Anxiety Relief: Self Help (with Heart) for Anxiety, Panic Attacks, and Stress Management

This book is AMAZING. Apart from its wonderfully hopeful and kind tone, which is extremely unusual, it reduced my anxiety significantly from the very first exercise I attempted, and I woke up the next day feeling more comfortable in my own skin than I can recall *ever* feeling. My anxiety continues to be much, much less than it was, and I've begun to make the exercises habitual responses when it does crop up.The information on how we process stress during sleep, and the part about how most of our stress is re-inflicted daily, rather than stemming from ancient history, was unique to this book - information I'd never seen anywhere else, and really helpful. There were a lot of other eye-openers too - this book doesn't just retread the same old ground - not at all.It is a bit technical at times, as some readers complain - but it's mostly written in a pleasant, conversational tone, so just skim over the parts that look dry to you, and stick with it until you get to the exercises. It will be well worth it! And don't miss the "emergency relief" section at the very end - it's very useful!

This is an absolutely incredible book for those suffering from anxiety and panic disorder. I felt like I was so in the deep end that nothing could pull me out but reading this cover to cover truly made tremendous impacts on my recovery and I am still constantly referring back to it. The perfect mix of digestible science and compassionate understanding. I’ve read 3-4 anxiety self help books and this is by far the most encompassing and most helpful

Thank you John Crawford for writing this great book and sharing with us! It’s absolutely eye opening on how anxiety affects us, I learned a great deal of understanding and many techniques on how to reduce emotional arousal. Reading the book will give you the knowledge you need but the most important things are the practicality of these techniques in order to reduce anxiety and, eventually with the right therapy getting rid of. I now more in control and manage my emotional arousal better. I need to keep working and practicing what I have learned to reach my goal.Enjoy reading!

It's evident that Mr. Crawford has first-hand experience with the work of battling anxiety. His approach is a relatable, friendly one that isn't condescending or filled with clinical jargon. I started to feel like I could use the various tools fairly early-on in the book. That encouraged me to keep going and now I have this book and my highlighted passages to keep when life throws me a curve. I think I have more power within to cope. What a blessing!

There is a lot of good information in this book, but I find it to be like many other books on the subject- overly complicated. A person that has anxiety usually does not have the patience to read a large book about the subject and then implement all of the advice. Other than that it does have good information.

It didn't work for me and way too involved!

Very meaningful content

This is a great book for mental health clinicians as well as for people suffering from anxiety. The author does a great job explaining causes of anxiety, as well as laying out some really helpful strategies and suggestions for decreasing symptoms. A good read for therapists and clients alike!

I can't praise this book highly enough. As someone who has lived with chronic anxiety I can honestly say that this book has really made me think again about how i have managed my condition. Okay so we can read the books and get by but this books clear and heartfelt approach really disarmed my anxiety about anxiety. From the outset it is clear that the author is really experienced in living with this issue and has really thought deeply about how we tie ourselves in knots trying to patch ourselves together. His explanation of the evolutionary survival roots of anxiety and depression really makes sense and immediately made me think about things in a new way without the emotional defences i've grown accustomed to. Finally a level playing field to start from ! This book is full of good techniques and insight into it's subject but what really helps is that you find yourself pausing to think about moments in your life and how actually there is another way to look at things. More than just a quick fix this book really digs deep into how we relate to ourselves. i found myself pausing for reflection often and really feeling that a weight was lifting. Unashamedly compassionate, humorous and with a wealth of experience behind him the author really has done a service in writing this book. If you have struggled with anxiety long term this book will make a lot of sense and may be quite liberating. If you are new to this kind of experience i thoroughly recommend this as a great guide and a real help finding a straight path.Those in a spiritual crisis may just find it a godsend.Thoroughly recommended !

I’ve been having severe health anxiety issues since the turn of the year. Burning throat everyday, seen countless doctors and had many invasive diagnostic tests. I simply could not entertain the idea that my throat pain was anything but medically caused. In desperation, I turned to the idea that my problems could be at least partly psychological, so I bought this book. It has opened my eyes to what I now believe to be the real reason for my pain: chronic anxiety and stress. The information in this book is so clear and insightful, and chimes so acutely with my experiences. I am now following the suggestions and today I have booked an initial consultation with a therapist. My journey to recovery has started, and in large part I have this book to thank for it. Thank you John.

I have a Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy so have read many books and articles on this subject. This book is outstanding and I urge anyone with an interest in this subject, for whatever reason, to read it. The writing style is easy and without jargon or any hint of patronage. It aims to help the reader/client regain power, control and responsibility over his or her mental health and wellbeing and advances a miriad of ‘tips and tools’ to achieve this. The author comes across as both compassionate and ‘down to earth’. A gem of a book. I’m so impressed, I have ordered his book on Anger Management!

I have suffered with anxiety and panic attacks for many years, I read and learnt a lot about the adrenaline 'fight or flight' response, but never in this detailed easy to understand way.I have been panic free on and off for years, but it would still appear randomly, so I decided to see 'what's new' I've only read 20% up to now, but already I am feeling so much more in control and have a clear path before me. As others have said, it makes you stop and digest the information, and gives hope and confidence, just yesterday I had a major epiphany,realizing that when I have had episodes of panic it has always been when my emotions are heightened, whether it was for good or bad, such as the year I fell in love, got married and had a child lol! Something would just 'trigger' a negative response and then would begin the search for 'why'.My purpose now is to discover, hopefully through this book, whether I should be learning how to stop the heightened emotions in the first place, or learn how to teach my limbic system that most things are not threats at all.Thank you to the author for all your work on our behalf.Good luck to all those out there like me, who are working through this.

I found this book to be excellent and would highly recommend it to anyone suffering from stress, anxiety and/or depression. I've had years of varying difficulties and have read lots of books and tried lots of techniques. I found this book really accessible and packed full of strategies as well as information. The information was written in a heartfelt way and John obviously knows what he's talking about. Sometimes, it's the right time to hear something and there were sections of this book that have really stuck in my mind. That is praise indeed as I can often get to the end of a book and not remember a thing. In fact, in the two weeks since finishing this book, it has inspired and motivated me to make some major changes.