★★★★☆
Unwinding Anxiety was one of the more insightful resources I’ve come across on the subject of anxiety. I can sometimes get bogged down by listening to scientific explanations, but Brewer’s explanations of how our brains function were clear, easy to follow, and gave me a better understanding of how anxiety works.
Brewer’s background as a medical doctor, neuroscientist, and psychiatrist combined with his openness about how anxiety and panic attacks personally affected him lent credibility to the explanations and techniques offered in the book.
“To artists, a block of clay says possibility. To travelers, a weekend promises adventure. To the nervous, that lack of structure screams anxiety.”
Judson Brewer, Unwinding Anxiety
As someone whose anxiety manifests itself in over-preparing, thinking, and producing, his theories on habit loops and how to break them were powerful for me. One of my favorite phrases in the book was “Stop should-ing on yourself.” This simple phrase reminds me to stop obsessing over all the things I think should be doing and relax. Not only is relaxing okay, but it is also actually a necessary component of good mental and physical health.
I listened to Unwinding Anxiety as an audiobook. Brewer has a good voice and I enjoyed how his sense of humor came through in his reading of the book. Hearing his voice as he described the physical and mental effects of his own anxiety and how he has changed his own thinking helped me relate to him and feel more empowered.
As much as I liked the audiobook, I missed having a physical book that would allow me to flip back to helpful sections, take notes, and more easily work through the strategies.
If you are looking to better understand how anxiety works and break bad thinking habits, I recommend this book. It would be helpful to both individuals with anxiety disorders as well as those looking to support a loved one with anxiety.
For more reviews of mental health books, visit the mental health category of this blog.
Wow. The quote you shared resonates with me so much — “To artists, a block of clay says possibility. To travelers, a weekend promises adventure. To the nervous, that lack of structure screams anxiety.” I have to read this book!! Thanks for sharing – I hadn’t heard of it before.
I thought that quote was powerful, too! I hope you get as much out of the book as I did!