What do you think?
Rate this book
Good Anxiety: Harnessing the Power of the Most Misunderstood Emotion
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 ).
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 ).
304 pages, Hardcover
Published September 7, 2021
About the author
Wendy Suzuki
5 books169 followersDr. Wendy A. Suzuki is a Professor of Neural Science and Psychology in the Center for Neural Science at New York University. Her major research interest is brain plasticity with the focus on the brain's ability to form and retain new long-term memories.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
January 20, 2024
This is an excellent book. It's practical and accessible without being "dumbed down."
Very highly recommended for anyone dealing with anxiety. There is a lot of practical advice here for understanding anxiety and turning it into something positive.
There are also a lot of good scientific explanations about the origins of anxiety and the scientific basis for managing it.
Very highly recommended for anyone dealing with anxiety. There is a lot of practical advice here for understanding anxiety and turning it into something positive.
There are also a lot of good scientific explanations about the origins of anxiety and the scientific basis for managing it.
January 2, 2022
After the past couple of years, my anxiety has gotten a wee bit out of control. I randomly saw this book at the library and it seemed to be calling my name. I am really glad that I read it.
The first 190 pages of the book was very science heavy. I do legitimately enjoy brain anatomy and physiology. However, I did begin to skim these parts after about 150 pages because while it was interesting, it was getting too textbookish and I was ready for the strategies.
I liked the strategies. Long story short, they mostly revolve around sleep, diet, journaling, exercise, and meditation. What I appreciated was that she gave specific ideas and techniques. There are a few that I really want to try going forward - building stress tolerance, recasting my "what-if list", and to focus on focus.
With that being said, I also want to bring up that most of the anxiety inducing scenarios in the book are geared much more for the single, highly motivated, career minded individuals. So, not super relatable for a middle aged suburban mom that works part time. I tried not to get too hung up on her examples, but instead, tried to think about how I could modify them to work for me.
The first 190 pages of the book was very science heavy. I do legitimately enjoy brain anatomy and physiology. However, I did begin to skim these parts after about 150 pages because while it was interesting, it was getting too textbookish and I was ready for the strategies.
I liked the strategies. Long story short, they mostly revolve around sleep, diet, journaling, exercise, and meditation. What I appreciated was that she gave specific ideas and techniques. There are a few that I really want to try going forward - building stress tolerance, recasting my "what-if list", and to focus on focus.
With that being said, I also want to bring up that most of the anxiety inducing scenarios in the book are geared much more for the single, highly motivated, career minded individuals. So, not super relatable for a middle aged suburban mom that works part time. I tried not to get too hung up on her examples, but instead, tried to think about how I could modify them to work for me.
August 23, 2021
I won this copy from the, GOODREADS GIVEAWAY.
When I started reading this book I was not in a good frame of mind. My anxiety levels were at the highest they've ever been. So, I found myself having trouble focusing. But over the weeks I persevered. Boy am I glad I did. This wonderful book helped me better understand my emotions and how my brain worked at sorting or not sorting out my issues. And it has given me the tools to look at anxiety from different perspectives; from negativity and hopelessness to positivity and progress.
Dr. Suzuki's caring and compassion is felt all through the read. It is very comforting. In Part Three of the book there are tools to teach us how to worry well. ( That made me smile.) These tools are FABULOUS! There are surveys to help you discover your levels of anxiety, depth of anxiety, and triggers. These are followed by, YOUR GOOD ANXIETY TOOLBOX, which is filled with lots of great information on how to minister self help and open the door to your emotional Superpowers.
I highly recommend this book. It helped lift me and gave me tools to use for when I am struggling again.
When I started reading this book I was not in a good frame of mind. My anxiety levels were at the highest they've ever been. So, I found myself having trouble focusing. But over the weeks I persevered. Boy am I glad I did. This wonderful book helped me better understand my emotions and how my brain worked at sorting or not sorting out my issues. And it has given me the tools to look at anxiety from different perspectives; from negativity and hopelessness to positivity and progress.
Dr. Suzuki's caring and compassion is felt all through the read. It is very comforting. In Part Three of the book there are tools to teach us how to worry well. ( That made me smile.) These tools are FABULOUS! There are surveys to help you discover your levels of anxiety, depth of anxiety, and triggers. These are followed by, YOUR GOOD ANXIETY TOOLBOX, which is filled with lots of great information on how to minister self help and open the door to your emotional Superpowers.
I highly recommend this book. It helped lift me and gave me tools to use for when I am struggling again.
