Breathe. A single word that almost anyone suffering from anxiety has heard in their moments of panic. It’s the go to. What happens when inhaling and exhaling, as people love to say, aren’t enough in a moment of worry? Counselling for anxiety can often be expensive, and is not always an option for everyone. What is usually neglected, however, is the extensive and usually useful array of anxiety workbooks. There are plenty of publications that have been successful in helping treat anxiety, written by renowned psychologists, without having to actually repeatedly visit a psychologist in their office. The main and most effective of these workbooks or handbooks are those who center their instruction based on a CBT model – cognitive behavioural therapy model. This model is based on the interplay of how we think, feel, and act, specifically towards worries and anxiety, and aims to change the way we experience anxiety. Anxiety workbooks that use the CBT model are called CBT workbooks, and you go through them methodically chapter by chapter. The process is interactive and is coupled with fill in sheets to track progress. One of the best books, recommended by numerous physicians within Vancouver, is Dr. Melissa Robichaud’s “The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Workbook – A Comprehensive CBT Guide for Coping with Uncertainty, Worry, and Fear”. The book, in its own words, aims to identify different types of worry, understand what keeps the worry cycle going, target fears of uncertainty, challenge core fears, and create a relapse prevention plan. While anxiety can be extremely paralyzing, even more so by the high cost of treatment, books such as Dr. Robichaud’s are outlets to seek treatment and are valuable tools in reducing anxiety. As the term begins and stressors mount, taking time to cope with anxiety seems like the last thing to be done, but is probably the most important. There are resources other than the one-liners people like to tell you – such as “breathing”, ones that can permanently alter your anxious thoughts. Take a look at anxiety workbooks, and couple them with things you’ve already found to help with anxiety – whether that’s reading, running, or even respitory exercises. Take care of yourself!
Written by Emma Gibson
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If you want to pick up a copy of Dr. Robichaud’s book, here is one way to get your hands on a copy: https://www.newharbinger.com/generalized-anxiety-disorder-workbook
For any other anxiety workbooks, newharbinger remains an awesome resource.