Publishers Weekly
01/11/2021
In this helpful guide, psychiatrist Brewer (The Craving Mind) draws on research on addiction and bad habits to suggest ways to deal with anxiety. Citing the definition of addiction—“continued use despite adverse consequences”—Brewer argues that anxiety and addiction share similar patterns and can be addressed using similar principles: identifying a habit loop, then using mindfulness to change the way one’s brain values the behavior. “If you really pay careful and close attention,” Brewer writes, “...and you see that a behavior is not rewarding right now, I promise you that you will start to get less excited about doing it again.” Instead, one can give the brain a “bigger better offer”: to bring curiosity and mindfulness toward one’s actions. The writing is casual without being simplistic (“This is a pretty neat hack of your brain’s reward-based learning system”) and includes testimonials from patients and users of mindfulness apps developed by Brewer. These evidence-based, structured recommendations will be useful to anyone who feels caught in a negative loop. (Mar.)
From the Publisher
"One of the hardest things about tackling a bad habit is confronting the anxiety behind it. Jud Brewer has given us a breakthrough program with great tips and hacks that anyone can use to feel better. We all need this book!"
—BJ Fogg, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of Tiny Habits
"Unwinding Anxiety provides a step-by-step guide to Judson Brewer’s personally designed, clinically proven path that can alleviate your mind from anxiety, obsessive thinking, addiction, and more. It guides your brain to rewire in helpful ways as it inspires your mind to understand it’s inner processes more deeply and to live with more freedom, gratitude, interpersonal connection, and joy."
—Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., New York Times bestselling author of Aware
"You cannot thrive if you’re perpetually anxious. It’s that simple. Jud Brewer has given us a plan that can help us overcome our anxious thoughts, feelings and habits to create true well-being. It is absolutely game-changing."
—Arianna Huffington, Founder & CEO, Thrive Global
"Grounded in the best of current science and totally user friendly, Unwinding Anxiety reveals how a powerful set of mindfulness tools can free us from the worry that rules our lives. This is the most helpful and informative book on anxiety I’ve read!"
—Tara Brach, Ph.D , author of Radical Acceptance
"In a world that can be overwhelming, Jud Brewer has created a plan to stop the overwhelm. He shows us accessible ways to stop worry in its tracks and mindfulness techniques that can redirect our energy in positive, healing ways. It’s exactly what we need right now."
—US Representative Tim Ryan, Ohio
"An incredibly relatable and practical guide to anxiety. Judson Brewer's research has contributed greatly to our understanding of why anxiety is so hard to shake. This book gives us the tools to break free. Anxiety is at the root of so many of the habits we want to change. Unwinding Anxiety will not only help you deal with anxiety, but will also help you find freedom from the behaviors that hold you back."
—Kelly McGonigal, PhD, author of The Joy of Movement
"Brewer weaves together science from his lab and stories from his clinic to expertly illustrate how anxiety develops, becomes a habit loop, and why our anti-anxiety strategies continue to fail us. Unwinding Anxiety provides actionable steps that you can implement into your own life to stop this cycle. Compellingly written, this compassionate book is full of insights that couldn’t have come at a better time."
—Jewel, New York Times bestselling author of Never Broken
"This may be the only book on anxiety you’ll ever need. Drawing on his lab’s latest neuroscience and clinically proven techniques, Dr. Brewer ingeniously reveals why anxiety loops are so hard to break. Showing clearly how and why worry is so addictive, he guides you how to shift through the gears to break the old habits that keep anxiety going, and to unwind the rope that’s been coiled around your life. With new insights on every page, this is evidence-based psychological science at its best."
—Mark Williams, Emeritus Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Oxford, UK, Co-author of Mindfulness: Finding Peace in a Frantic World
"In Unwinding Anxiety neuroscientist Judson Brewer offers a brilliant breakthrough, brain-based methods for lessening our anxiety-driven habits. And anxiety, after all, is the common cold of our emotional life."
—Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence
"Judson Brewer has written a relatable, introspective guide to overcoming anxiety. Backed by research and experience Unwinding Anxiety is an exploration on how anxiety grows in our brains and offers a key to unwinding those habitual thought patterns. Much more than relaying research and science, this book offers user-friendly, practical steps to the possibility of managing worry!"
—Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real Change
"A helpful guide...These evidence-based, structured recommendations will be useful to anyone who feels caught in a negative loop."
–Publishers Weekly