October 24, 2022
You don't have to suffer from anxiety to read this book. Maybe you live with someone who suffers from anxiety or work with someone who has anxiety. Someone in your family has it. This is a great tool to help you, help those around you. But if its you that suffers from anxiety then it will be very helpful to you.
It has ways to help you cope and strategies to help you get to know your anxiety.
I think this is very helpful guidebook.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.
It has ways to help you cope and strategies to help you get to know your anxiety.
I think this is very helpful guidebook.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.
October 13, 2021
Sitting at 3.5 for me. Some useful information and I appreciate the scientific, physiological insight into how the brain functions. I did feel like some of the examples missed the mark a little bit though they were well intentioned. They were written from a perspective that assumes a certain level of financial and career stability. For example it’s not super easy or possible for everyone to take time to travel or attend yoga classes (or to tell yourself that money isn’t a scarce resource). I get that these are examples and you have to find ways to apply the methodology to your own life but in my grumpier days I was like “Well isn’t that nice…” Overall I thought there were some good insights and things to think about so it was worth the 8 hour listen.
November 27, 2022
Suffering with anxiety? I definitely do. This is written by a neuroscientist and she shows you a different way to look at and deal with anxiety. You don't have to live in fear and there are ways to manage and deal with the emotions we hold inside. This looks at ways to change your perspective and become powerful instead of powerless. These practical strategies will easily guide you. Anxiety can be crippling until you learn how to manage it. A great book that is very helpful. I'm learning how to manage and deal with it.
Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
September 23, 2021
This book about anxiety is a great read for anyone with a science background to read! I suffer from anxiety and feel like just reading this book helped me out more than I expected it to. I also have been exploring grounding techniques for myself and this book helped me confirm some that I have found for myself. However, while reading this I found that if you aren't aware of a lot of scientific terms this book isn't for you.
February 27, 2023
Highly recommend for anyone who deals with anxiety, depression, or even just low level stress. I listened to the audiobook but would probably recommend the physical book since it includes a few diagrams and surveys.
February 26, 2023
While debating the merits of what I call “positive anxiety” with a friend one day, she pointed me towards this book. My thoughts generally relate to how I can feel anxious before some life events, both in my work and in my private life; events that I greatly welcome, yet feel a sense of nervous energy about. I believe this anxious energy to be intrinsically mixed with my passion, excitement, and drive towards the event and see it as a sign that I care for what I am about to do. My nervous energy is a motivator and without it I imagine I would be flatlining my way through life. I label this ‘good anxiety’. Suzuki says “Anxiety does work like a form of energy. Think of it as a chemical reaction to an event or situation.”
My essential question is, does this ‘good anxiety’ have the same physiological impact on your body, as ‘bad (fear based) anxiety’? And if so, do good experiences slowly kill us as much as bad experiences? Unfortunately, this book does not directly answer my specific questions! The book focuses more on how to redirect or recalibrate fear-based anxiety into something positive. It explains how anxiety stems from our primal ‘fight or flight’ antenna that is constantly on the lookout for danger. When we perceive real (or imagined) danger, an anxiety-based chain of events is set off in our bodies (cortisol & adrenalin are released etc) Our brains are wired to defend, so they are vigilantly scanning our environment for problems, which often leaves us defaulting to negative reactions; known as ‘negativity bias’. Thankfully (!), just as we are wired for survival, we are also wired for resilience and stress inoculation.
Suzuki essentially presents how we intercept this reactive anxiety and leverage brain plasticity to learn new responses, forging other (less anxious) outcomes. For example, we can use ‘anger' to dig deeper to understand what is important to us, we can assess our ‘worry’ to break it down into bite sizes to overcome and so on. The argumentation ties somewhat into Edith Eger’s choice theory as it is based on the concept that have a choice in how we ‘react’ and manage our emotions.
The book unexpectantly touches into another topic I often ponder concerning ‘creativity’. Growing up, I understood creative people to be artists, writers, designers, actors; people who create something unique based on their own imagination and style. As I was not one of these, I concluded I was not a creative person. In later years, I revised this view when I found myself unconsciously taking creative approaches to my work in the corporate world (the antithesis of creative!) and in how I generally approach planning and problem solving in life. Suzuki explains that using innovative thinking for solving issues is the essence of an activist mindset or a growth mindset. Such mindsets represent someone prepared to take risks, and to try a new approach to grow and develop, which she debates forms the essence of creativity. It is this skill which enables us to forge new responses to our anxiety driven thoughts.
I also learned some forms of anxiety show up as phobias. I had not made the connection that these were so closely linked. Suzuki explains how early childhood studies prove that early exposure to uncontrollable stressful situations (eg. war, abuse, sick parent) can lead to ‘learned helplessness’. This I find useful as I have a phobia and this helped me gain perspective on the ‘why’. Overcoming remains the greater challenge!
