What’s In An Anxiety And Phobia Workbook?

Anxiety and phobia workbooks are generally written by mental health professionals or those who have experienced anxiety and discovered helpful ways to cope with it. They often contain information about anxiety, suggestions as to how to alleviate its symptoms, and worksheets and exercises to help readers put its tips into action. The Anxiety And Phobia Workbook by Edmund J. Bourne, The Anxiety and Worry Workbook: The Cognitive Behavioral Solution by David A. Clark and Aaron T. Beck, and Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David D. Burns may all be helpful resources for those living with anxiety and phobias. For more in-depth, personalized help and guidance, online therapy can be an excellent tool. 

What is an anxiety and phobia workbook?

There have generally been anxiety and phobia workbooks on the market for years, many of them containing practical advice for people experiencing anxiety and phobias or feeling overwhelmed by fears and insecurities. Some of them were written by doctors or anxiety coaches, while others were written by people who have experienced anxiety or panic disorders themselves. While the format for these books can vary, the general idea is usually for the person reading them to implement the ideas into their daily lives.

Many of these books include exercises to complete and worksheets to fill out. These can be the best books for anxiety because you can easily follow along with what the author is telling you to do.

If you have an actionable strategy, you may feel like you're taking a hands-on approach to your fears and anxieties. Many individuals have found these books to be helpful, especially when used in conjunction with medication and therapy sessions.

What is discussed in anxiety and phobia workbooks?

Books on anxiety are often written by different authors, so it stands to reason that what they recommend may not always be the same. However, there may be some techniques for coping with fear and anxiety that are generally considered to be best practices, and nearly every workbook may touch on them in some way.

Common topics and techniques found in these workbooks may include:

Every author is likely to put their own spin on things based on their personal experience and background.

Which workbook should I choose?

One problem you may experience as you look for the right anxiety and phobia workbook is that the market may seem oversaturated. With so many options, you may look for one that offers holistic solutions, has been recently updated to reflect current thinking, and is at once practical, concise, and comprehensive. We have some suggestions as to which of these workbook-style fear and anxiety offerings may be beneficial to you.

The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook, by Edmund J. Bourne

The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook may have been one of the first books of this nature to find its way to store shelves, having been bought by over a million people to date. This resource has undergone a timely and comprehensive update. It has generally strong reviews on Amazon, and those who have experienced panic attacks seem to have found it particularly useful.

Part of the reason this book seems to be so popular is that it generally allows people experiencing anxiety or panic disorders to take things slowly. One complaint with some of these self-help books can be that they may urge the reader to plunge into this new portion of their life without first taking smaller steps. This option may allow you to focus on smaller, easily attainable goals before you tackle the specific fears and situations that have been troubling you. This resource may be helpful for many mental illnesses—even obsessive compulsive disorder and other stress-related disorders. It contains nutrition tips written for those experiencing anxiety-related disorders, which may be part of a comprehensive self-care plan. 

The Anxiety and Worry Workbook: The Cognitive Behavioral Solution, by David A. Clark and Aaron T. Beck

This book mainly focuses on cognitive-behavioral therapy, which many people with anxiety disorder have tried and found useful. This cognitive behavioral workbook is generally based on research and methodology pioneered over a 25-year span. There are worksheets that you can fill out yourself, and what may be particularly useful are the examples Clark and Beck often provide from their many years studying and helping those with anxiety issues.

Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy, by David D. Burns

This selection generally discusses effective skills to cope with your mental health concerns without medication. Procrastination is discussed, as are pessimism, guilt, anxiety, low self-esteem, mental illnesses, and more.

This book discusses mood swings, emotional baselines, and how to build up your self-esteem so others cannot easily tear it down, even acquaintances or family members who you may feel have emotional power over you.

There are also sections on overcoming addiction, approval, and love. There is a lengthy section about self-reliance and being able to nurture yourself during times when in the past, you felt you needed to seek the approval of others to carry on. Handling criticism and hostility is discussed, as well as managing feelings of guilt for events that took place in your life over which you had no control. There is also a section on halting negative emotions before they become a pervasive force for harm in your life.

If you are struggling with substance use, contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at (800) 662-4357 to receive support and resources. Support is available 24/7.

Online therapy can be helpful for treating anxiety

These workbooks can be one of the various possibilities for relief if you find that fear or anxiety is negatively impacting your life. However, moderate to severe anxiety may require more in-depth help and guidance, which can often be found through therapy with a licensed mental health professional. 

Still, if you’re experiencing anxiety symptoms, it can be quite a challenge to get out of the house and into the new environment of a therapist’s office. In this case, you may find it more convenient to try online therapy because you can attend sessions with a licensed therapist from home or anywhere you have a stable internet connection. An online therapist can serve as an essential resource not only during sessions, but throughout the week. You can contact them 24/7 through in-app messaging, and they’ll respond as soon as they can. 

The latest clinical research has shown that online therapy can be as effective as traditional in-person therapy and may be particularly helpful for various types of panic and anxiety disorders, as well as the effects of stress. A therapist may use cognitive behavioral therapy or exposure therapy to help a person experiencing anxiety spectrum disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Therapy can often help people reduce their anxious thoughts and live a meaningful and happy life.