ANXIOUS FOR ANSWERS

A guide to managing anxiety examines the root causes of negative emotions.

When she was a sophomore in college, Cohen had her first panic attack while driving. Over time, she suffered from other anxiety-induced conditions, such as ulcers and migraines. Determined to improve her health, she learned to control her reactions to worries and fear, and, now a psychotherapist, she shares that knowledge here. Well-researched (a thorough bibliography is included), this friendly manual begins with a short discussion of the evolutionary history of anxiety. Though the book explores a theory, the author’s easy-flowing, first-person prose and breezy voice make this guide accessible to many readers. Crediting much of her success to the “Bowen Family Systems Theory” by Dr. Murray Bowen, Cohen asserts that one person’s emotions or trauma can affect the entire family—throughout different generations. This gives anxiety an evolutionary, biological, and systemic cause, meaning anxiety is not the fault of those who suffer from it. The good news, writes the author, is that a person can manage anxiety and break a negative family cycle. The concepts presented are compelling; for example, in her discussion of epigenetics research, Cohen posits that in utero trauma could cause anxiety later in life. But this thought-provoking manual isn’t all theory—there’s plenty of down-to-earth advice, too, such as how to cope with self-critical thoughts. Chapters conclude with clear, concise summaries and several thoughtful, practical exercises for self-reflection. For example, the author advises writing a “belief paper” to assess personal values by answering questions like “What is non-negotiable to me in my relationships?” Although Cohen peppers the discussion with some anecdotes about herself and some of her clients—like Debra, a woman with chronic anxiety who was overly apologetic—the useful book refreshingly focuses on readers and not the author.

A valuable manual for readers dealing with anxiety.