Anxiety is a response to stress or perceived threat. Although this feeling of uneasiness is a common aspect of life, it is important to address it when it becomes overwhelming. It is a mental state that occurs from a combination of biological, psychological and environmental factors. From work, health to relationships, it can significantly impact all the aspects of life. Anxiety can arise in various forms and understanding its symptoms can be a crucial step towards addressing it. One of the ways to deal with it is to read self-help books for anxiety. It may not only help you to learn self-control, but also offer an escape from stress in life. We have curated a list of the best books about anxiety to help you remain calm.

What triggers anxiety?

Anxiety can occur because of several factors:

• Biological factors like genetics and imbalance in neurotransmitters can contribute to heightened anxiety.
• Brain structure and function play a crucial role in the anxiety response. Changes in the hippocampus and overactivity in the amygdala can lead to reduced ability to cope with stress and increased emotional response.
• Trauma or chronic stress can also trigger anxiety.
• Personality traits such as perfectionism can also contribute to the development of anxiety.
• Prolonged activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis can contribute to the release of stress hormones, which can lead to chronic anxiety.

5 best books about anxiety to help you stay calm

Reading the best books about anxiety can help to reduce your tendency to worry all the time.

1. Unfuck Your Brain

Unfuck Your Brain delves into a scientific approach to help you deal with anxiety, depression, anger and triggers. Curated by Faith G. Harper, a licensed professional counselor, this book helps you create coping strategies to deal with the complex mental state. It helps you understand your brain, learn about executive functioning, which includes problem-solving, goal-oriented behaviors and managing social interactions. Additionally, it also makes you understand that your reaction to a certain situation might be a trauma reaction.

1621063046

2. Anxiety: Overcome It and Live Without Fear

Curated by one of India’s leading clinical psychologists Sonali Gupta, this book helps you overcome anxiety. It helps you learn how to live without fear. The author shares a unique glimpse into anxiety using case studies, which helps you know that you are not alone in this battle. This book recommends strategies and techniques to help you confront your fears and take control of your life.

935357658X

3. Unwinding Anxiety: Train Your Brain to Heal Your Mind

Unwinding Anxiety: Train Your Brain to Heal Your Mind is a book, which is curated by Dr. Judson Brewer. The author used the latest neuroscience and clinically proven techniques to reveal why anxiety loops are so hard to break. It offers brain-based methods for lessening your anxiety-driven habits and explores why worrying about certain things can be toxic. It also offers techniques to help you stop worrying and feel better.

1785043633

4. I Am Stronger Than Anxiety

If you are looking for the best books about anxiety and depression for children, this one might be the perfect choice for you! I Am Stronger Than Anxiety is a children’s book about overcoming stress, worries and fear. The author curated this picture book, which helps children cope with their worry and stress. This book captures kids’ attention and helps them understand the essence of the feeling of anxiety. Besides educating them about how to overcome fear and worries, it helps improve kids’ emotional intelligence.

1737160218

Also Read: Recognising Anxiety in Children

5. Anxiety: Panicking about Panic

Anxiety: Panicking about Panic is a self help book curated by Joshua Fletcher. This book serves as an informative guide to help you overcome anxiety. It draws the experience from the author, who battled anxiety for years, which will help you feel connected. This book offers advice, and strategies to help understand this mental state to successfully tackle it.

1500117927

(Disclaimer: At Health Shots, we make a constant effort to break the clutter for our readers. All products listed are carefully curated by the editorial team but use your discretion and an expert’s opinion before using them. Their price and availability may differ from the time of publication. If you buy something using these links in the story, we may earn a commission.)