Edmund Bourne

Author of The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook and Coping with Anxiety

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Book Recommendations:

Recommended by Edmund Bourne

Alison McKleroy's book is full of tested ideas, examples, and exercises that anyone who suffers from social anxiety can implement to get relief from the many different forms social anxiety may take and prevent it from coming back. The presentation of approaches, such as CBT, exposure, ACT, and other strategies, is concise and well-organized. (from Amazon)

Embrace confidence―proven strategies to break free from social anxiety Social connections are an integral part of a joyful life, yet when you're held back by self-conscious thoughts and feelings, you can get stuck in a pattern of avoiding social situations. Essential Strategies for Social Anxiety provides you with an effective toolbox to face your fears and feel confident whether you're having a conversation, interviewing for a job, or speaking publicly. Drawing on a variety of practices―like CBT, ACT, and mindfulness―this guide not only teaches you all about social anxiety but also helps you employ actionable techniques to transform it. Learn to calm both body and mind, silence your inner critic, and restructure negative thoughts with practice dialogues, exposure exercises, meditation, and more. Essential Strategies for Social Anxiety features: Exercises for everyone―No matter how your social anxiety manifests, discover powerful ways to overcome it and connect with people in a more comfortable way.Easy-to-follow advice―Each chapter covers a different approach to dealing with your social anxiety, with step-by-step exercises to get the results you want in your life.Everyday examples―Get inspired by real-life anecdotes that demonstrate how these techniques have helped other people achieve breakthroughs in dealing with social anxiety.Start down the path to confidence and joy in your social life with this easy-to-use guide.

Recommended by Edmund Bourne

Good basic information on social anxiety, as well as how to overcome it using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The concise text and abundant illustrations make the book available, easy to grasp, and engaging for teens. (from Amazon)

The essential go-to workbook for shy and socially anxious teens—now fully revised and updated with skills for dealing with social media anxiety and “social perfectionism.” Do you feel shy when meeting new people? Do you freeze up when speaking in front of a group? Do you worry about what others think of you? If you struggle with shyness or social anxiety, you may try to avoid situations that cause you to feel uneasy. The problem is, avoiding stuff can also lead to missing out―on friendships, fun, and opportunities. If you’re ready to stop hiding behind your shyness and start enjoying everything life has to offer, this workbook is your guide. The fun and easy worksheets and exercises in this fully revised and updated second edition of The Shyness and Social Anxiety Workbook for Teens will show you how to handle any kind of social situation with confidence, so you can connect with others and create great friendships. Based in proven-effective cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), the skills in this guide will also help you speak up for yourself when you need to, and stop dreading situations that put you on the spot—whether you’re called upon in class, interviewing for a job, or introducing yourself to new people. This new edition also includes tons of tips to help you navigate the world of social media; and self-compassion skills to help you stop comparing yourself to others, deal constructively with criticism, and stop worrying so much about what other people think. Most importantly, you’ll learn how to move beyond “social perfectionism,” and set realistic goals for yourself. So, why let shyness and social anxiety run your life? With this workbook, you can discover a more confident, outgoing you. In these increasingly challenging times, teens need mental health resources more than ever. With more than 1.6 million copies sold worldwide, Instant Help Books for teens are easy to use, proven-effective, and recommended by therapists.

Recommended by Edmund Bourne

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. (from Amazon)

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

by Jennifer Shannon LMFT, Doug Shannon, Michael A. Tompkins PhD ABPP·You?

The very things we do to control anxiety can make anxiety worse. This unique guide offers a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based approach to help you recognize the constant chatter of your anxious “monkey mind,” stop feeding anxious thoughts, and find the personal peace you crave. Ancient sages compared the human mind to a monkey: constantly chattering, hopping from branch to branch—endlessly moving from fear to safety. If you are one of the millions of people whose life is affected by anxiety, you are familiar with this process. Unfortunately, you can’t switch off the “monkey mind,” but you can stop feeding the monkey—or stop rewarding it by avoiding the things you fear. Written by psychotherapist Jennifer Shannon, this book shows you how to stop anxious thoughts from taking over using proven-effective cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and mindfulness techniques, as well as fun illustrations. By following the exercises in this book, you’ll learn to identify your own anxious thoughts, question those thoughts, and uncover the core fears at play. Once you stop feeding the monkey, there are no limits to how expansive your life can feel. This book will show you how anxiety can only continue as long as you try to avoid it. And, paradoxically, only by seeking out and confronting the things that make you anxious can you reverse the cycle that keeps your fears alive.