Tame your anxiety

Control comes from within and from understanding just what your mammal brain wants and needs. The human brain is wired to crave happy chemicals, and we are rewarded with these chemicals when the brain strives toward a goal, feels a part of the group, gets recognition, and faces pain. Anxiety occurs when these needs are not met. Keeping this in mind, Breuning outlines a three-step plan to combat anxiety. It includes determining what the brain really wants, distracting the brain by spending 20 minutes on a consuming, pleasurable task, and finally taking one step toward achieving the goal. The author offers suggestions for possible goals, tasks, and action based on her own and others? experiences. She believes in designing a program based on an individual?s needs and warns of the dangers of seeking relief from anxiety with food, alcohol, and drugs (including prescriptions). Breuning presents a convincing case for controlling anxiety by tapping into natural instincts and drives.