237
233 239
234 240
235 241
236 242
237 243
238 244
239 245
240 246
241 247
242 248
243 249
244 250
245 251
246 252
247 253
248 255
249 256
250 257
251 258
252 259
253 260
254 261
255 262
256 263
257 264
258 265
259 266
260 267
261 268
262 269
263 270
264 271
265 272
266 273
267 274
268 275
269 276
270 277
271 278
272 279
273 280
274 281
275 282
276 283
277 284
278 285
279 286
280 287
281 288
282 289
283 291
284 292
285 293
286 294
287 295
288 296
289 297
290 298
291 299
292 300
293 301
294 302
295 303
296 304
297 305
298 307
299 308
300 309
301 310
302 311
303 312
304 313
305 314
306 315
307 316
308 317
309 319
310 320
311 321
312 322
313 323
314 325
315 326
316 327
317 329
318 330
319 331
320 332
321 333
322 334
323 335
324 336
325 337
326 338
327 339
328 340
329 341
330 342
331 343
332 344
333 347
334 348
335 350
336 351
Introduction
We wrote our first book in the For Dummies series, Overcoming Anxiety For Dummies, shortly after the events of 9-11-2001. People felt rather anxious, especially about terrorism. We wrote the second edition in 2010 as the Great Recession was winding down. At that time, people were feeling particularly anxious about their finances and careers. Today, we present Anxiety For Dummies as the world struggles to cope with a global pandemic, an explosion of civil unrest and racism, climate change, and another potentially massive recession or depression.
So today’s world, just like the previous two decades, gives us plenty to worry about. But as we don’t want to become victims of a pandemic, financial setback, natural disaster, or violence, we can’t let ourselves become victims of anxiety. Anxiety clouds our thinking and weakens our resolve to live life to the fullest. We realize that some anxiety is realistic and inescapable, yet, we can keep it from dominating our lives. Even under duress, we can preserve a degree of serenity; we can hold onto our humanity, vigor, and zest for life. We can love and laugh.
Because we believe in our collective resilience, we take a humorous, and at times irreverent, approach to conquering anxiety. Our message is based on sound, scientifically proven methods. But we don’t bore you with the scientific details. Instead, we present a clear, rapid-fire set of strategies for beating back anxiety and winning the war against worry.
About This Book
We have three goals in writing this book. First, we want you to understand just what anxiety is and some of the different forms it can take. Second, we think that knowing what’s good about anxiety and what’s bad about it is useful for you. Finally, we cover what you’re probably most interested in — discovering the latest techniques for overcoming your anxiety and helping someone you care about who has anxiety.
Unlike most books, you don’t have to start on page 1 and read straight through. Use the extensive table of contents to pick and choose what you want to read. Don’t worry