The Anxiety Audit

From the host of the podcast Flusterclux comes an easy-to-absorb discussion on anxiety, along with practical tips on how to handle it. Each chapter has personal stories and anecdotes from Lyons’s therapy practice and ends with questions for self-reflection as part of what she calls an “audit.” Ultimately, she shows readers that anxiety is not as unique as they might imagine it to be. She also shows that many people with different backgrounds and personalities may have to cope with some form of anxiety. The pandemic is an obvious precursor and catalyst for much of what the author discusses, but she also addresses the more everyday anxieties as well. This makes for helpful and comforting reading. Readers will learn that they’re not alone; many people are living with similar anxiety issues, and there are strategies to employ. She acknowledges that her book will not cure or solve all problems, but suggests it can help alleviate them. The book is meant for general audiences, and thus contains limited jargon but has plenty of clear explanations.