WHY ON EARTH DO I FEEL THIS WAY?

A debut psychological work explains how Control Theory can help patients get a handle on their anxiety.

Everyone has anxiety. Defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition, as simply “anticipation of a future threat,” some amount of anxiety is normal. But anxiety can sometimes manifest as anger, sadness, irritability, or nervousness, especially when people are unaware of the source. This can result in a feeling of having lost control of their lives. Anxiety does not have to reach the level of a disorder for it to become a nuisance. Arasz is interested in helping people get control over their anxiety so that they can feel in charge of their lives again: “Control Theory specifically focuses on anxiety and anxiety management because anxiety is at the root of any mental health disorder. By tackling the root cause of a disorder and learning how to control the underlying anxiety, we are able to minimize, decrease, or prevent the development of more severe symptoms.” The author describes how readers’ anxiety is often rooted in their core beliefs, which are internalized views that they form while they are children and are not necessarily accurate or true. These beliefs are often the source of their insecurities and fears. Certain triggers can agitate these beliefs, causing waves of anxiety that seem to come from nowhere. Arasz lays out methods for identifying these beliefs and triggers as well as helpful strategies for mitigating and even avoiding anxiety in readers’ daily lives. She hopes that Control Therapy will help everyone, from those suffering from mild anxiety to those with more severe disorders—since the feeling, in the author’s view, lies at the heart of nearly every mental ailment—and that it may even help curb the current epidemic of school violence. Tonally, the book manages to exist comfortably between more motivational, self-help offerings and denser psychological works. Arasz writes in a lively and accessible prose that makes it easy for readers to grasp her concepts: “Kids are master manipulators. It’s a natural defense mechanism for them as they are trying to figure things out in the world. They are trying to learn what they are able to do, what they can’t do, and what they’re not allowed to do.” The first section alone, which explains the causes and manifestations of anxiety, will be highly elucidating for uneasy readers. Control Theory borrows heavily from the popular cognitive behavioral therapy model, particularly the work of Judith Beck; Arasz credits her sources in the text and in the book’s bibliography. The author developed her theory over 17 years as a practicing psychologist working with adolescents, adults, and families, and she attests to its success among her patients. In its extreme focus on exercising control over one’s thoughts, the concept differs from more holistic approaches that incorporate considerations of diet and lifestyle. Those suffering from anxiety will have to try it for themselves to see if it works for them. If they do so, Arasz’s smooth prose and practiced communication skills will surely help shed some light on the causes of their anxiety.

A well-explained and precise solution for anxiety from the cognitive behavioral therapy school.