Don't Feed the Monkey Mind: How to Stop the Cycle of Anxiety, Fear, and Worry

by Jennifer Shannon, Doug Shannon (Illustrator), Michael A. Tompkins PhD, ABPP (Foreword by)

Overview

The very things we do to control anxiety can make anxiety worse. In this unique book, psychotherapist Jennifer Shannon offers a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based approach to help readers recognize the constant chatter of their anxious “monkey mind,” stop feeding anxious thoughts, and finally find the personal peace they crave.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781626255081
Publisher:	New Harbinger Publications
Publication date:	04/01/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	200
Sales rank:	471,586
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Jennifer Shannon, LMFT, is a psychotherapist, and author of Don’t Feed the Monkey Mind, The Anxiety Survival Guide for Teens, and A Teen’s Guide to Getting Stuff Done. She is a diplomate of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy.


Doug Shannon is a freelance cartoonist.

Michael A. Tompkins, PhD, ABPP, is a board-certified psychologist in behavioral and cognitive psychology. He is codirector of the San Francisco Bay Area Center for Cognitive Therapy, and a faculty member of the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Tompkins is author or coauthor of fifteen books, and presents to national and international audiences on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and related topics. His work has been highlighted by media outlets, including in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, on television (TLC, A&E), and on radio (KQED, NPR).

Table of Contents

Foreword v

Introduction 1

1 Perception of Threat 5

2 The Three Assumptions 15

3 Feeding the Monkey 29

4 Playing It Safe 43

5 The World Is Round 63

6 Necessary Feelings 79

7 Monkey Chatter 93

8 Purpose and Plan 105

9 Lowering the Stakes 115

10 Practicing Praise 131

11 The Expanding Life 143

Key Takeaways 152

Interviews

Shannon resides in Santa Rosa, CA.

Editorial Reviews

If you are ready to turn the tables on your anxiety, you can find no better book than Don’t Feed the Monkey Mind. Jennifer Shannon will help you turn away from the enticing tactics of fearful worry and teach you how to return to the life you love.”
—Reid Wilson, PhD, author of Stopping the Noise in Your Head



“This book is a gem for people seeking to tame runaway anxiety and upset. Jennifer Shannon takes the simple metaphor of ‘monkey mind’ and fleshes it out with wisdom and simple steps that anyone can follow. Here, in plain language, is a comprehensive set of concrete steps to let your anxiety run its course and then fade. Jennifer Shannon has blended the best of cognitive behavioral methods and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to produce a great contribution to the self-help literature. Here you can learn to return your energy and attention back to your voyage through life, rather than the worries and fears that have hijacked your focus. Professional psychotherapists will also find it useful. I highly recommend it!”
—David Carbonell, PhD, Chicago-based psychologist specializing in treating fears and phobias; author of Panic Attacks Workbook and The Worry Trick; and “coach” at www.anxietycoach.com


“Don’t Feed the Monkey Mind is clear and easy to understand. The book will teach you simple and powerful strategies to harness fear and worry. Jennifer Shannon teaches you how to transform your life by taking the ‘monkey’ out of your mind.”
—Dennis Greenberger, PhD, coauthor of Mind Over Mood



“Don’t Feed the Monkey Mind begins with a well-written synopsis of basic attitudes and mental habits that perpetuate anxiety. The book follows with a set of clear, concise changes in mind-set and behavioral strategies to overcome anxiety at its roots. The ‘monkey mind’ concept is an apt, original contribution. Examples of points provided by the author as well as references to her personal story help make the book accessible to readers of all kinds.”
—Edmund J. Bourne, PhD, author of The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook and Coping with Anxiety

From the Publisher