There are plenty of things to stress about in April. On the 1st, you’re worried about getting pranked, on the 17th, you’re scrambling to get your taxes to the post office, and if you’re a student, finals and possibly graduation are just around the corner. But April is also Stress Awareness Month. Instead of wishing stressful activities in your life would go away, why not take this month to take control of your response to harmful feelings. These 10 books could hold the key for a brand new, stress-free life.
- Mystic Cool: A proven approach to transcend stress, achieve optimal brain function, and maximize your creative intelligence by Don Joseph Goewey: PsychCentral called this book "the missing owner’s manual for your mind." Goewey’s premise is that stress is toxic for the brain, and by transcending it you unlock your mind’s potential. The book is a fun read as Goewey ties in Eastern thought with Western science while steering clear of boring medical terminology. Readers say his methods like the "clear button" for stress and "watching the thinker" have absolutely changed their lives.
- Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff–and it’s all small stuff by Richard Carlson: Before his death in 2009, Dr. Richard Carlson was widely recognized as a happiness expert. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff was a bestseller for two years after it came out, as people soaked in Carlson’s plain and gentle advice, like "Give people a second chance" and "Remind yourself that when you die, your inbox won’t be empty." As if to prove that point, Carlson died at just 45, shortly after publishing a new book. Let this small book be your friendly reminder to take life as it comes.
- From Panic to Power: Proven Techniques to Calm Your Anxieties, Conquer Your Fears, and Put You in Control of Your Life by Lucinda Bassett: As a recovered sufferer of severe anxiety herself, Lucinda Bassett knows well of what she speaks and writes. The founder of the Midwest Center for Stress and Anxiety, Bassett overcame her panic attacks and now uses her experiences in her motivational speaking to prove stress does not have to rule our lives. Bassett is not a doctor, meaning the information is simple and straightforward. If you have been looking for an author who knows what living with anxiety is like, look no further.
- How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie: Since hitting bookstores in 1990, 6 million copies of Dale Carnegie’s legendary stress management book have been sold. Like some of the best self-help books, much of the wisdom is not profound or even original. What there is is proven formulas and so-true quotes on how and why you should stop worrying, like living in "day-tight" compartments and remembering that most worry is based on a lack of facts. Take Carnegie’s opening line as a wake-up call: "Those who do not know how to fight worry die young."
- Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen: Much of our stress is a result of all of us having so much to do and limited time to do it. But being stressed only inhibits our ability to knock things off the to-do list. David Allen is "the personal productivity guru," and with this book, he shows you simple and effective ways to focus your energy and either do it, delegate it, or defer it. Some of the technologies (PDAs) Allen mentions are outdated, but the principles and techniques can still transform your ability to get things done.
- Angry Octopus: A Relaxation Story by Lori Lite: The ideal of a carefree child appeals to our nostalgia, but it is not always realistic. Negative stress on children under 10 can be more impactful than on other people because of their inability to think events through completely and control their feelings. Lori Lite has written many children’s books to help parents manage their kids’ stress. Angry Octopus introduces kids to deep breathing and "progressive muscular relaxation" as ways to control anger and relax.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Sourcebook by Glenn Schiraldi: PTSD is one of the most crippling psychological disorders a person can face, and it is also one of the most difficult to overcome. Glenn Schiraldi is a Ph.D. and served in stress management at the Pentagon. This book is one of his nearly dozen titles on stress. It is designed to explain PTSD to sufferers and their loved ones and show them how healing can begin. The writing is clear and concise, and many PTSD sufferers say they turn to its pages for comfort when they feel their anxiety building.
- Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn: This book by famous scientist and meditation teacher Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. was released in 1993 and became a bestseller published in over 20 languages. Kabat-Zinn teaches the art of "mindfulness" at the Stress Reduction Clinic at Massachusetts Medical Center he founded, not as a spiritual endeavor but a workout for your consciousness. Over the years since its publication, readers have been moved by the book’s beautiful writing and appreciated its scientific approach to introducing meditation to the uninitiated. You may find the answer to your stress problem is "being" rather than "doing."
- Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome by James L. Wilson: It is believed that every American will face adrenal fatigue at some point in their lives. Unfortunately, most of us don’t know how to recognize the signs or what to do about it. Dr. James Wilson created this comprehensive guide that could change your life, even if you didn’t realize it needed changing. He covers diet, vitamins, medicine, and other areas where you can reduce stress. Dr. Wilson has three doctorates and two master’s degrees, so you’re in good hands. So don’t stress.
- Positive Energy: 10 Extraordinary Prescriptions for Transforming Fatigue, Stress, and Fear into Vibrance, Strength, and Love by Judith Orloff: Buddhist and psychiatrist Judith Orloff’s "Positive Energy Program" is designed to help you counter the negativity that always accompanies stress and use diet and exercise to revitalize your health. You’ll also learn how to use laughter to protect yourself from those lethal "energy vampires" you encounter during your day. Many people have been inspired and motivated by the exercises and easy-to-read material. If you’re one of the millions of exhausted Americans, this book will be refreshment for your soul.
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