‘One of the country’s leading experts on mental health’ The Times

‘Owen’s work around anxiety has been a huge help for me in my own life. I would highly recommend this book’ Lewis Capaldi

—

Feeling anxious is part of being human; sometimes it can even be necessary or useful.

But what about when anxiety takes over? When you feel like it’s too often dictating your life?

Have you ever considered that you might be addicted to anxiety?

In this groundbreaking book, bestselling author and psychotherapist Owen O’Kane explores how we all unwittingly build habits around our anxiety. This, he argues, is how we become addicted – the behaviours and thought patterns that help us feel safe in the short term ultimately serve to perpetuate it.

Put simply, we get hooked.

The answer? Break the cycle.

How?

Recognize: You must understand your anxiety and identify your triggers before you can start to unpick it.

Tackle: Discover vital techniques for breaking the underlying habits and patterns.

Move forward: Learn strategies for navigating setbacks or relapses on the road ahead.

Addicted to Anxiety will help you understand your anxiety from the perspective of addiction, identifying your triggers and learning how to break your habits so you can actively replace them with new, more productive behaviours for a calmer, happier life.

MORE PRAISE FOR ADDICTED TO ANXIETY

‘Generous, wise and very persuasive’ Observer Magazine

‘Friendly, reassuring, and confidently expert’ i News

‘A really important read for anyone wanting to live more comfortably with their anxious self. Full of clinical expertise, warmth and humanity.’ Julia Samuel, psychotherapist and bestselling author

‘Addicted to Anxiety is a truly powerful and important book. Owen O’Kane’s piercing clarity as a therapist and writer gifts anybody who has experienced anxiety the insight and tools to overcome it.’ Rob Rinder

‘Owen takes the tangled, overwhelming problem of anxiety and unravels it with clarity and compassion. His gift lies in turning the hard-to-understand into simple, actionable wisdom that anyone (me included) can implement to reclaim their peace and take control of their life.’ Matt Willis

‘Owen’s insight due to his experience and wisdom allows him to cut to the chase of why we get stuck in difficult emotions and more importantly he shows us how to navigate them and lead happier lives. A must read.‘ Will Young

‘Owen has the rare gift of explaining complex emotions in a truly engaging and digestible way. His tips and strategies for managing those emotions are explained with care, compassion and humour. Highly recommended.’ Susie Dent

‘There’s a reason Owen’s work has put him at the very top of his profession and why his books continue to top the bestsellers chart – he’s one of the very best in his field. His ability to distil sage advice, to navigate a world of word salad and jargon to bring therapeutic advice to people who might not otherwise be able to afford it or find it accessible is the reason he continues to lead where others follow.’ Kate Thornton

‘One of the country’s leading experts on mental health’ The Times

‘Owen’s work around anxiety has been a huge help for me in my own life. I would highly recommend this book’ Lewis Capaldi

‘I love Owen’s work. He is a force for good’ Davina McCall

‘Owen helps us look at our lives and happiness in a clear and practical way’ Fearne Cotton

—
Feeling anxious is part of being human; sometimes it can even be necessary or useful.

But what about when anxiety takes over? When you feel like it’s too often dictating your life?

Have you ever considered that you might be addicted to anxiety?

In this groundbreaking book, bestselling author and psychotherapist Owen O’Kane explores how we all unwittingly build habits around our anxiety. This, he argues, is how we become addicted – the behaviours and thought patterns that help us feel safe in the short term ultimately serve to perpetuate it.

Put simply, we get hooked.

The answer? Break the cycle.

How?

Recognize: You must understand your anxiety and identify your triggers before you can start to unpick it.
Tackle: Discover vital techniques for breaking the underlying habits and patterns.
Move forward: Learn strategies for navigating setbacks or relapses on the road ahead.

Addicted to Anxiety will help you understand your anxiety from the perspective of addiction, identifying your triggers and learning how to break your habits so you can actively replace them with new, more productive behaviours for a calmer, happier life.

—

MORE PRAISE FOR ADDICTED TO ANXIETY:

‘A really important read for anyone wanting to live more comfortably with their anxious self. Full of clinical expertise, warmth and humanity.’ Julia Samuel, psychotherapist and bestselling author

‘Addicted to Anxiety is a truly powerful and important book. Owen O’Kane’s piercing clarity as a therapist and writer gifts anybody who has experienced anxiety the insight and tools to overcome it.’ Rob Rinder

‘Owen takes the tangled, overwhelming problem of anxiety and unravels it with clarity and compassion. His gift lies in turning the hard-to-understand into simple, actionable wisdom that anyone (me included) can implement to reclaim their peace and take control of their life.’ Matt WIllis

‘Owen’s insight due to his experience and wisdom allows him to cut to the chase of why we get stuck in difficult emotions and more importantly he shows us how to navigate them and lead happier lives. A must read.’ Will Young

‘Owen has the rare gift of explaining complex emotions in a truly engaging and digestible way. His tips and strategies for managing those emotions are explained with care, compassion and humour. Highly recommended.’ Susie Dent

‘There’s a reason Owen’s work has put him at the very top of his profession and why his books continue to top the bestsellers chart – he’s one of the very best in his field. His ability to distill sage advice, to navigate a world of word salad and jargon to bring therapeutic advice to people who might not otherwise be able to afford it or find it accessible is the reason he continues to lead where others follow.’ Kate Thornton

‘Truly empowering – a book for everyone. It will help you figure out life.’Fearne Cotton

All the benefits of therapy – 10 minutes at a time

Let Owen O’Kane, psychotherapist, former NHS Clinical Lead and Sunday Times bestselling author of TEN TO ZEN, show you how anyone can use simple, understandable techniques to unlock better mental health.

Modern life is a minefield for stress. Whether it’s juggling work, relationships or money, we often struggle to make time for ourselves and can find ourselves stuck in a rut with bad habits or worries.

In HOW TO BE YOUR OWN THERAPIST, Owen O’Kane reveals how smart, short techniques throughout the day can form healthier perspectives and let you ditch harmful thought patterns.

Using the latest evidence-based tools and techniques from across a range of therapies including CBT, mindfulness and interpersonal therapy, Owen provides empowering solutions to managing what keeps you stuck so you can move forward.

Teaching you the key fundamentals of therapy and how to apply these to your own life, alongside targeted tasks that take just 10 minutes a day, this is the practical therapy book for anyone who wants to get the best from their life and to manage better in tough times.

‘Owen is bringing much needed therapy to all of us. He brings down the stigma attached to being vulnerable and is making talking about mental health approachable for everyone. His book is brilliant and I highly recommend.’ Dr Rupy Aujla, MBBS, BSc, MRCGP The Doctor’s Kitchen

‘Anyone looking to understand how therapy can help them help themselves, should look no further than Owen’s humorous and empowering book.’ Benedict Cumberbatch