Book excerpt: Stand up to anxiety and take back control Is anxiety running your life? Does it dictate where you go, what you do, or who you spend time with? Does it keep you trapped in a bubble of fear and panic? Anxiety can happen anytime, anywhere—that’s why you need simple, in-the-moment skills to stay grounded when worry takes hold. This user-friendly guide will help you gain the upper hand on anxiety, and stop avoiding the people, places, and things that make you anxious—and start living the life you were meant to live. In Show Your Anxiety Who’s Boss, you’ll find a practical and direct three-step approach grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help you respond to anxious thoughts, respond effectively to future challenges, and make peace with uncertainty. If you’re ready to live a full and vital life without anxiety constantly getting in the way, this straightforward guide will show you how to get back on track. With this powerful book, you’ll learn how to: Make useful predictions, instead of anxious fictions Take action and overcome avoidance Accept and redirect anxious or negative thoughts “A wonderful resource for anyone struggling with anxiety.” —David F. Tolin, PhD, ABPP, author of Face Your Fears “Joel Minden has taken wisdom from decades of anxiety treatment research and distilled it into an accessible, compelling book.” —Kathryn H. Gordon, PhD, psychologist