Synopsis:
Easing Anxiety Is Possible—and Here’s How
Left untreated, anxiety can be hugely disruptive to our lives. It can keep us up at night, cause difficulties at work, and interfere in relationships. Anxiety can keep us trapped and alone, and persistent social stigmas can make it feel like we’re the only ones suffering.
As a three-time cancer survivor, Wendy Leeds knows what it’s like to deal with anxiety. As a licensed psychotherapist (LMHC), she has experience helping herself and others heal from the effects of anxiety. Wendy brings that unique perspective to her new book, Solving the Anxiety Equation: The Formula to Free Yourself from Fear.
With easy-to-implement tools and techniques for dealing with anxious thoughts, negative beliefs, and physical symptoms of anxiety, Solving the Anxiety Equation takes the mystery out of what makes us anxious and offers a hands-on, individualized approach for getting to the root of our anxiety—and healing it. Mixing personal stories of struggle and triumph with the latest research on the causes, impacts, and solutions, Wendy offers a path to recovery from anxiety that can help every reader live with less fear and greater ease.
Favorite Lines:
“…when self-doubt is running things, it’s like driving through life with one foot on the gas pedal and the other foot on the brake.”
“Fear comes in all sorts of forms and sizes. It shows up differently for all of us. It can be predictable, or it can show up unexpectedly.”
“Every new moment brings the chance to begin again.”
My Opinion:
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
Anxiety is something nearly everyone experiences at some point, but for those who struggle with it daily, it can feel like an insurmountable force. In Solving the Anxiety Equation, Wendy Leeds provides a thoughtful, compassionate, and practical approach to managing and ultimately overcoming anxiety. As both a psychotherapist and someone who has personally battled anxiety, Leeds blends professional insight with lived experience, making this book not just informative but deeply relatable.
One of the book’s biggest strengths is its clear, structured approach. Leeds breaks anxiety down into three core components:
- Self-doubt – The internal voice that tells us we’re not good enough, smart enough, or strong enough.
- Fear of change – The worry that any shift in our circumstances will only make things worse.
- Physical anxiety – The way our bodies react to stress, from racing hearts to sweaty palms to full-blown panic attacks.
By understanding how these elements work together, Leeds argues that we can begin to dismantle anxiety’s grip on our lives. She introduces thought-swapping techniques to help counteract negative self-talk, the BEAR method for managing panic attacks, and mindfulness practices to re-center ourselves in moments of distress.
What makes this book stand out is its deeply personal tone. Leeds openly shares her own struggles with anxiety, including how she navigated intense fear during her cancer diagnoses. These moments of vulnerability make the book feel incredibly authentic—it’s not just another self-help book written from a distance, but rather a conversation with someone who truly understands what it’s like to live with anxiety.
She also emphasizes the importance of rewriting our internal narratives. Many people with anxiety tell themselves stories like, I’m not strong enough to handle this or I’ll never be able to cope. Leeds challenges these assumptions and offers ways to replace them with more empowering thoughts, such as I have overcome challenges before, and I will again. This simple but profound shift in mindset can be life-changing.
Leeds doesn’t just offer advice—she guides the reader through exercises that help reinforce these techniques. Her writing style is warm and reassuring, making complex psychological concepts easy to understand and apply.
Summary:
Overall, whether you’re dealing with occasional anxiety or chronic worry, Solving the Anxiety Equation is an invaluable resource. Leeds provides hope without false promises—she acknowledges that anxiety doesn’t disappear overnight, but with the right tools, it can be managed in a way that allows us to lead happier, more fulfilling lives. Happy reading!
Check out Solving the Anxiety Equation here!
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