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Don't Feed the Monkey Mind: How to Stop the Cycle of Anxiety, Fear, and Worry Paperback – April 1, 2017
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The very things we do to control anxiety can make anxiety worse. This unique guide offers a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based approach to help you recognize the constant chatter of your anxious “monkey mind,” stop feeding anxious thoughts, and find the personal peace you crave.
Ancient sages compared the human mind to a monkey: constantly chattering, hopping from branch to branch—endlessly moving from fear to safety. If you are one of the millions of people whose life is affected by anxiety, you are familiar with this process. Unfortunately, you can’t switch off the “monkey mind,” but you can stop feeding the monkey—or stop rewarding it by avoiding the things you fear.
Written by psychotherapist Jennifer Shannon, this book shows you how to stop anxious thoughts from taking over using proven-effective cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and mindfulness techniques, as well as fun illustrations. By following the exercises in this book, you’ll learn to identify your own anxious thoughts, question those thoughts, and uncover the core fears at play.
Once you stop feeding the monkey, there are no limits to how expansive your life can feel. This book will show you how anxiety can only continue as long as you try to avoid it. And, paradoxically, only by seeking out and confronting the things that make you anxious can you reverse the cycle that keeps your fears alive.
- Print length200 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherNew Harbinger Publications
- Publication dateApril 1, 2017
- Dimensions6 x 0.5 x 8.75 inches
- ISBN-101626255067
- ISBN-13978-1626255067
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Editorial Reviews
Review
—Reid Wilson, PhD, author of Stopping the Noise in Your Head
“This book is a gem for people seeking to tame runaway anxiety and upset. Jennifer Shannon takes the simple metaphor of ‘monkey mind’ and fleshes it out with wisdom and simple steps that anyone can follow. Here, in plain language, is a comprehensive set of concrete steps to let your anxiety run its course and then fade. Jennifer Shannon has blended the best of cognitive behavioral methods and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to produce a great contribution to the self-help literature. Here you can learn to return your energy and attention back to your voyage through life, rather than the worries and fears that have hijacked your focus. Professional psychotherapists will also find it useful. I highly recommend it!”
—David Carbonell, PhD, Chicago-based psychologist specializing in treating fears and phobias; author of Panic Attacks Workbook and The Worry Trick; and “coach” at www.anxietycoach.com
“Don’t Feed the Monkey Mind is clear and easy to understand. The book will teach you simple and powerful strategies to harness fear and worry. Jennifer Shannon teaches you how to transform your life by taking the ‘monkey’ out of your mind.”
—Dennis Greenberger, PhD, coauthor of Mind Over Mood
“Don’t Feed the Monkey Mind begins with a well-written synopsis of basic attitudes and mental habits that perpetuate anxiety. The book follows with a set of clear, concise changes in mind-set and behavioral strategies to overcome anxiety at its roots. The ‘monkey mind’ concept is an apt, original contribution. Examples of points provided by the author as well as references to her personal story help make the book accessible to readers of all kinds.”
—Edmund J. Bourne, PhD, author of The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook and Coping with Anxiety
About the Author
Jennifer Shannon, LMFT, is author of The Shyness and Social Anxiety Workbook for Teens, The Anxiety Survival Guide for Teens, and cofounder of the Santa Rosa Center for Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in Santa Rosa, CA. She is a diplomate of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy.
Doug Shannon is a freelance cartoonist who resides in Santa Rosa, CA.
Foreword writer Michael A. Tompkins, PhD, is founding partner of the San Francisco Bay Area Center for Cognitive Therapy, diplomate of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, and assistant clinical professor at the University of California, Berkeley. He is author and coauthor of five books, including OCD and Digging Out.
Product details
- Publisher : New Harbinger Publications; 1st edition (April 1, 2017)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 200 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1626255067
- ISBN-13 : 978-1626255067
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 6 x 0.5 x 8.75 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #46,082 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #119 in Anxieties & Phobias
- #150 in Anxiety
- #219 in Popular Psychology Pathologies
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
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Jennifer Shannon is a licensed psychotherapist and a Certified Diplomat in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy specializing in anxiety. She has over thirty years of experience treating children, teens and adults. She is the author of Don’t Feed The Monkey Mind, The Anxiety Survival Guide for Teens and The Shyness and Social Anxiety Workbook for Teens. Her books have been selected for the Reading Well Books on Prescription in the UK. She was inspired to write her first book for her daughter, who developed severe social anxiety in middle school. She co-authors her books with her husband Doug, a gifted illustrator. Find out more about Jennifer Shannon at www.jennifershannon.com.
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book helpful in addressing anxiety. They find it straightforward and easy to follow, with practical insights that can be implemented immediately. The writing style is clear and concise, providing effective strategies for dealing with anxiety.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book helpful for dealing with anxiety. It provides practical insights and reduces stress levels. Readers mention it helps them understand their struggles and how to deal with anxiety.
"...There's no fluff in this book, no unnecessary stories or anecdotes...." Read more
"I liked reading this book. Good book on how to calm anxiety in tense situations and provides real life examples." Read more
"This is a great book to break down the anxiety we feel and experience and give tools to view and deal with it. Great tool!" Read more
"...I believe it can be incredibly helpful for visually anyone with anxiety - with a slight concern and possible exception - people with diagnosed..." Read more
Customers find the book straightforward and useful. They say it's a quick read with great takeaways to implement immediately.
