It's been a long time since I read a book but I know how relaxing it is for me and it helps me get relaxed enough to fall asleep sometimes. I figure why not get a few new books but get some that are going to help me get through this rough time. I have heard alot about "Hope and Help For Your Nerves" by Claire Weekes and was wondering what books you have all read or are reading and how have they helped you.

Thanks in advance for any ideas ;)

"The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook" is good, just passed my copy on to a friend who needed it. Sorry, I don't remember who wrote it.
For health anxiety "It's not all in your head - How worrying about your health can make you sick and what you can do about it"

Both very helpful. Good luck to you!:wave:

Right now I am reading this one called "Self-Coaching" by Joseph J. Luciani. It's my first "self-help" book. I'm about 1/4 of the way into it, and so far it seems to be helping. It's bringing me much more reassurance and comfort than therapy that I've been going to for 4 months now. It seems to be based much on CBT therapy. It explains a lot of different things about anxiety and depression, how they are likely to co-exist and alternate (whether or not people realize it), how they really are just perceptions, how you can control what you feel about something and how you react to situations, basically that it is in your hands. That life doesn't victimize us, we victimize ourselves. That being said, it is really all in our control. Unfortunately though, our insecurities and anxieties are learned and reinforced into a habit. The good news is that any habit can be broken.

For example, when I first read that it was in my control... my immediate thought was "Oh, it's my fault. I'm doing this to myself. I've been the one making myself feel like this all along". I even felt contempt toward the book for saying such a thing to me, for "blaming" me for my problems. And then I realized, there I was, doing it again with those thoughts. So then I started thinking "But it's okay. Because here I am trying to help myself, putting an effort into getting past this." And I really started feeling at more ease. I felt like the book was pointing out mistakes where I couldn't see them. By reacting differently and seeing what the book was saying in another light, it really gave me encouragement and hope because I could feel the immediate effects of choosing that option.

Reading this book, I feel like it's talking to me. I'm not even halfway through with it, but everything I've read has been so relatable.

the best book iv'e read for managing panic attacks is"living with it" by Bev Aisbett

it's in a fun/ cartoon format and is practical . the author is a cartoonist who had panic attacks.

lolly

Thanks for the ideas guys... will look into these books ;)