Of the 5 five types of anxiety management strategies presented in Gross’s Model of Emotional Regulation: 1. Situation Selection 2. Situation Modification 3. Attention Deployment 4. Cognitive Change and 5. Response Modulation; it is only the fifth technique which is employed AFTER anxiety occurs. “Response Modulation” is the strategy that Suzuki zooms in on and presents her six ‘super-powers’ to retrain your brain to recalibrate your response to your anxiety. Her line of argument is well constructed, practical and plausible. A useful series of both 'assessment' and 'training' exercises are offered up, with a good variety to cater for different brain types. The book has a great balance between the scientific explanation of anxiety and strategies for managing and even transforming it. It uses a lot of case study style stories to illustrate examples, which brings the science to life.
Although Suzuki did not directly answer my specific questions, the answer is implicit; if your body is generating cortisol and adrenalin, instead of serotonin and dopamine, then you are experiencing a negative response, even if your mind tricks you in to thinking it is ‘fuel’. There will always be things to worry about, so its probably worth sharpening our worry management skills.
My essential question is, does this ‘good anxiety’ have the same physiological impact on your body, as ‘bad (fear based) anxiety’? And if so, do good experiences slowly kill us as much as bad experiences? Unfortunately, this book does not directly answer my specific questions! The book focuses more on how to redirect or recalibrate fear-based anxiety into something positive. It explains how anxiety stems from our primal ‘fight or flight’ antenna that is constantly on the lookout for danger. When we perceive real (or imagined) danger, an anxiety-based chain of events is set off in our bodies (cortisol & adrenalin are released etc) Our brains are wired to defend, so they are vigilantly scanning our environment for problems, which often leaves us defaulting to negative reactions; known as ‘negativity bias’. Thankfully (!), just as we are wired for survival, we are also wired for resilience and stress inoculation.
Suzuki essentially presents how we intercept this reactive anxiety and leverage brain plasticity to learn new responses, forging other (less anxious) outcomes. For example, we can use ‘anger' to dig deeper to understand what is important to us, we can assess our ‘worry’ to break it down into bite sizes to overcome and so on. The argumentation ties somewhat into Edith Eger’s choice theory as it is based on the concept that have a choice in how we ‘react’ and manage our emotions.
The book unexpectantly touches into another topic I often ponder concerning ‘creativity’. Growing up, I understood creative people to be artists, writers, designers, actors; people who create something unique based on their own imagination and style. As I was not one of these, I concluded I was not a creative person. In later years, I revised this view when I found myself unconsciously taking creative approaches to my work in the corporate world (the antithesis of creative!) and in how I generally approach planning and problem solving in life. Suzuki explains that using innovative thinking for solving issues is the essence of an activist mindset or a growth mindset. Such mindsets represent someone prepared to take risks, and to try a new approach to grow and develop, which she debates forms the essence of creativity. It is this skill which enables us to forge new responses to our anxiety driven thoughts.
I also learned some forms of anxiety show up as phobias. I had not made the connection that these were so closely linked. Suzuki explains how early childhood studies prove that early exposure to uncontrollable stressful situations (eg. war, abuse, sick parent) can lead to ‘learned helplessness’. This I find useful as I have a phobia and this helped me gain perspective on the ‘why’. Overcoming remains the greater challenge!
Of the 5 five types of anxiety management strategies presented in Gross’s Model of Emotional Regulation: 1. Situation Selection 2. Situation Modification 3. Attention Deployment 4. Cognitive Change and 5. Response Modulation; it is only the fifth technique which is employed AFTER anxiety occurs. “Response Modulation” is the strategy that Suzuki zooms in on and presents her six ‘super-powers’ to retrain your brain to recalibrate your response to your anxiety. Her line of argument is well constructed, practical and plausible. A useful series of both 'assessment' and 'training' exercises are offered up, with a good variety to cater for different brain types. The book has a great balance between the scientific explanation of anxiety and strategies for managing and even transforming it. It uses a lot of case study style stories to illustrate examples, which brings the science to life.
Although Suzuki did not directly answer my specific questions, the answer is implicit; if your body is generating cortisol and adrenalin, instead of serotonin and dopamine, then you are experiencing a negative response, even if your mind tricks you in to thinking it is ‘fuel’. There will always be things to worry about, so its probably worth sharpening our worry management skills.