"...The steps for reclaiming your life from your monkey mind were easy to follow. There's no fluff in this book, no unnecessary stories or anecdotes...." Read more
"...No magic cures here but effectively logical steps that taken consistently ensure that you get that noisy monkey to tone down that chatter on your..." Read more
"...I liked the author's writing style, it is very clear/simple/direct, there is no way you could miss out the valuables messages getting passed through..." Read more
"...An easy to follow, interesting book with excellent ideas...." Read more
Customers find the book easy to read and follow. The author provides clear strategies with practical advice. They appreciate the author's straightforward writing style and relatable personalization.
"I've read many of this type of book. This one was exceptionally well-written and organized...." Read more
"The author gets right to the point and provides very clear strategies with practical applications for anyone struggling with any level of anxiety...." Read more
"...I liked the author's writing style, it is very clear/simple/direct, there is no way you could miss out the valuables messages getting passed through..." Read more
"...and the ‘monkey mind’ analogy flows through out the book and makes perfect sense to me...." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2023I've read many of this type of book. This one was exceptionally well-written and organized. I could relate to the central metaphor of the monkey mind and all the explanations of how the monkey mind works made sense to me. The steps for reclaiming your life from your monkey mind were easy to follow. There's no fluff in this book, no unnecessary stories or anecdotes. Instead there are three case studies that the author returns to again and again, so it's as if we follow along on their journeys. This technique worked really well to help understand the processes suggested.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2024I liked reading this book. Good book on how to calm anxiety in tense situations and provides real life examples.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2019This is a great book to break down the anxiety we feel and experience and give tools to view and deal with it. Great tool!
- Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2024I got this book about a year ago and the material within it has really challenged alot of my limiting beliefs and preconceived notions about myself and othefs. This book is a very relaxing read while encouraging proaction at the same time. A very good book for anybody ruled by their fears.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2022There is SO much helpful thinking in this book. I believe it can be incredibly helpful for visually anyone with anxiety - with a slight concern and possible exception - people with diagnosed anxiety disorder need more than the book for guidance, and it's highly unlikely that a psychiatrist would automatically agree with pursuing some of the Monkey Training methods that are proposed. Anxiety is complicated at best, but there are people out there who could suffer significant levels of panic attacks while trying some of these techniques, and I didn't really see a lot of warning in that regard. That also points to the issue that sometimes the folks reading the book are trying to help someone else, and there's really no allowance for that. If the anxious person isn't the one reading the book and trying the techniques, there's a lot that just can't happen. The book is great for people who need to learn to face "reasonable" amounts of anxiety problems. Some people have a more complicated problem.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2021This is my go to book for when my anxiety is acting up. Most books say to just let the anxiety pass or float with the anxiety which seems impossible. This book puts your anxiety as a monkey (monkey brain) and it is much easier for me to imagine a monkey messing with me. Now i am more prone to think “oh! The monkey is messing with me” rather than my normal “omg! I’m feeling anxious” which adds to the anxiety. If you are anxious i highly recommend this book. While i have read many good anxiety books this one kind of simplifies it for you to where it seems possible to control your anxiety. For me, i don’t get as panicked because it’s just an annoying little monkey messing with me.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2019This book helps you see anxiety in your life from a different perspective. I will be interested to use the strategies offered by the author, however I admit I’m very sceptical about how helpful these can be in case of panic attacks.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2023The author gets right to the point and provides very clear strategies with practical applications for anyone struggling with any level of anxiety. I related so well with the content I got thru 9 of 11 in just a few hours. She even provides links to print out support documents to help you work through the CBT exercises. I highly recommend this book.
Top reviews from other countries
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Mayra Lizbeth Camargo MataReviewed in Mexico on November 13, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Muy práctico
Lo leí en menos de 3 días. Realmente me atrapó desde el principio, es claro, sencillo y sobre todo muy entendible. Contiene hojas descargables para avanzar y comprender mejor nuestra alianza contra la ansiedad.
- Dhritiman MandalReviewed in India on May 25, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Mind Blowing
It is a must read book.
It change my thinking process and it will change yours too.
Please do read this book!!!
- William FoulgerReviewed in the United Kingdom on May 21, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Really helpful
I’ve read lots about how to tackle my worry, and this is the first book I’ve found that has helped. The science is easy to understand and resonated with my experiences, and it is incredibly practical, right down to what you should do first, and what to say to yourself and do when you’re an intense worry experience. There are activities to do, free things to download online and a breathing recording to use. What she is suggesting is challenging! And at first I didn’t want to do it, but when I began it make a real positive difference in how I felt and thought. I would highly recommend this!
- ChrisReviewed in Canada on April 15, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars One if the best books I have read.
This is one of the best books I have read to help me understand my thinking and overcome anxiety. I recommend it to my friends. I cannot say enough about this book. If you have anxiety, you need this book, it’s life changing.
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JanReviewed in Italy on January 31, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Molto ben scritto e di grande aiuto
Molto ben scritto e strutturato, asciutto e completo alle stesso tempo. Fin qui il libro di auto aiuto che più mi ha soddisfatto. Stra consigliato