introduction
Understanding
Your A n x iety
A
nxiety is an undeniable part of human life. Every
living person on this planet, at some point in his or
her life, has experienced anxiety. In fact, many people feel
anxious on a daily basis, including members of your family,
your friends, and your colleagues at work or school. Some
people panic at the sight of an insect or rodent; others anx-
iously dread giving a speech or talking on the telephone.
Some people chronically worry about “worst- case scenar-
ios,” while others fear leaving the relative safety of their
home or encountering reminders of traumatic events that
occurred in their past. Almost everything in life has the
potential to make you feel anxious, but only if you let it! In
other words, it’s entirely possible to skillfully manage your
anxiety by examining the relationships you have to your
fears and worries and embracing them (rather than avoiding
them!). Admittedly, this isn’t easy, and we can’t guarantee
that you will never feel excessively anxious again, but we do
pledge to help you master your anxiety so that you will feel
more capable and in control of your daily life.