Scripture says “be anxious for nothing,” yet most of us find ourselves increasingly worried and anxious–about our families, our jobs, our finances, our security, and so much more. We’re even worried about our level of anxiety!Integrating both the psychological and spiritual aspects of anxiety, therapist Jean Holthaus offers this research-driven and faith-informed approach to understanding why we … understanding why we experience anxiety and shows us how to effectively manage it by developing three essential skills:
– living in the present moment
– suspending judgment
– believing yourself to be competent and equipped by God
Our world is never going to be a completely safe and understandable place. But with Holthaus’s help, our hearts and minds can experience greater and lasting peace.
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Ubiquitous in our twenty-first century society, worry and anxiety are a plague driven by busyness, the struggle to succeed, and an increasingly secularized culture. In a scholarly yet highly readable book, Jean Holthaus uses a combination of medical science, psychology, and Christian theology to give readers insight into what causes anxiety, how to identify different types of anxiety, and how to seek help. Whereas most self-help books promote a certain protocol or fad diet routine, Holthaus takes a multilayered approach. She not only allows for but also discusses how metal illness affects the body and mind. I appreciate that she discusses prescription medication without discounting natural remedies, as different people respond to some treatments better than others.
Graphics and charts enliven “Managing Worry and Anxiety” and make the text easier to comprehend. Even the scientific phrases and data are able to be understood by the average adult.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All opinions are my own.
This book offers readers a practical and applicable perspective on worry and anxiety. Through the science of understanding where anxiety and worry stem, author Jean Holthaus guides readers through chapters explaining root causes, issues that grow from those roots, and how to prune the unpredictability of life that can cause anxiety and worry to arrive at the beautiful blossoming of life God intended for us. I really appreciate the author’s use of Scripture and Biblical stories throughout. I’d recommend this book not only for those who are dealing with anxiety and worry but I think it’s also very helpful for everyone to grasp an understanding of these issues and how to support others dealing with them.
***I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to give a positive review, all opinions expressed are my own.***
I believe Managing Worry and Anxiety: Practical Tools to Help You Deal with Life’s Challenges is a must read for those who suffer from worry and anxiety. It offers some great tips and advice on how to deal with it. It is broken down into eleven chapters that can help readers understand why they are feeling the way they do and how to conquer it. I thought it was an interesting read and hope to use it in the future.
I am giving Managing Worry and Anxiety: Practical Tools to Help You Deal with Life’s Challenges four stars. I recommend it for those who need some new ways of dealing with their anxiety.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
Thank you in advance to the publisher, Revell Books, for providing a complimentary copy to review. A positive review was NOT required, and all words are my own.
Believe it or not I got this to gain some insight into what exactly anxiety is.
While I do have “concerns” or small worries, anxiety is something I cannot wrap my head around. And, I also wanted to know if there were ways in here I could help others I care about who struggle with it. It also reinforced some things I already knew.
This is like an intense therapy session as the writing combines the science behind worry, anxiety, and depression with some spiritual references. Due to the scientific/medical aspect, this can be an overwhelming read for some people who might not understand or know about some of the terms that the author is using. There are diagrams which might help readers understand or see where the problem might be. This is done more or less to examine the cause and understand anxiety as well as to help with managing it.
While this is from the Revell line, which is known for their spiritual and faith books, this was light on the “God” talk. There were some scriptures and references to the bible as to how it would apply in our daily lives, so the author doesn’t come off preachy. Depending on where people are in their faith journey, they may appreciate a lighter tone, others may not.
As Holthaus points out, there is no simple explanation or solution. Thus, this is not going to be a “one & done” read either. As she explains, part of the reason for the confusion is how the word has been and is continued to be used.
She examines the healthy anxiety (flight/flight/freeze) mode, versus the worry zone, such as thinking about future problems.
The book is useful for those who might not understand what a loved one is going through with anxiety, which is what most of the book covers. It covers some aspects of OCD, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), and agoraphobia. She is also careful to examine what might cause each one with both medical and spiritual aspects being explored.
The author also explores why our childhood is important to us. One example is that a child whose emotions or concerns were invalidated might not be able to express themselves as an adult. She also states that in managing our own emotions we sometimes ignore, minimize, or discount the feelings of others.
Another key factor was “assuming”. We shouldn’t assume what others are feeling, but ask.
Holthaus is honest and uses her own experiences to try to relate to the reader that certain things do happen, and how she was able to overcome them.
A very interesting part was the word “judgment” and how it applies to ourselves and how we view others. I was shocked to discover how many words can apply: opinion, estimation, a belief, an idea, thoughts about something, or criticism. Whether or not the reader agrees will be up to them.
The book also provides “tools” to help lessen the anxiety, not that we won’t have it, but it is the author’s intent that the tools well help it to not overwhelm.
This is definitely a relevant read, especially with social media overwhelming our lives.
I particularly enjoyed the author having an appendix with “feeling” words at the back to help the reader self-assess and get in touch with their feelings.
A recommendation is difficult for this as it depends on the reader’s “faith” level, their familiarity of medical/psychological terms, as well as their personal preferences.
I do feel as though the book was informative, if overly so. There were enough Christian references to make the author’s point. I also enjoyed the medical/psychological aspect too.