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59 reviews for:
The Worry Trick: How Your Brain Tricks You Into Expecting the Worst and What You Can Do about It
David A. Carbonell
3.63 AVERAGE
59 reviews for:
The Worry Trick: How Your Brain Tricks You Into Expecting the Worst and What You Can Do about It
David A. Carbonell
3.63 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
slow-paced
Very interesting in the beginning but got tedious during the 2nd half of the book
I have yet to read a self help book that makes me feel as seen as this one has.
The first half of the book is overwhelmingly repetitive. He kept repeating that your worries are a process in the brain and not a real danger... okay, I know that!
Starting in the second half, he began to actually give techniques to help worrying, but the techniques are so elementary, like "use humour to cope with your worries!" that it seemed almost funny. I'm sure these techniques work, but they're not enough.
He also didn't address the biggest concern with worry: that people believe they won't be able to handle or cope with the worry if it does happen. He spent so much time explaining cognitive restructuring (thinking more realistic thoughts), that he didn't mention what to do when your biggest worry does happen. For example, I have emetophobia. I worry every day that I will vomit. I can tell myself that it probably won't happen all I want, but the reason I worry is that I don't believe that I'm strong enough to handle it if it does happen. He doesn't address this concept at all!
Starting in the second half, he began to actually give techniques to help worrying, but the techniques are so elementary, like "use humour to cope with your worries!" that it seemed almost funny. I'm sure these techniques work, but they're not enough.
He also didn't address the biggest concern with worry: that people believe they won't be able to handle or cope with the worry if it does happen. He spent so much time explaining cognitive restructuring (thinking more realistic thoughts), that he didn't mention what to do when your biggest worry does happen. For example, I have emetophobia. I worry every day that I will vomit. I can tell myself that it probably won't happen all I want, but the reason I worry is that I don't believe that I'm strong enough to handle it if it does happen. He doesn't address this concept at all!
Most of this book feels geared toward people with serious, health-affecting, crippling anxiety. I thought it would be more about tricks and tips for managing daily low-grade anxieties or maybe the occasional anxiety-inducing situations like public speaking and such, but this book seems more geared toward alleviating anxiety in those who experience it to a nearly paralyzing degree. It was great advice for those individuals, but not really that helpful for your average person who sometimes experiences mild anxiety events.
Many self help books that deal with anxiety and worry say the same things in different words...as is the case with this book. However, I really appreciated the counter-intuitive approach to dealing with worry that the author advocates. For me especially, realizing how silly a lot of my anxious thoughts are help to temper their power. I'd definitely recommend to anyone having trouble with repetitive, anxious thoughts.
the book has become repetitive at some point but still i got some useful tips from the narrative and i do really appreciate this.
Exposure therapy is a proven method for dealing with anxiety. The author builds on that and presents a mind-blowing idea: do what your mind is afraid of, a seemingly counterintuitive strategy.
This book has been my go-to suggestion for patients with anxiety and panic disorder symptoms. It is quite well-received and has helped them.
This book has been my go-to suggestion for patients with anxiety and panic disorder symptoms. It is quite well-received and has helped them.
Not really a 'worry' kind of person. Read the book out of curiosity. Well written. Had many excercises to help with the worry problem. All good I guess if you worry, I don't so I just found the book to be entertaining.
I’ve had this book for months and recently finally started reading it when my anxiety was flailing up. As someone who studies mental health and psychology for fun, I figured this book wouldn’t offer me anything I don’t know, but it was phenomenal. I love this doctors approach to worries and anxiety, and it was an unexpectedly awesome book.