December 9, 2021
It's so interesting to see how publishing houses and ghost writers encourage scientists to pitch their work to make it palatable to and helpful for a wider audience. Wendy Suzuki is a neuroscientist, and you can practically hear the editor (or her agent) saying: "Okay, so you've explained the amygdala, but how can we put this in terms our readers can understand? Maybe that's 'bad anxiety.'" The bad/good dichotomy I think weakens the force of an otherwise helpful book. What she describes as "good anxiety"--a sense of flow, a heightened focus, the ability to speculate about possible outcomes and plan accordingly--I would not actually call anxiety at all, lest the category become meaningless and simply a catchall for any kind of adrenal arousal. By describing "bad anxiety"--stage fright, fretful insomnia, vigilance and exhaustion--as "bad anxiety," Suzuki perhaps compounds the self-recrimination that goes into that spiral in the first place.
This quibble aside, I was very moved by her stories from her personal life about unexpectedly losing her father and brother and the importance of finding sources of meaning and moments of calm in the wake of that. I also find her fundamental points helpful in spite of my skepticism about the good/bad nomenclature: 1) That your mind is trying to tell you something about your current situation by responding with anxiety, and you should listen to it. 2) That sleep and exercise are wildly important for a sense of well-being and should be prioritized. 3) That the spiraling thoughts of anxiety can be trained through practice into different routes. This suggestion is a combination of mindfulness (she recommends meditation practices to quell the [over]thinking at least temporarily) and neuroplasticity (positive self-talk, reframing the situation at hand and its possible outcomes, etc.). The exercises at the back of the book, largely based in journaling, were very useful and concrete and asks readers to consider the emotional roots of their self-doubt as well as imaginative exercises to prompt new mental stories.
This quibble aside, I was very moved by her stories from her personal life about unexpectedly losing her father and brother and the importance of finding sources of meaning and moments of calm in the wake of that. I also find her fundamental points helpful in spite of my skepticism about the good/bad nomenclature: 1) That your mind is trying to tell you something about your current situation by responding with anxiety, and you should listen to it. 2) That sleep and exercise are wildly important for a sense of well-being and should be prioritized. 3) That the spiraling thoughts of anxiety can be trained through practice into different routes. This suggestion is a combination of mindfulness (she recommends meditation practices to quell the [over]thinking at least temporarily) and neuroplasticity (positive self-talk, reframing the situation at hand and its possible outcomes, etc.). The exercises at the back of the book, largely based in journaling, were very useful and concrete and asks readers to consider the emotional roots of their self-doubt as well as imaginative exercises to prompt new mental stories.
April 8, 2022
Eh.
That it took me two months to read this book kind of speaks for itself. I tried to put the book down for a bit because the whole opening of "are you anxious? you should try to eat well and get some exercise!!!" was just... no kidding Dr. Suzuki. There's so many things in this book that are so tone deaf. Like "are you worried about making ends meet financially? Give your money to a charity!"
If you do want to read about anxiety, I recommend Rewire Your Anxious Brain: How to Use the Neuroscience of Fear to End Anxiety, Panic, and Worry
That it took me two months to read this book kind of speaks for itself. I tried to put the book down for a bit because the whole opening of "are you anxious? you should try to eat well and get some exercise!!!" was just... no kidding Dr. Suzuki. There's so many things in this book that are so tone deaf. Like "are you worried about making ends meet financially? Give your money to a charity!"
If you do want to read about anxiety, I recommend Rewire Your Anxious Brain: How to Use the Neuroscience of Fear to End Anxiety, Panic, and Worry
September 22, 2021
Some of the aspects of this book were good ~ example, the science, a 4. The application was a 2, so I averaged a 3.
The problem with the application was that it was a superficial. The problems were related to work, lack of work, public speaking, money, breaking up with a boy/girlfriend, but did not include issues that many face ~ parenting issues for one. It fell short for me.
It was an interesting read, the concept was good, and the science was explained with diagrams. This book was easy to read.
The problem with the application was that it was a superficial. The problems were related to work, lack of work, public speaking, money, breaking up with a boy/girlfriend, but did not include issues that many face ~ parenting issues for one. It fell short for me.
It was an interesting read, the concept was good, and the science was explained with diagrams. This book was easy to read.
September 23, 2021
Good research on the topic although if you've already learned about anxiety most of this is not new to you. Exercise, meditation, eating well, and exercising are the main take aways.
