Tranquillity Within: Top Mental Health Books for Anxiety A MyndStories Curation

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Though we think mental health is crucial every day, with this edition of The Weekly Oter we want to help raise awareness about mental health and emotional well-being.?

We are glad to have collaborated with Smitha Murthy from MyndStories who have curated a list of their top book recommendations aimed at promoting awareness about Anxiety and encouraging support for those who may be struggling. Do read on to find a book that speaks to you -

Tranquillity Within: Top Mental Health Books for Anxiety

We all know the beast that anxiety can be. For those who live with GAD or Generalized Anxiety Disorder, especially.

But anxiety can affect us at all ages. You can be perfectly in control of your life for one second and then be overwhelmed and paralyzed by anxiety.?

Yet, there's help at hand. If not therapy, these books can help, too:

Unwinding Anxiety: Judson Brewer: A tiny manual on how to cope with some of the most common symptoms of anxiety. Brewer combines wellness practices such as mindfulness with research on what he calls 'habit loops' to help understand how to break out of the routines and patterns of anxiety.?

The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook by Edmund J. Bourne: A comprehensive guide offering practical exercises and cognitive-behavioural or CBT techniques to overcome anxiety and specific phobias. With clear explanations and actionable steps, it can empower you to take control of your mental health and reclaim your life. Get relaxation techniques and learn to challenge negative self-talk.

Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David D. Burns: Psychiatrist David D. Burns presents powerful tools and techniques from a CBT or cognitive-behavioural approach to combat anxiety and depression. Through insightful exercises and real-life examples, readers learn to challenge negative thinking patterns and cultivate a more positive outlook. You get to understand and challenge mood swings and negative thoughts and build self-esteem.?

The Anxiety Toolkit: Strategies for Fine-Tuning Your Mind and Moving Past Your Stuck Points by Alice Boyes: Psychologist Alice Boyes offers a practical toolbox for managing anxiety and overcoming common obstacles. With mindfulness practices and exercises to challenge thought patterns, this book provides actionable advice to help you navigate anxiety with grace and a bit of pluck.?

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk:?

This is not strictly a book on anxiety, but Dr. Bessel van der Kolk's book explores the profound impact of trauma on the body and mind, offering groundbreaking insights into the treatment of anxiety and related disorders. It gives you an intimate understanding of how trauma shows up in the body. Through that, anxiety, too.

Dare: The New Way to End Anxiety and Stop Panic Attacks by Barry McDonagh: This book introduces the "DARE" response, a four-step method for confronting and conquering anxiety. This approach is effective in managing panic attacks, curbing intrusive thoughts, and overcoming sleep problems—all issues that come with anxiety.?

When Panic Attacks: The New, Drug-Free Anxiety Therapy That Can Change Your Life by David D. Burns: In this groundbreaking book, Burns again provides readers with a drug-free approach to managing anxiety and panic attacks. Drawing on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques, Burns offers practical strategies for identifying and challenging irrational thoughts and beliefs that contribute to anxiety. Through easy-to-follow exercises and real-life examples, readers learn to recognize cognitive distortions and biases.?

Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess:5 Simple, Scientifically Proven Steps to Reduce Anxiety, Stress, and Toxic Thinking: Caroline Leaf

The host of a renowned podcast, Caroline Leap, applies simple principles to help you take charge of your inner life. She offers the use of an app and her famous principle of neurocycling toxic thoughts to cut away at the core beliefs that often accompany anxiety.?

Anxiety: Overcome It and Live without Fear: Sonali Gupta

Clinical psychologist Sonali Gupta uses her years of experience to show you how anxiety can dominate large portions of our lives. She gently explains the difference between anxiety and stress in this book, which is targeted at the Gen-Z and Millennial generation.?

You can read and listen to the Microbooks versions or Book Summaries of all of these books on Oter where we have assembled a collection for you to dive into. Check out key insights, and crucial learnings and save the ideas that speak to you in your personalised library on the app.?

Wishing you a month filled with understanding, support, and moments of self-care.