Available:*
Material Type | Library | Call Number | Suggested Age | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book | Searching... Putnam Main Public Library | 152.46 SUZ | Adult | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
World-renowned neuroscientist and author of Healthy Brain, Happy Life has developed an "absolute game-changer" ( Conscious Conversations Podcast ) for managing unwarranted anxiety and turning it into a powerful asset.
We are living in the age of anxiety, a situation that often makes us feel as if we are locked into an endless cycle of stress, sleeplessness, and worry. But what if we had a way to leverage our anxiety to help us solve problems and fortify our well-being? What if, instead of seeing anxiety as a curse, we could recognize it for the unique gift that it is?
As a neuroscientist, Dr. Wendy Suzuki has discovered a paradigm-shifting truth about anxiety: yes, it is uncomfortable, but it is also essential for our survival. In fact, anxiety is a key component of our ability to live optimally. Every emotion we experience has an evolutionary purpose, and anxiety is designed to draw our attention to a number of negative emotions. If we simply approach anxiety as something to avoid , get rid of , or dampen , we actually miss an opportunity to not only manage the symptoms of anxiety better but also discover ways to improve our lives. Listening to our worries from a place of curiosity, instead of fear, can actually guide us onto a path that leads to joy.
"Suzuki draws on decades of neuroscience, including her own research, and leavens her learning with a little personal storytelling to create a practical, science-backed guidebook for those seeking such a transformation" ( The Wall Street Journal ).
Author Notes
Dr. Wendy Suzuki is a Professor of Neural Science and Psychology in the Center for Neural Science at New York University and a celebrated international authority on neuroplasticity. She was recently named one of the ten women changing the way we see the world by Good Housekeeping and regularly serves as a sought-after expert for publications including The Wall Street Journal , Shape , and Health . Her TED talk has more than 55 million views across all major platforms and was the second most-viewed TED talk of 2018. She is the author of Good Anxiety and Healthy Brain, Happy Life .
Reviews (2)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Neuroscientist Suzuki (Healthy Brain, Happy Life) proposes that anxiety is not only useful, but essential to living in the modern world in this helpful self-guide guide. In the first part of the book, Suzuki delves into the science behind anxiety, educating readers on where anxiety comes from ("an automatic reaction to possible danger") and how to differentiate common anxiety from clinical disorders (such as rapid breathing, persistent feelings of danger, or gastrointestinal upset). She goes on to explain that anxiety can be controlled due to the plasticity of the brain, primarily through removing anxiety from a negative categorization and regulating emotions: "We can learn to use awareness to reframe a situation, remove the perception of danger, and reappraise it." In the second half, Suzuki digs deeper into the details of using anxiety to fuel resilience, ambition, activism, and productivity. Some of the coping mechanisms come across as simplistic--like finding a hobby or playing with pets--but the overall message shares research-backed methods to manage anxiety. While Suzuki primarily writes to readers without diagnosed clinical disorders, her techniques will be helpful to those trying to navigate low-level anxiety. (Oct.)
Booklist Review
After the sorrows and demands of 2020, we could all use a little help with stress and anxiety. As a neuroscientist at New York University, Suzuki has a unique view on the effects of these related states. Everyone is looking for a way to banish stress, she observes, but it is not in itself a bad thing. It's a force that was designed to safeguard us, and it can be redirected for positive outcomes. Suzuki begins by explaining the science behind the the brain's response to stress, making its complexities fairly accessible. As for how to live with these emotions, Suzuki shows readers how to identify triggers, acknowledge anxieties, and use them to promote such superpowers as resilience, compassion, creativity, and empathy. The trick is to have an activist mindset and to approach challenges as learning opportunities, a perspective Suzuki demonstrates using her own and others' struggles and successes. The final segment of this reassuring book includes tests to help readers rate their anxieties and hacks to guide us in turning negative thoughts into positive actions. A solid library purchase.
Table of Contents
| Introduction | p. 1 |
| Part 1 The Science of Anxiety | p. 11 |
| Chapter 1 What Is Anxiety? | p. 13 |
| Chapter 2 Leveraging the Power of the Brains Plasticity | p. 27 |
| Chapter 3 Coping with Anxiety in Real Life | p. 41 |
| Part 2 Learning How to Worry Well: Anxiety's Hidden Superpowers | p. 55 |
| Chapter 4 Supercharge Your Resilience | p. 57 |
| Chapter 5 Enhance Your Performance and Open the Door to Flow | p. 79 |
| Chapter 6 Nurture an Activist Mindset | p. 99 |
| Chapter 7 Amplify Your Focus and Productivity | p. 127 |
| Chapter 8 Prime Your Social Brain, Quell Your Social Anxiety, and Heighten Your Compassion | p. 151 |
| Chapter 9 Boost Your Creativity | p. 171 |
| Part 3 The Art of Worrying Well: Tools to Calm, Flip, and Channel Your Anxiety | p. 193 |
| A Final Note of Love | p. 247 |
| Acknowledgments | p. 251 |
| Notes | p. 253 |
| Index | p. 267 |
