unfuck Your Brain by Faith G. Harper, PhD, LPC-S, ACS, ACN

Memoirs

• First, We Make The Beast Beautiful by Sarah Wilson

• Happy Not Perfect by Poppy Jamie

• My Age of Anxiety by Scott Stossel

• At Last A Life by Paul David

Novels

• “Five Signs of Disturbance” within Break it Down by Lydia Davis

• None of this is Real by Miranda Mellis

• Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang, specifically “Division by Zero”

• Moving the Chains by Em Lyons Bouch (great for adolescents/all)

Journal Prompts

• 29 Simple Journaling prompts for Anxiety from Happier Human, highlights:

  • List 3 things that scare you the most and the reasons why

  • Reply to your inner critic’s opinions about your actions and decisions

  • Write all of the strategies you used in the past that helped you cope

  • List at least 3 lessons you’ve learned from your anxiety

  • List your anxiety triggers

  • List the questions constantly running through your head; answer them

  • Visualize your life free from anxiety; describe all the details of this life

• 63 Journal Prompts for Anxiety from Choosing Therapy

• 99 Journal Prompts for Mental Health from Hello, Bombshell! (Anxiety section)

• Write poetry or a story where characters have to grapple with anxiety

• Create Your Own Calm: A Journal for Quieting Anxiety by Meera Lee Patel

• I Am Here Now: A Creative Mindfulness Guide and Journal by The Mindfulness Project

• The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook by Edmund J. Bourne, PhD

• The Anxiety & Worry Workbook by David Clark, PhD & Aaron Beck, MD (CBT)

• Essential Art Therapy Exercises by Leah Guzman, ATR-BC

Activities

• 10-Minute Meditation for Anxiety from Goodful

• 15-Minute Guided Meditation for Anxiety & Stress with Lavendaire

• Meditation: Breethe App - use Nour’s Code for a great deal

• Box Breathing:

  • Concept: Box Breathing Relaxation Technique by Sunnybrook Hospital

  • Practice: Square Breathing Visual by The University of Alabama

• Evaluate your basic needs (food, sleep, rest).  What needs to improve?  Make a plan.

• Write or listen to music that matches your feelings

• Create art, however you feel comfortable, that expresses your feelings

• Eco-therapy (go on a hike/walk, camping, gardening)

• Physical Exercise (working out, yoga, dance)

• Take a mental break with a book, movie, game or favorite hobby

• Spend time with your favorite animals (or humans)

• Organize and clean your physical spaces

• Pamper your physical self with a bubble bath, massage, facemask, or pedicure

• The Free Mindfulness Project’s Free Exercises (audio files)

• Words to Sit With (Mindfulness Poetry)

• East Coast Mindfulness’ Free Weekly Worldwide Online Sit (12:10-12:50p Thursdays)

Support for Addressing Nightmares

• Nightmares in Adults by Hillary Parker from WebMD

• How to Stop Nightmares in Adults by Kristen Rogers from CNN

• How to Stop Nightmares from Headspace.com