Read
September 28, 2022exercise, eat healthy snacks, don’t drink alcohol, sleep 8 hours a night.
there now you don’t have to read it.
there now you don’t have to read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2022
I struggled a little with what number of stars to give this. I settled on 3 because ultimately this is a book for neurotypical people. That's okay, but it was very aggravating at times. It also lost points for constant gentle "I wanted to lose 25 pounds so I cleaned up my diet" types of sentiments. And finally, despite the fact that I think the author genuinely intends the emotional wellbeing that her advice very well would bring, the focus of SO much of the book was better performance, better productivity, concrete results. I find this an incredibly shallow approach to discussing anxiety - deprioritizing productivity and our utility to capitalistic ideals is as critical to the discussion of modern anxiety as anything else discussed in this book. That being said, I did like a lot of how she talked about using anxiety as data to determine what our bodies and minds need, and I actually thought that the exercises for at home section at the back of the boom was excellent.
February 27, 2024
This book was a small find at a local book store that spoke to me. It made me realize how much we can use anxiety and flip it depending on the situation. It will take practice - but it was a good book to get some insight on a subject that seems so broad and individualized.
November 18, 2021
All Emotionally Based not Reality Based
Disappointed. I have lived a life of stress, almost all related to achieving and working in positions that are critical, time sensitive, and involve leadership and the care and love of people. This stress is not emotionally based, you cannot by positive thoughts make it go away. I hoped this book could help, for me it did not.
Disappointed. I have lived a life of stress, almost all related to achieving and working in positions that are critical, time sensitive, and involve leadership and the care and love of people. This stress is not emotionally based, you cannot by positive thoughts make it go away. I hoped this book could help, for me it did not.
April 28, 2022
You know that feeling when you're confiding in someone about your struggles, and they ask:
"Why don't you just _____?"
"But have you tried ______?"
I read the book and came away with just that feeling. The ideas offered seem to boil down to "meditate! exercise! don't eat/drink your feelings!", along with a somewhat out-of-touch dose of "travel!" and "have a good pre-existing family & financial situation!".
And yes, the author does talk about the science, but I don't think folks with anxiety need to be told that they're experiencing an imbalance in their brain chemistry because... we already know. :)
YMMV of course. I'd instead recommend Brené Brown's books, which help get to the bottom of /why/ we might be experiencing anxiety so we can solve those problems at their root (case in point: I got into Brené's books because my therapist recommended her, while Good Anxiety just happened to have a catchy title at the library.)
Also, The Courage To Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga, which goes beyond just naming the negative thought processes that come up in anxiety and actually goes and breaks them down step-by-step.
"Why don't you just _____?"
"But have you tried ______?"
I read the book and came away with just that feeling. The ideas offered seem to boil down to "meditate! exercise! don't eat/drink your feelings!", along with a somewhat out-of-touch dose of "travel!" and "have a good pre-existing family & financial situation!".
And yes, the author does talk about the science, but I don't think folks with anxiety need to be told that they're experiencing an imbalance in their brain chemistry because... we already know. :)
YMMV of course. I'd instead recommend Brené Brown's books, which help get to the bottom of /why/ we might be experiencing anxiety so we can solve those problems at their root (case in point: I got into Brené's books because my therapist recommended her, while Good Anxiety just happened to have a catchy title at the library.)
Also, The Courage To Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga, which goes beyond just naming the negative thought processes that come up in anxiety and actually goes and breaks them down step-by-step.
February 17, 2024
First half of the book I picked up some hints on what anxiety looks like, but this was for basic anxiety (what I call, 'stressed' feelings) or for those feelings that are 'off' and you're realizing you might need to change your ways. The ability to change your mindset is the goal of this book. If you have a serious type of anxiety, I will say give this book a HARD PASS and really talk to a licensed THERAPIST!
Something happened after Chapter 6. Once the gobbledygook of neuroanatomy entered the scene something changed in the book. It was like a whole bunch of college essays put together. You know when someone is talking indirectly about things, but not directly with you? I lost interest.
It started to go down that road of not giving helpful concrete 'how-to' ways to use the difference of thinking to overcome anxiety, but rather how great the author was in knowledge. Let's be real, who cares where it is in the brain? I know the author meant well, but when the author included herself (which was frequently):
“...I learned this firsthand. As a career scientist I have a list of creative insights from throughout the years that I'm very proud of. Some are practical, some esoteric (e.g., only if you have been studying the electrophysiology of the hippocampus for many years would you understand why a particular insight was, in fact, quite creative). But perhaps the insight I'm most proud of was born out of an intense, hit-the-wall problem I needed to solve.”
Yeah, you!!! Could you maybe SHARE WITH THE CLASS...us meager readers? Is this a book of you and how much you know or is it for others? Meanwhile, if a person with serious personal anxiety issues is reading this book, well...they will be more anxious because of your pretentious writing!!
Yes, clean up your diet, exercise, lose weight, positive self-talk, and meditate...oh, and take fun vacations to international destinations!
