Psychologist Bullis presents a concise handbook about maximizing coping skills in situations that cause anxiety.
The author, who has 25 years of experience as a therapist, uses composite and anonymized case studies to lay out how the elements of a well-known cycle—wanting to feel in control, being unable to do so, becoming morestressed, and again desiring control—can be interrupted. He presents suitable actions one can take, successfully illustrating how one can manage overwhelming anxiety and confounding obstacles. Each of the chapters features a story highlighting one person’s specific difficulties, followed by their learning process as they address them; these skills are the focus of exercises at the end of each chapter. Techniques are broken down into easy, manageable steps, which is particularly helpful in potentially confusing situations. Bullis’ advice and activities will be useful to those dealing with daily stresses, as well as with major events, such as illness, disability, or job loss. The book’s simple emphasis is on creating a plan and following through on implementing it. Some sections feel more perfunctory than others; every reader has already heard the dictum that “life is a journey,” for instance. For the most part, though, the author avoids clichés and instead provides useful assertions, such as “In the end we want to live a life with the fewest regrets possible and to feel we have fulfilled our true potential.” The book provides practical tips and effective exercises; one can read the first half for action-oriented help and the second half for more context about grief, adaptation, hope, and persistence. Overall, it’s likely to be a solid resource for its target audience; families facing major life changes, in particular, will appreciate its logic and wisdom.
A set of thoughtful, manageable destressing techniques that’s presented in a refreshingly straightforward manner.