Anxiety is not your fault. There are many factors that contribute to developing a mind that is prone to intense anxiety, and if you have such a mind, there are many things you can do to change the way it works. Research has shown that practicing kindness and compassion soothes experiences of fear, while self-critical thoughts tend to intensify them. If you become frustrated with your anxious reactions or consistently try to talk yourself out of your anxiety, it may be time to try a different approach.
The compassion-focused therapy (CFT) based program in The Compassionate-Mind Guide to Overcoming Anxiety will help you learn to be kinder to yourself while you soothe your anxious impulses. Complete with worksheets, exercises, and meditation practices, this book includes everything you need to learn mindfulness and compassion-focused skills for redirecting your anxious thoughts and allowing yourself to enjoy a more peaceful life.
By learning to be a compassionate witness to your own pain, you will also learn to be fully present in the moment, and develop healthier, more fluid ways of responding to life’s struggles. This resourceful guide aims to help you understand the nature of your anxiety, the best ways of dealing with it, and how your mind can help you cope with it.
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From the Publisher
“This book is an excellent resource for individuals suffering from anxiety. Using step-by-step strategies, Tirch systematically guides people to the invaluable tools they need to overcome their suffering and build a life filled with meaning. With wisdom and clarity, he shows how one can use compassion and mindfulness to face anxiety and bring about a fundamental life change. This book is truly a pleasure to read and will be an invaluable guide for anxiety sufferers.”
—Lata K. McGinn, PhD, coauthor of Treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Treatment Plans and Interventions for Anxiety and Depression
“The Compassionate-Mind Guide to Overcoming Anxiety thoughtfully addresses the experience of anxiety and is written with obvious care for the person who suffers from anxiety. Tirch’s personal style and client examples bring the book to life. This is an easy-to-understand read that paves a path to self-compassion that is engaging and wise.”
—Robyn D. Walser, PhD, coauthor of The Mindful Couple
Library Journal
Compassion-focused therapy (CFT) borrows elements from both cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which focuses on identifying and changing erroneous thoughts and actions, and Buddhist meditation techniques, which emphasize acceptance of the current situation ("mindfulness") and compassion for all living beings. CFT uses meditation to help the tense person disengage from his or her own anxiety-provoking thoughts and encourages people to have as much compassion for themselves as they would for any other individual (the golden rule in reverse). The book includes exercises and worksheets. Two caveats: There is no discussion of whether any studies have been done to compare this technique with other treatments, and there is no discussion of the role of medication in the treatment of severe cases. VERDICT Anxious people who like the idea of meditation will enjoy this approach, although those whose anxiety keeps them from taking part in the normal activities of daily life should not rely on any self-help book alone.—Mary Ann Hughes, Shelton, WA
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