I have been on the fence about releasing this eBook of anxiety-reducing tips and suggestions for almost six months. Many are activities I’ve used over the years ever since my first anxiety episode appeared when I was in my early 20’s. I never figured out what brought them on and have let go any need to understand why. It became a part of me as much as eating and sleeping.
That brings me back to my hesitation to release it. I mean, I’m not a doctor, or therapist, and can’t provide any psychological counseling. I can’t say whether someone should go on anti-anxiety meds or start any other regimen. I can only speak to how I managed over the years, especially in the late 1970’s – 1980’s when the word “anxiety” was not something typically discussed, there were no books on it, no internet to search, and if it was mentioned, it carried a stigma not many wanted to carry.
So, what did I do? I wrote and wrote in a journal, the spiral kind or the black and white marble schoolbook version because they were cheap enough to buy in bulk; I created my own calm breathing techniques, and mantras. I knew to carry a crossword book on the subway so if we got stuck between stations, I could distract my mind from thinking panicky thoughts to coming up with a five-letter word that started with a “c.” Distracting my thoughts was key, so was journaling and self-calming activities.
Fast forward to the 2000’s and beyond when the word “anxiety” began to show up in news articles, and conversations. Little by little, people were becoming more open about it. Maybe it was a result of 9/11, or school shootings, or the chaos around the world, or that within our own government. I read how more teens were talking about it; friends’ kids were suffering from it, adults and seniors were diagnosed with it, and a multitude of books were written about it.
And, yes, all those books!! As I browsed through some of them, I found the authors were too wordy, made the subject overly complicated, added a lot of filler to justify the $30 price tag. The authors had scientific backgrounds, but did they have their own anxiety episodes? Who knows? What I do know is I’d feel comforted hearing from someone who lived it. Not just one-time, but for years.
There’s a story, one that has stuck with me, and I think it has given me the permission I need to finally release the eBook. It goes something like this. A fellow was passing by and saw a friend of his in a hole. He shouts down to his friend and asks if he can help him out. The man walking by jumps in the hole. The other man says, “Great, now we are both stuck in here.” But the other man says, “Yes, but I’ve been here before and know the way out.”
The Anxiety Relief Handbook is filled with 40 tips, half to try when one is in an anxious episode or feels one coming on; and the other half are ideas to incorporate into your life to reduce the anxiety and lessen its power. It’s short and sweet; it’s clear and concise.
Woman Around Town has agreed to provide the PDF to our readers, free of charge. (Click on the book’s title to download the pdf.)The more we can work to lower our own anxiety, we can bring more calm into ourselves, our home, workplace, and the world.
May 2026 be happy and healthy for all our WAT readers.
To download the book, click here.
I invite those who get their copy to write me at mjhanleygoff@gmail.com.
Tell me what you think, let me know your suggestions for future updates to it.
All comments are welcome.
Top Bigstock photo by PathDoc
