SKU/ISBN: 9798889111061
Author(s): Art & Laraine Bennett, Lianna Haidar
Did you know that the latest research shows that one in three people will meet the criteria for anxiety disorder at some point in their lives?
Even those of us who do not require professional help have certainly experienced the crippling effects of anxiety.
World events, lockdowns, the destruction of traditional values, the rise of omnipresent screens and social media have all certainly contributed to the climbing levels of anxiety in today’s world.
Catholics are not immune and may be searching for a solution that is both Catholic and clinically sound.
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Anxiety. Even the saints struggled with its effects. From excessive worry about the future to ruminating about the past, anxiety can steal your joy, impact your health, and negatively affect your spiritual life.
Whether you experience brain fog, scrupulosity, panic attacks, or are constantly overwhelmed, it is possible to regain control of your life and experience freedom from anxiety.
Whether you or a loved one are struggling with anxiety, this book will help you understand it and take the steps necessary to remediate it and restore your tranquility.
The Bennetts’ book Anxiety is a tremendous resource for those suffering and for those who aid them. It is replete with absorbing, real-life stories about individuals who endured various forms of anxiety and found healing through practical and spiritual means.
In these liberating pages, you will discover how your brain works; how biology, temperament, and past experiences contribute to anxiety; how to respond to anxiety calmly and rationally; and how to evaluate professional-help options. You will discover:
- Tested remedies and exercises to assist you in regaining your calm when you are triggered
- Practical tips for coping with insomnia, stress, and fear
- Four ways to reframe difficult situations, whether socially or at work, and thereby grow in virtue
- What to do when coping mechanisms become harmful
- How to train your brain to rest in the present moment, regardless of what is happening
- Methods to help liberate individuals from trauma and attain serenity and renewed dignity
“Anxiety is one of the authorities, powers, and dominions over which the Lord triumphed on the Cross and which he carried off captive and placed in chains,” wrote Hans Urs von Balthasar. Through these stories of liberation, you will be consoled that God has given us the capacity to heal, to have our mental health restored, and to find lasting happiness.
Endorsements
"For decades, Art and Laraine Bennett have been laboring in the Lord’s vineyard, helping countless men and women live with greater freedom and joy while following Christ ever more faithfully. Now they have teamed up with their daughter, Catholic psychologist Dr. Lianna Haidar, to address the crucial and timely topic of anxiety. With self-revealing honesty, candor, clinical experience, and spiritual wisdom, they gently bring our anxieties into the light and make them more understandable, more bearable, and much less frightening. As a result, this book will be a consolation and help to any anxious soul seeking the peace that passes all understanding (Phil. 4:7).”
Andrew Sodergren, M.T.S., Psy.D., Director of Psychological Services, Ruah Woods Psychological Services
"Ours is indeed an age of anxiety. Students, colleagues, parents, everyone seems overbooked, overwhelmed, and ‘stressed out,’ either trying to avoid anxiety at all costs or else settling for a life that is fundamentally anxious. This new book tackles the question of anxiety: what is it, what happens when you avoid it, and what is the best way to address it to live a flourishing Christian life. Authors Art and Laraine Bennett team up with their psychologist daughter, Dr. Lianna Haidar, to tackle the besetting problem of our age."
Andrew Abela, Ph.D., Dean, Busch School of Business; Author, Superhabits: The Universal System for a Successful Life
"In the crowded field of self-help books, Anxiety is a down-to-earth addition that can help us use the contributions of psychology to address the worries that impede joy and peace. The authors write in an honest and engaging style brimming with practical information, actionable advice, and perennial wisdom. This book shows what the lives and writings of the saints can tell us about how to address present-day anxieties. I would recommend this book to any Catholic with anxiety."
Dr. Eric Gudan, Psy.D., H.S.P.P., Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Integritas Psychological Services, Inc.
"Anxiety: A Catholic Guide to Freedom from Worry and Fear addresses the emotional crisis of our time head-on by clearly demonstrating that the antidote must be rooted in faith and hope. The authors collectively blend their professional expertise and life experiences to provide wonderfully engaging examples we can all relate to while illuminating the path to a brighter, more confident future."
Dr. Michael Horne, Psy.D., Catholic Psychologist
“The Bennetts—with their daughter Dr. Haidar—take up a timely and timeless topic, artfully integrating psychology, biology, theology, philosophy, and literature in an engaging manner to shed light on the common experience of anxiety. With an accessible perspective and an authentically Catholic anthropology, this new book provides the reader with both an intellectual understanding and practical guidance on how staying ‘in the boat’ of Catholic teaching is a true asset for effective coping.”
Frank Moncher, Ph.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist
“In response to the rise of anxiety in our modern world, the Bennetts have provided us with a wonderful resource that blends neuroscience, psychology, and the fullness of the Catholic Faith. Drawing on insights from leading researchers and stories from the saints, this book helps us develop an understanding of anxiety and how we can respond in order to live more peaceful lives, free of worry and fear.”
Ian Masson, L.P.C., Owner, Agape Counseling and Consulting
"While all of us experience fear and anxiety at one time or another, the problem appears to be spiraling out of control in our ‘advancing’ modern society. Good Catholics and Christians, and even their ministers, are certainly not immune from this phenomenon. In this wonderful book, the Bennetts artfully and articulately balance science and faith in providing a guide to understand and address the problem. As a longtime and recovering worrywart, I highly recommend this book. Whether you or your loved ones have chronic struggles or just occasional bouts, there is much in this book that you will find helpful."
Rev. Charles Sikorsky, L.C., J.D., J.C.L., President, Divine Mercy University
"In this book, the Bennetts provide clear and practical guidelines for cultivating mental health in the context of a holistic understanding of the human person. I heartily recommend it to anyone challenged by anxiety and to anybody who knows someone who struggles with anxiety. The Bennetts offer hope—anxiety is not a problem without a solution."
Rev. Donald Planty Jr., J.C.D., Pastor, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Arlington, Virginia
"When anxiety wants to take over, when rest and sleep are elusive, Anxiety: A Catholic Guide to Freedom from Worry and Fear will lift the burdens and help you go into the future in a wholesome way. The authors integrate Scripture, the saints, clinical expertise, and spiritual insights. The personal anecdotes provide wisdom and hope. The mystery of the human person is unpacked and wrapped in God's love, a love for you that's better than you think. I want to have this book close by in my pastoral ministry."
Rev. Msgr. Bob Cilinski, Episcopal Vicar for Charitable Works, Diocese of Arlington; Pastor, Nativity Catholic Church