Booklist Reviews 2015 March #2

Therapist Boyes’ “toolkit” is filled with “nuts-and-bolts” remedies for combating anxiety-driven inertia. Boyes, who claims that she, too, has been “anxiety-prone,” begins by explaining that anxiety itself isn’t the problem. It can actually be beneficial by making us more cautious and methodical in our tasks. The problem lies in how we become trapped by our real or perceived fears and are unable to act. Boyes concentrates on five areas—hesitancy, rumination and worry, perfectionism, fear of feedback, and avoidance—where anxiety can lead to bottlenecks. She begins each chapter with a quiz, allowing readers to gauge their needs, and then offers “experiments” suggesting specific, safe breakthrough techniques such as visualizing positive alternative outcomes or remembering successes. The therapist takes care to suggest nonthreatening options and to remind readers that working with their tendencies, not against them, delivers greater results. Far from the pat “don’t worry, be happy” approach, Boyes’ practical, easy-to-follow methods will be reassuring and useful to a wide range of readers. Copyright 2014 Booklist Reviews.