The best books on anxiety from a psychologist's perspective

Why am I passionate about this?

I'm Dr. Chloe Carmichael, clinical psychologist and USA Today bestselling author of Nervous Energy: Harness the Power of Your Anxiety (endorsed by Deepak Chopra). As a clinical psychologist, a lot of people ask me how to get rid of their anxiety. They're often surprised to learn that actually, we don't always want to get rid of anxiety—because the truth is that anxiety actually brings many benefits, if we know how to unlock them. Anxiety’s healthy function is actually to stimulate preparation behaviors. In this book, I share nine tried and tested tools with step-by-step instructions and real life examples to help readers harness the healthy power of anxiety.


I wrote...

Nervous Energy: Harness the Power of Your Anxiety

By Chloe Carmichael,

Book cover of Nervous Energy: Harness the Power of Your Anxiety

What is my book about?

Nervous energy is something many of us are familiar with—it’s the urge to double check our work, to create a tidy strategy for an overwhelming goal, or make a to-do list and tick every box neatly. But when work and life become more complex and unpredictable, when there isn’t a straightforward to-do list or clear step by step solution, this nervous energy can spiral into anxiety and stress, becoming a roadblock to success. Instead of merely trying to overcome anxiety, Dr. Chloe Carmichael uses a combination of storytelling and step-by-step directions to share nine powerful tools that help you harness this energy in a productive way.

Nervous Energy is a practical guide to transforming anxiety and nervous energy into a powerful positive force.

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

Chloe Carmichael Why did I love this book?

This is definitely one of my favorite reads. Procrastination is one of the key parts of anxiety, and this book is a great way to tackle and overcome procrastination. This book might be short, but it is insightful, practical and valuable. The audiobook version is easy to listen to, and inspiring to play in the background while doing everyday tasks! 

By William H. McRaven,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Make Your Bed as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Make a new start in 2022 with positive daily habits for a healthy mind, from the incredible No. 1 New York Times bestseller

THE INCREDIBLE NO. 1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

'SUPERB, SMART, AND SUCCINCT' FORBES
______

Struggling to find structure? Finding yourself lacking motivation?

Start by making your bed.

Maintaining routine and structure is more important than ever in the age of home working, flexi-time and the general chaos of life.

In Make Your Bed, Admiral William H. McRaven shares 10 life lessons he learned during his Navy Seal training that helped him overcome challenges not only in his…


Book cover of Overcoming Passive Aggression

Chloe Carmichael Why did I love this book?

As a clinical psychologist, I can say that Overcoming Passive Aggression is a must-read book! A lot of people who are anxious become passive-aggressive because they’re very afraid of even the most minor confrontations in life. People tend to resort to passive aggression when they don’t feel they have the skills or the confidence to handle conflict directly. Realizing this is an important first step—an essential next step is to start building the skills and confidence to handle things differently.

By Tim Murphy, Loriann Hoff Oberlin,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Overcoming Passive Aggression as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Hidden anger that comes out indirectly can undermine relationships between friends, family, and colleagues. When people feel compelled to conceal their true beliefs and emotions, there can be serious physical and psychological results for everyone involved. Dr. Tim Murphy and Loriann Oberlin offer a clear definition of passive-aggression and show readers not only how to end the behaviour but also how to avoid falling victim to other people's hidden anger. This revised and updated edition offers essential guidance for dealing with problems in the workplace and at school avoiding the pitfalls of social media, texting, and online communication and when…


Book cover of Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High

Chloe Carmichael Why did I love this book?

Another great book about communicating despite anxiety is Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High. This is a great tool to help readers understand and get along with other people better during difficult and critical situations. This book is a personal favorite of mine.  It is packed with practical, insightful examples of conversations likely to arise in the personal or professional life of driven, intelligent people. 

By Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan , Al Switzler

Why should I read it?

7 authors picked Crucial Conversations as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The New York Times and Washington Post bestseller that changed the way millions communicate

"[Crucial Conversations] draws our attention to those defining moments that literally shape our lives, our relationships, and our world. . . . This book deserves to take its place as one of the key thought leadership contributions of our time."
-from the Foreword by Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

"The quality of your life comes out of the quality of your dialogues and conversations. Here's how to instantly uplift your crucial conversations."
-Mark Victor Hansen, cocreator of the #1…


Book cover of The Disease to Please: Curing the People-Pleasing Syndrome

Chloe Carmichael Why did I love this book?