Congratulations on obtaining your PhD, teaching, and writing a book. Her 'acknowledgments' went to the coauthor, book agent, and editor...if that tells you something. Not to family or anyone outside -self-.
(I am sorry for author losing her brother)
Something happened after Chapter 6. Once the gobbledygook of neuroanatomy entered the scene something changed in the book. It was like a whole bunch of college essays put together. You know when someone is talking indirectly about things, but not directly with you? I lost interest.
It started to go down that road of not giving helpful concrete 'how-to' ways to use the difference of thinking to overcome anxiety, but rather how great the author was in knowledge. Let's be real, who cares where it is in the brain? I know the author meant well, but when the author included herself (which was frequently):
“...I learned this firsthand. As a career scientist I have a list of creative insights from throughout the years that I'm very proud of. Some are practical, some esoteric (e.g., only if you have been studying the electrophysiology of the hippocampus for many years would you understand why a particular insight was, in fact, quite creative). But perhaps the insight I'm most proud of was born out of an intense, hit-the-wall problem I needed to solve.”
Yeah, you!!! Could you maybe SHARE WITH THE CLASS...us meager readers? Is this a book of you and how much you know or is it for others? Meanwhile, if a person with serious personal anxiety issues is reading this book, well...they will be more anxious because of your pretentious writing!!
Yes, clean up your diet, exercise, lose weight, positive self-talk, and meditate...oh, and take fun vacations to international destinations!
Congratulations on obtaining your PhD, teaching, and writing a book. Her 'acknowledgments' went to the coauthor, book agent, and editor...if that tells you something. Not to family or anyone outside -self-.
(I am sorry for author losing her brother)
August 13, 2022
"Véritable forme d’énergie, l’activation de l’anxiété aura une répercussion positive ou négative selon la manière dont un individu réagit à un facteur de stress donné ou à une force extérieure".
"Le cerveau est un organe extrêmement adaptatif qui a besoin de stress pour rester en vie. Autrement dit, nous avons besoin de stress. À l’instar d’un voilier qui a besoin du vent pour avancer, le cerveau/corps a besoin d’une force extérieure qui le pousse à évoluer, à s’adapter et à ne pas mourir. Quand il y a trop de vent, le bateau prend de la vitesse, ce qui est dangereux dans la mesure où il peut à tout moment chavirer et sombrer. De même, lorsque le cerveau/corps est soumis à trop de stress, il commence à réagir de manière négative. A contrario, un cerveau/corps qui n’est pas suffisamment exposé à un stress se stabilise et « se la coule douce ». D’un point de vue émotionnel, cette stabilisation peut être perçue comme de l’ennui ou un manque d’intérêt. D’un point de vue physique, elle peut s’apparenter à un arrêt de la croissance. Lorsque le cerveau/corps n’a ni trop ni pas assez de stress mais juste ce qu’il lui faut, il fonctionne de manière optimale. En revanche, quand il n’est soumis à aucun stress, il fait du sur-place, comme un voilier privé de vent".
"Les émotions liées à la peur surgissent lorsqu’une menace est présente et imminente tandis que les émotions liées à l’anxiété apparaissent quant à elles lorsqu’une menace est possible mais se produira ou non".
"Le cerveau est un organe extrêmement adaptatif qui a besoin de stress pour rester en vie. Autrement dit, nous avons besoin de stress. À l’instar d’un voilier qui a besoin du vent pour avancer, le cerveau/corps a besoin d’une force extérieure qui le pousse à évoluer, à s’adapter et à ne pas mourir. Quand il y a trop de vent, le bateau prend de la vitesse, ce qui est dangereux dans la mesure où il peut à tout moment chavirer et sombrer. De même, lorsque le cerveau/corps est soumis à trop de stress, il commence à réagir de manière négative. A contrario, un cerveau/corps qui n’est pas suffisamment exposé à un stress se stabilise et « se la coule douce ». D’un point de vue émotionnel, cette stabilisation peut être perçue comme de l’ennui ou un manque d’intérêt. D’un point de vue physique, elle peut s’apparenter à un arrêt de la croissance. Lorsque le cerveau/corps n’a ni trop ni pas assez de stress mais juste ce qu’il lui faut, il fonctionne de manière optimale. En revanche, quand il n’est soumis à aucun stress, il fait du sur-place, comme un voilier privé de vent".
"Les émotions liées à la peur surgissent lorsqu’une menace est présente et imminente tandis que les émotions liées à l’anxiété apparaissent quant à elles lorsqu’une menace est possible mais se produira ou non".
