Don't let anxiety and depression keep you from living life to the
fullest.
If you suffer from co-occurring anxiety and depression, you may
experience an overwhelming urge to avoid difficult emotions and
emotional experiences. The last thing you want to do is kick the
hornet's nest you carry around with you. However, the latest research in
psychology emphasizes the importance of approaching--rather than
avoiding--your emotions. Avoiding emotions works in the short term, but
in the long term it only teaches you to believe you can't handle your
feelings. What you need is a solid set of tools that will allow you to
feel a full range of emotions with confidence. This book will provide
just the tool set you require.
In this workbook, psychologist Michael Tompkins offers evidence-based
cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) skills to help you target and tear
down the emotional avoidance barriers that drive your anxiety and
depression. By engaging with the emotions you've been seeking to avoid,
you'll learn, "I can handle this feeling." You'll also find strategies
to help you stay calm during emotional situations; and discover
relaxation and mindfulness techniques to deal effectively with difficult
thoughts and feelings, and improve your mood and well-being.
The tools in this workbook help you learn this important lesson: You can
handle emotions, even unpleasant ones. When you believe you can handle
feeling anxious and depressed, you're less likely to avoid those
feelings, creating space for you to be more willing to do the things
that you want to do in your life.
