You are NOT alone!
Many people feel a very real anxiety that can lead to panic attacks or worse, feeling as if they are being suffocated when wearing a mask. It is not in your head, and it can produce anxiety that induces panic as your body responds by gasping for air as it tries to take in more oxygen, this can lead your body into a flight or fight response.
You are not alone. When guidelines suggest wearing a mask in public you should comply, and there are ways to reduce your anxiety and keep the panic at bay. In the video below, I will walk you through some simple exercises that with practice can increase your comfort and reduce your panic.
Covid-19 is not the end of the world. But it is the end of certainty as we’ve known it. With unprecedented instability regarding our health, our jobs, our social connections, even our survival — of course we’re anxious! But our dis-ease does not have to disable us. If we can immunize ourselves to uncertainty, we can start sleeping again, feel confident in our ability to handle things, and discover more flexibility, creativity and joy in our lives.
I’m a licensed therapist specializing in anxiety disorders. Since Covid-19 arrived, my practice has been filled with people needing help to cope with the many anxieties that the virus has brought with it. In order to better serve my clients, I created a small book with many helpful tools and techniques to help people learn to make peace with the anxiety. You see, I’ve been where you are. My own anxiety lead me to specialize in anxiety disorders, first for peace in my life and then for peace in the lives of my clients.
The little book comes with step-by-step practices, web accessible audio meditations like the one below, and worksheets that utilize three essential strategies—one cognitive, one behavioral and one emotional— that are designed to help you expand your tolerance for what you cannot control, rather than contract against it with worry and compulsive behavior. They are “essential” strategies because, as I have learned in my decades of working with anxiety disorders, we cannot transform ourselves unless we employ our thoughts, feelings and behavior in unison toward our goal.
The little book is written in clear, simple language, complemented by lively illustrations. My goal is to get you through this crisis with skills you’ll use the rest of your life. When you immunize yourself to uncertainty, your anxiety eases. The more your anxiety eases, the more flexibility, creativity, and resilience will flow–the very qualities we all need in a crisis!
The audio meditation below is a sample of the powerful tools you will find in this book.
Transform Fear into Love
A few words from readers…
“A little book that packs a big punch!” I found the exercises in this book can help me navigate many challenging uncertainties, not just those brought by covid-19.
“Short and to the point” This little book could fool a “sophisticated” reader with its friendly tone and cute illustrations. It’s easy to follow but it’s not at all simplistic. There are written exercises and links to spoken relaxation exercises and other things (no extra cost). This book would be helpful to anyone who wants to lessen their anxiety and worry about the virus pandemic or anything else.
“We can all use these strategies during the pandemic.” Jennifer Shannon’s book is not only full of simple exercises to combat anxiety, it is rich with practical insights she has gained from being an expert in the field. The revelations are easy to grasp and follow and are practical, intelligent, and often witty. One quote I found especially insightful: “We are at war with the inherent uncertainty of life, a war that ironically we can only win if we surrender.”
Endorsements…
“You can’t solve each new crisis that arises. But you can master the ability to tolerate uncertainty. The task is difficult, but it is simple. Spend some time with Jennifer Shannon’s book, and your body and mind will thank you for it.”
Reid Wilson, PhD author of Stopping the Noise in Your Head
“Great suggestions for quieting inner turmoil, complete with specific examples of how we might cope with the challenges of media overload, fearing shortages of toilet paper, taking sniffles as a sign of death, and more. Great reading while you shelter in place! Dave Carbonell, PhD, “Coach” of the popular self-help site, anxietycoach.com
Jennifer Shannon wrote her first book, The Shyness and Social Anxiety Workbook for Teens 15 years ago when her then teenage daughter, Rose, developed severe social anxiety in middle school. She wanted teens and their families to know that social anxiety is treatable using cognitive-behavioral interventions. She is also the author of Don’t Feed The Monkey Mind, The Anxiety Survival Guide For Teens and A Teens Guide to Getting Stuff Done, all published by New Harbinger Press. She speaks regularly at local and national conferences and has been featured on numerous radio shows, podcasts and news media. Her passion is to educate people about how effective CBT is for the most common problems we face. She is a Certified Diplomat of The Academy of Cognitive Therapy , a graduate of the Behavioral Therapy Training Institute for OCD and a member of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.
To learn more visit
JenniferShannon.com
To learn more about Living with the Monkey Mind visit
Monkey Mind Books
To learn more about the books for teenagers with anxiety visit
Overcoming Teen Anxiety
© 2020 Jennifer Shannon, LMFT | JenniferShannon.com