February 25, 2024
Here are my reasons for the 3/5
Pros of this book:
- there are some really interesting facts about anxiety and how it works to allow for people to build more compassion for this emotion / response
- there is some neuroscience in here that is super interesting!
- lots of tools to self reflect with
Cons:
- some of her personal examples were not relatable at all… I’m wondering if she could have refrained from using them and used more generic examples to allow for more connection (it was a bit too much about her Masters / PhD and more of a … richer lifestyle that I cannot relate to)
- sometimes the neuroscience with examples didn’t mix well. I love neuroscience but I think the examples linked to the science didn’t click for me - I got bored
Neutral:
- I know a lot of the tools and strategies she posted - specifically around yoga and meditation / but she allowed the science to back it up which was neat but not surprising for me personally
Overall: this is a good book for beginners on their self love journey. This book has some interesting additional information for the person who is a bit more experience with managing their anxiety / stress…. But it’s not anything new. I would recommend this more for people who are just starting their self love journey. I was hoping for something more.
Pros of this book:
- there are some really interesting facts about anxiety and how it works to allow for people to build more compassion for this emotion / response
- there is some neuroscience in here that is super interesting!
- lots of tools to self reflect with
Cons:
- some of her personal examples were not relatable at all… I’m wondering if she could have refrained from using them and used more generic examples to allow for more connection (it was a bit too much about her Masters / PhD and more of a … richer lifestyle that I cannot relate to)
- sometimes the neuroscience with examples didn’t mix well. I love neuroscience but I think the examples linked to the science didn’t click for me - I got bored
Neutral:
- I know a lot of the tools and strategies she posted - specifically around yoga and meditation / but she allowed the science to back it up which was neat but not surprising for me personally
Overall: this is a good book for beginners on their self love journey. This book has some interesting additional information for the person who is a bit more experience with managing their anxiety / stress…. But it’s not anything new. I would recommend this more for people who are just starting their self love journey. I was hoping for something more.
November 24, 2022
Dare I say, after the events of the last few years, this book might be required reading. I think most of us, at one point in our lives, have experienced anxiety, and some of us struggle with it daily.
Dr. Suzuki is a professor of neural science and psychology; she uses her knowledge and experience to help shift our thinking about anxiety. It’s hard to imagine, but we can learn that, like all emotions, there is a purpose for our anxiety; we just need to focus that energy in a positive, healthy direction.
Some of the concepts presented are not new but are helpful reminders. But the idea of not seeing anxiety as the enemy is a fresh, exciting approach. 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐀𝐧𝐱𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 is an excellent resource for our well-being.
Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @wendy.suzuki for a spot on tour and a gifted book.
Dr. Suzuki is a professor of neural science and psychology; she uses her knowledge and experience to help shift our thinking about anxiety. It’s hard to imagine, but we can learn that, like all emotions, there is a purpose for our anxiety; we just need to focus that energy in a positive, healthy direction.
Some of the concepts presented are not new but are helpful reminders. But the idea of not seeing anxiety as the enemy is a fresh, exciting approach. 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐀𝐧𝐱𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 is an excellent resource for our well-being.
Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @wendy.suzuki for a spot on tour and a gifted book.
November 28, 2021
I very much enjoyed reading the parts of this book about recent research on anxiety and the brain. It was quite interesting and insightful!
This book was a good balance between science and scientific language and real life application. I enjoyed how the writer made all these parts make sense in a non-judgmental, be-kind-to-yourself kind of way. She shared her personal stories, thus building rapport with the reader. You really feel like you get to know her as a human being and not just some scientist throwing information at you, which was definitely refreshing to read in this book.
There were also some assessments and real life application suggestions I also appreciated and enjoyed reading about.
I would definitely recommend this for anyone who lives with anxiety!
This book was a good balance between science and scientific language and real life application. I enjoyed how the writer made all these parts make sense in a non-judgmental, be-kind-to-yourself kind of way. She shared her personal stories, thus building rapport with the reader. You really feel like you get to know her as a human being and not just some scientist throwing information at you, which was definitely refreshing to read in this book.
There were also some assessments and real life application suggestions I also appreciated and enjoyed reading about.
I would definitely recommend this for anyone who lives with anxiety!
February 11, 2022
This book was good!
I liked the concept that anxiety is not something you can completely get rid of, but rather something you can manage in different ways. This book provides so much in depth information on the brain system and why we tend to feel the anxiety we do in the different situations we find ourselves in.
I also enjoyed how this author sees the different varieties of anxiety. She did not center this book around those who experience low levels of anxiety, but rather centered the book around any type of person feeling any sort od anxiety.