This book is another great book for people with anxiety. The desire for social acceptance can be very anxiety-provoking for many people. This can lead to a pattern of self-denial and people-pleasing behaviors. This book teaches how to have healthy boundaries while still having positive relationships, thereby reducing anxiety. This book is very well-written, simple, easy to follow, and highly recommended by therapists and counselors.

By Harriet Braiker,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Disease to Please as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

What's wrong with being a "people pleaser?" Plenty!

"A fascinating book... If you struggle with where, when, and how to draw the line between your own desires and the demands of others, buy this book!" Kay Redfield Jamison, bestselling author of An Unquiet Mind and Night Falls Fast

People pleasers are not just nice people who go overboard trying to make everyone happy. Those who suffer from the Disease to Please are people who say "Yes" when they really want to say "No." For them, the uncontrollable need for the elusive approval of others is an addiction. Their debilitating fears…


Book cover of Get Out of My Head: Inspiration for Overthinkers in an Anxious World

Chloe Carmichael Why did I love this book?

Last but not least is Get Out of My Head, written by my friend and Pinterest’s Chief of Staff for TwentyTwo, Meredith Arthur. This book not only talks about overthinking and anxiety, it also delves into other important topics such as perfectionism, people-pleasing, and knowing and understanding oneself. The book has great content, plus it is visually beautiful—Meredith’s background at Pinterest definitely shows in the book’s amazing artwork and overall aesthetic. 

By Meredith Arthur,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Get Out of My Head as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Calm your thoughts, navigate your stress, and understand your anxiety with Get Out of My Head, a compact illustrated guide for overthinkers everywhere. Are you an overthinker? You're not alone! In a world full of deadlines, and technology, and constant stress, anxiety sometimes feels inevitable. But what if you learned to ride the wave of anxiety, instead of getting lost in it? Get Out of My Head is here to help, providing guidance and inspiration for anxious overthinkers of all sorts. This compact, illustrated book offers soothing techniques for understanding anxiety and moving through the traps of overthinking. Aimed at…


You might also like...

Kanazawa

By David Joiner,

Book cover of Kanazawa

David Joiner Author Of Kanazawa

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

My book recommendations reflect an abiding passion for Japanese literature, which has unquestionably influenced my own writing. My latest literary interest involves Japanese poetry—I’ve recently started a project that combines haiku and prose narration to describe my experiences as a part-time resident in a 1300-year-old Japanese hot spring town that Bashō helped make famous in The Narrow Road to the Deep North. But as a writer, my main focus remains novels. In late 2023 the second in a planned series of novels set in Ishikawa prefecture will be published. I currently live in Kanazawa, but have also been lucky to call Sapporo, Akita, Tokyo, and Fukui home at different times.

David's book list on Japanese settings not named Tokyo or Kyoto

What is my book about?

Emmitt’s plans collapse when his wife, Mirai, suddenly backs out of purchasing their dream home. Disappointed, he’s surprised to discover her subtle pursuit of a life and career in Tokyo.

In his search for a meaningful life in Japan, and after quitting his job, he finds himself helping his mother-in-law translate Kanazawa’s most famous author, Izumi Kyoka, into English. He becomes drawn into the mysterious death of a friend of Mirai’s parents, leading him and his father-in-law to climb the mountain where the man died. There, he learns the somber truth and discovers what the future holds for him and his wife.

Packed with subtle literary allusion and closely observed nuance, Kanazawa reflects the mood of Japanese fiction in a fresh, modern incarnation.

Kanazawa

By David Joiner,

What is this book about?

In Kanazawa, the first literary novel in English to be set in this storied Japanese city, Emmitt's future plans collapse when his wife, Mirai, suddenly backs out of negotiations to purchase their dream home. Disappointed, he's surprised to discover Mirai's subtle pursuit of a life and career in Tokyo, a city he dislikes.

Harmony is further disrupted when Emmitt's search for a more meaningful life in Japan leads him to quit an unsatisfying job at a local university. In the fallout, he finds himself helping his mother-in-law translate Kanazawa's most famous author, Izumi Kyoka, into English.

While continually resisting Mirai's…


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