'Finding Hope In The Age of Anxiety' Offers Hope To People Who Struggle With Anxiety

Finding Hope in the Age of Anxiety by Dr. Claire Hayes offers hope to people who struggle with anxiety

In this new book based on over 30 years of experience helping people of all ages understand and cope with anxiety, Dr Claire Hayes describes how we can take our power back when it becomes all-consuming and even paralysing.

Anxiety in moderation is a normal part of life. We can experience anxiety at any age and stage of life through childhood, adolescence and adulthood. It is a normal reaction to real and/or perceived stress. However, sometimes anxiety can escalate and overwhelm causing a range of complications including illness, avoidance and increased anxiety. It is important that we can recognise what is actually ‘normal’ anxiety and learn to manage it when it is not.

It is understandable in the world we live in that we can sometimes lose sight of hope. How can we have hope when we are faced with overwhelming doom and gloom on the news all day, every day? How can we have hope when we are becoming more connected to our screens and less connected to the people around us? How can we have hope if we experience anxiety to the extent that we have a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder?

By using the principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dr Hayes helps us to recognise, understand and take control of the unhelpful thoughts, beliefs and actions that cause anxiety. She describes coping techniques such as being gentle with ourselves, facing our fears, practising relaxation techniques, eating well, exercising well and sleeping well. But ultimately, she encourages us to face whatever makes us feel anxious so as to overcome anxiety.

This treatment for anxiety is paradoxical in that it can actually make us feel worse initially rather than better as we face our fears and stressors. But through years of experience, and illustrated with case studies from her own clients throughout the book, Dr Hayes gives you the understanding and hope you need to take your power back from anxiety by facing it with understanding, courage and compassion.

You can buy Finding Hope in the Age of Anxiety in Eason, Amazon, on our website and in all good bookstores nationwide.

Keep up to date with Claire on her website and connect with her on LinkedIn.

About the Author

Dr. Claire Hayes is a practicing consultant clinical psychologist, lecturer, author and researcher and is a former Clinical Director with Aware, Ireland’s national charity for people who have depression or bipolar disorder. Since 1988, Claire’s main area of interest has been to help people to understand the nature of their anxiety and to learn practical and evidence based ways of coping using Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. Her previous books are Stress relief for teachers: The coping triangle (2006) and How to cope: The welcoming approach to life’s challenges (2015).