The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Anxiety: A Guide to Breaking Free from Anxiety, Phobias, and Worry Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Paperback – February 1, 2025

Oh boy, where do I start?This book is a simple MUST read for anyone. If you suffer from anxiety, depression, insecurities -- as we all do -- then you definitely need to make your way through this workbook. I promise you, if you haven't already, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) will change your life by revolutionizing the way you connect with your thoughts and emotions.The premise of this "third wave" behavioral therapy is simple and almost esoteric: By combating your issues, which is the norm in therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), you feed them and create a cycle of avoidance that only aggravates the problem. The truth is that there is no need to conquer anxiety, phobias, etc. The battle cannot be won because the battle is simply *part* of living. With that knowledge, the battle does not need to be won in order to live a healthy, vital life. There is a way you can peacefully integrate your "issues" (which, at the end of the day, aren't actually issues but natural processes that all humans experience) into your life. It's extremely counter intuitive approach because it goes against everything that you are told in a "culture of feel-goodism." This simple foundation is enough to consider reading the book. ACT goes after the very undercurrent of contemporary therapy and attempts to revitalize the way people connect with themselves. The book knocks down various myths about anxiety that I, myself, didn't realize I had been hanging on to. Once I was able to let go of these thoughts and learn to accept instead of avoid, I began to be more mindful, more peaceful, and more productive in my daily activities.One of the most powerful lessons I've learned is this (and forgive me if I'm not explaining it well!): Triggers and phobias aren't feared, so much as the FEELING of the fear itself. For example, you aren't afraid so much of being judged, so much as feeling the panic and distress OF being overwhelmed with anxiety. Now, to fix this, you would naturally attempt to avoid social situations that place you in this vulnerable position. But what good does it do? By avoiding, you let the fear in your life become a blockade that prevents you from living a vital existence. The thing is -- fear is not a blockade. Fear and anxiety are essential components of living, and HELP you ensure that you are doing the right things. The problem isn't suffering anxiety itself, the problem is creating habits of avoidance and escapism to prevent yourself from feeling that anxiety. The attempt at escape obscure what's really important -- LIVING. This was a powerful lesson that changed the way I acted. Knowing this, I began to embrace my anxiety and, knowing that it was natural and essentially helpful, use it to become more productive and compassionate towards myself. No longer did I chide myself for feeling certain ways that I didn't control. The entire premise of my behavior changed for the better.The book itself makes no promises, and instead encourages you to see what works for you. The writing is effectively simple, clear, and engaging. Ideas are repeated throughout in order to reinforce them in your memory. Clean, easy metaphors and exercises are presented at natural moments, and simple exercises such as "Don't Think About A Pink Elephant!" (demonstrating the negative effects of suppressing emotions) helpfully engage your higher thinking and get you to see things in a different light. The authors, Forsyth and Eifert, present their cases well, and establish a good sense of trust in their research and writing. On top of that, the book is extremely quotable and goes out of its way to make sure you understand its core ideas -- essential phrases are highlighted in grey boxes, and summaries of the lessons are included at the end of each chapter, along with key questions to think about.At heart, the book and ACT feels so much like common sense. It has a tone of Zen to it. That's not surprising, given how mindfulness, acceptance, and peace are key components of Eastern philosophies! I'm reading this book and also going through Mindfulness meditation practices in my daily life. My anxiety and insecurities have calmed down. But more importantly, I've learned to accept my fears as natural parts of existence; I've learned to integrate them into my life and let my emotions and fears pass through me; and -- this is very important -- I've learned how to *use* my anxiety and fear to channel me away from avoidance and into productive, healthier directions. I'm very much happier, accepting, and calm!As I said, this book is a must read for EVERYONE. There's another book by the same publisher for depression by different authors, but I haven't read it. I'll be sure to check it out after this workbook.It may not help you as much as it helped me, but it will change the basis of the way you look at things and live!

Knowing that I know nothing, I am aware that I do have opinions. But my opinions keep changing. Some people call this "learning." I call it changing faith. Even scientists know they are accepting theories as true based on evidence that convinces them to have faith. Yes, even scientific laws with strong evidence are sustained by faith - until the next level of evidence destroys the faith of past years. Then scientists, students, and lay public rearrange their faith to accommodate the newly observed evidence.For me, Mindfulness & Acceptance is my next level of faith. No, I have no plans to become a Buddhist. Not yet anyway. It is just that this book presents evidence that seems to expose some of the basic errors I have been making all my life. I have been avoiding uncomfortable situations of every kind - rather than relax and accept even relatively small discomforts. The result has been a life of frustration and failure (anxiety and depression).The book reads clearly and presents test worthy evidence. The workbook helps a lot. I already feel a sense of progress - less anxious and more accepting. Only time will tell how durable this faith is - or if I can personally benefit. I really think it's worth a try.

I recommend the book to anyone who eats to cope with stress, anxiety or fear. Great road map on how to take charge, lots of real life examples and exercises to get in touch with feelings. Other books suggest finding other activities to replacing eating as a way to cope with stress, anxiety or fear but as I found out they do not work long term. Once the avoiding activity is complete the mind is back to the food and the cycle continues. I have been trying unsuccessfully my whole adult life to cope with Stress, Anxiety and Fear by using food and exercise excessively. Thanks to the book I can accept my Stress, Anxiety and Fear without avoiding them through food or exercise. Avoidance never works because the root cause is not going away. The book gave me the tools to observe my feelings in a totally different way and realize that thoughts/feelings are always coming and going and by exercising some patience and reasonable logic I can accept all my feelings. With the road map I now have the confidence knowing that the feeling will pass so I continue with the activity I was doing before the feeling started, and before I know it the urge to avoid never comes up thus, there is no desire to seek food as a way to avoid.