Unwinding Anxiety: New Sciences Shows How to Break the Cycles of Worry and Fear to Heal Your Mind is a book by Judson A. Brewer, MD PhD. Judson A. Brewer is a New York times best selling author. He has over 20 years of experience working in the science research field of mindfulness and habit changes. The book helps you get t the root of why you may feel anxious. With working on oneself by identifying bad habits, and thought processes, to how to overcome them. I really loved and appreciated this book for many reasons. The three main reasons I loved this book was because it was the realizations, insightfulness, and relief I felt after reading excerpts from the book.
Relief
I felt so much relief when reading this book. Sometimes oneself can get so in their own head that we think we are the only ones going through a particular problem. However, when we step back or talk to others about said problem we realize that we may not be the only one with that problem and it helps us feel like we are not alone in our struggle. The relief part is important because it relaxes you and makes you know that you aren’t weird or different for experiencing something. Opening up helps with the relief as you don’t carry the “burden” yourself and know you have others are there to help and support you. The book also gives tips on how to relax and unwind yourself whenever you find yourself in situations that may make you feel anxious. Additionally, the book really makes you think and realize that a lot of what makes you anxious is not something serious and that just brings so much relief because you realize you were anxious and worried FOR NO REASON! This helps not only oneself, but everyone because it helps you become more insightful.
Insightful
I love books that not only teach you new things, but help you learn and realize things about yourself. This book does that and it is very helpful. For one you have a lot of realizations. You will learn so much about yourself… like things you didn’t think were anything big, actually have a huge impact in your overall life. Like it’s honestly crazy! You start learning about how ways you cope may not be so healthy and a lot of more your inner workings of your brain. Also this book teaches you way to track your habits, your negative thoughts, etc. One thing I liked that was suggested whenever you have a negative thought or feel anxious was when they suggested to go “Hmmm…” after that negative thought. Because after saying a phrase that is correlated with thinking, it makes you think about said thought and you start to really actually think about it and realize “???” It is not worth actually stressing over and such. It is really small helpful and easy things that you can incorporate into your everyday life that, in the long run, will help you a lot. There is so many little tips and tricks to teach yourself that not only help you, but others. I always tell my friends or others about them whenever they are having a rough time.
Time
I think the most important thing to take away from this book, if you don’t really want to read the book; is that it all takes TIME! There is no set timeline on if you start today, you will be “fixed” in two months, two weeks, two years, etc. It takes time and overcoming the issues that you face is something that changes in ways that you are comfortable with. Somethings might be easier to get through and over, while some may take longer. As long as you are working on yourself, you are on the right path. You shouldn’t be discouraged, if you think you are taking to long. Slowly you will see that one thing, that maybe last year or a couple of months ago, would have sent you over the edge; now you only breathe through it and realize, “maybe… I do overreact to things…” and you will feel so proud and happy within yourself because you saw firsthand, how WOW, I am growing and progressing. It truly feels fantastic when you realize yourself, things that used to trigger you, don’t phase you anymore and you are growing.
In conclusion, I highly suggest this book to everyone to get. Even if you don’t have anxiety, I still think you could learn something from reading this. You will learn about yourself, and even on how others may think. You will feel relieved as you start reading and knowing that things you experience or think about; you’re not alone. You will realize a lot about yourself and will be thankful that these things are now known to you. But overall, you will learn that with time, you will start to grow and unlearn things that you have carried with you your whole life. Overall, this is a book that really helps you learn a lot of helpful things that will help you throughout your life. HIGHLY RECCOMEND!
I suggest getting a copy from your local library, if you can. I borrowed mine from there. However, since this is a book that you may want to comeback time and time again, I suggest to buy your own copy. You will have it whenever you want to read it and also you won’t have to wait if there’s a waitlist at the library (EXPERIENCED THIS).
J’s Journal 