I liked the concept that anxiety is not something you can completely get rid of, but rather something you can manage in different ways. This book provides so much in depth information on the brain system and why we tend to feel the anxiety we do in the different situations we find ourselves in.
I also enjoyed how this author sees the different varieties of anxiety. She did not center this book around those who experience low levels of anxiety, but rather centered the book around any type of person feeling any sort od anxiety.
October 19, 2022
I never knew I had anxiety until quite recently, and it was so hard dealing with it. I genuinely didn't know how to.
But Dr. Wendy Suzuki book was very insightful. And it taught me a lot. I don't have to be ashamed of having anxiety or try to avoid it. By confronting what makes us anxious, it helps us not only to learn about ourselves but also helps us discover ways to harness it and improve our lives.
It was nice to know that instead of making it a hindrance, anxiety can be used as a tool for improvement.
But Dr. Wendy Suzuki book was very insightful. And it taught me a lot. I don't have to be ashamed of having anxiety or try to avoid it. By confronting what makes us anxious, it helps us not only to learn about ourselves but also helps us discover ways to harness it and improve our lives.
It was nice to know that instead of making it a hindrance, anxiety can be used as a tool for improvement.
September 1, 2021
Overall a powerful read. I greatly enjoyed this, with its focus on anxiety, its roots, and ways to reframe and use it as a tool to transform our thought processes and ultimately actions. Rather than avoiding anxiety, embrace it! An example includes the “sailboat” analogy, describing how as a sailboat needs wind, the brain-body needs outside encouragement. The author successful demonstrates throughout the read the difference between rational fear and anxiety, and ways to utilize these feelings. I highly recommend to all who experience anxiety (which one could argue we all do at some point), and/or for those trying to better understand the emotion and feeling in friends and family. Those vying for anxiety-provoking careers and training also would benefit from this read as it helps discern tangible steps to understand anxiety and use it for good.
Thank you NetGalley for my free copy. The comments above are my own without influence.
Thank you NetGalley for my free copy. The comments above are my own without influence.
September 9, 2021
Good Anxiety by Wendy Suzuki is a free NetGalley ebook that I read in early September.
Outside of Suzuki's own experiences, the explanation and neurology of anxiety and relevant case studies are pretty clinical, making it somewhat more of a self-learning book than a self-help book. Despite this, it's about confronting and tooling with your existing anxiety to have it work with you, instead of against you or ridding yourself of it; telling the difference between good and bad coping mechanisms; reanalyzing preconceptions and tiring loops of worry and stress; seek out physical & social activities; and quantitative questionnaires to figure your own type of anxiety and what triggers you.
Outside of Suzuki's own experiences, the explanation and neurology of anxiety and relevant case studies are pretty clinical, making it somewhat more of a self-learning book than a self-help book. Despite this, it's about confronting and tooling with your existing anxiety to have it work with you, instead of against you or ridding yourself of it; telling the difference between good and bad coping mechanisms; reanalyzing preconceptions and tiring loops of worry and stress; seek out physical & social activities; and quantitative questionnaires to figure your own type of anxiety and what triggers you.
November 26, 2021
I heard a presentation by Dr. Suzuki at the Learning and the Brain conference, and that made me want to read about her work. If you are struggling with moderate anxiety (meaning non-clinical - go get help for that), then this is the book for you.
December 14, 2022
I’m so sorry but this book really didn’t do it for me. I enjoyed the bits and pieces of neuroscience she included but otherwise it was largely anecdotal and boring. Also, I felt like a lot of the content was well known information so nothing felt new.
March 28, 2024
A solid 3 for me! While I love the concept of this book, the actual execution fell short for me. Having experienced anxiety since ~6th grade, I hoped that reframing my perspective on it could bring me more peace if I were to view it as 'good anxiety'. While there were some helpful insights, particularly those I've quoted below, I found the overall advice somewhat repetitive, focusing mainly on the importance of exercise and meditation without discussing more of the complexities of anxiety as I had hoped.
"We all need constant practice simply sitting with our feelings, sitting with the discomfort, and not trying to immediately mask, deny, escape or distract ourselves."
"We need to go through hard things in order to know we can survive them."
"My anxiety was triggered when my life started to approach the boundaries of my limiting beliefs." (A good reminder to value and practice maintaining a growth mindset)
"We all need constant practice simply sitting with our feelings, sitting with the discomfort, and not trying to immediately mask, deny, escape or distract ourselves."
"We need to go through hard things in order to know we can survive them."
"My anxiety was triggered when my life started to approach the boundaries of my limiting beliefs." (A good reminder to value and practice maintaining a growth mindset)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews