The best self-help books for anxiety

By Holly O'Mahony on 26/3/2020

Between the daily influx of panic-inducing news stories and the mental challenges that come with spending time alone, and/or in a confined space, don’t be surprised if you’re left feeling anxious – you’re certainly not alone. But feeling the invisible beast breathing down your neck – making your heart pound, hands sweat, chest tighten or... [insert your own symptoms here] – is unsettling all the same.
Reading can provide a great source of comfort in unsettling times. So, if you’re feeling anxious, read on for the best books to calm the mind and restore a sense of inner peace.

The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle

The book that Oprah Winfrey keeps by her bedside, The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle adopts a philosophical approach to coping with life’s problems. In layman’s terms, it’s a guide to living in the present moment, where all the problems that our minds are busy worrying about probably do not exist. It lends the reader tips on how to leave the analytical mind and its ‘false created self’, the ego, behind, and embrace the here and now.

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The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, Charlie Mackesy

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, by Charlie Mackesy

Charlie Mackesy's tender-hearted illustrations already had a sizable following online. But with the release last year of his first book The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, the former Spectator cartoonist’s work has been bound together in a lauded manual for inadvertently broaching the topic of mental health with children. In it, Mackesy uses the conversations and fiercely loyal friendships of four characters (a boy, mole, fox and horse) to explore universal truths and celebrate kindness and empathy. Pair this substance with Mackesy’s sensitive illustrations and exquisite calligraphy, and it’s no wonder the book became, and remains, an instant best-seller.

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Self-Help For Your Nerves, Dr. Claire Weeks

Self-Help For Your Nerves, by Dr Claire Weekes

Penned by Dr Claire Weekes, and first published in 1962 when mental health was largely a taboo, Self-Help For Your Nerves is as relevant a read today as it ever was. Arguably the definitive guide to tackling anxiety, the book contains an easy-to-follow explanation of the nervous system; the science behind nervous illness; chapters dedicated to specific symptoms (such as agoraphobia and insomnia); and practical tips for overcoming it all.

Weeks released several further editions of the book, each with updates to help it feel current, before she died in 1990, and it’s her authoritative, reassuring voice as much as anything that makes Self-Help For Your Nerves such an essential read for those suffering from anxiety.

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Remember This When You Are Sad, Maggy Van Eijk

Remember This When You're Sad, by Maggy Van Eijk

Part memoir, part self-help book, Maggy Van Eijk’s Remember This When You're Sad recounts a time in the author’s life when her poor mental health left her particularly vulnerable. She’d ended a three-year relationship, lost friends, nearly lost her job, and ended up in A&E a dozen times. But through it, she learned some valuable tools to help her cope with anxiety and depression, which she wants to share with you, the reader, to help you through your own mental turmoil.

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The Tao of Pooh, by Benjamin Hoff

An introduction for Westerners to the Eastern belief system of Taoism, The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff uses the fictional characters of AA Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh stories to explain the basic principles of the philosophy. The simple-minded, happy-go-lucky Pooh personifies the notions of wu wei, the concept of ‘effortless doing’, as well as p'u, the concept of being open to, but unburdened by, life’s experiences. In contrast, the pessimistic Eeyore frets about existence and struggles to just be. Through using these familiar characters to illustrate the philosophy’s allegorical tales, the book explains the ancient Chinese beliefs of Taoism in a way that’s accessible.

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Take a Moment, Mind mental health charity

Take a Moment, from Mind mental health charity

Developed in partnership with mental health charity Mind, Take a Moment is a pocketbook guide to finding peace of mind wherever you are. Each page is packed with uplifting exercises and activities to help you look after your mental health, whether you need to de-compress, refocus or simply switch off. And as an added bonus, the book is laced with gorgeous watercolour illustrations.

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