Undoing Perpetual Stress

The author of Undoing Depression presents an effective guide to modern anxiety, and shows how you can recognize—and rescue yourself from—its effects. Twenty-first-century life evolves at a breakneck pace—and with it, stress seems to multiply by the day. We work long, harrowing hours. We fret over our families and finances. Our e-mail beeps and our cell phones ring. But our nervous systems were never meant to handle so many stressors. In this groundbreaking book, psychotherapist Richard O’Connor explains how a wide range of common problems—both emotional and physical—are actually side effects of modern life, and how you can undo their damage. Combining expertise with down-to-earth language, Undoing Perpetual Stress explains how you can: • Recognize the hidden effects of stress on your brain and body • Understand your inner sanity in conflict with a crazy world • Develop self-control over how you think, act and feel when stressed • Regain a sense of meaning and purpose in your life You already know how to “do” stress. With the help of this book, you can undo it, too.

The bestselling approachable guide that has inspired thousands of readers to manage or overcome depression — fully revised and updated for life in the 21st century. Depression rates around the world have skyrocketed in the 20‑plus years since Richard O'Connor first published his classic book on living with and overcoming depression. Nearly 40 million American adults suffer from the condition, which affects nearly every aspect of life, from relationships, to job performance, physical health, productivity, and, of course, overall happiness. And in an increasingly stressful and overwhelming world, it's more important than ever to understand the causes and effects of depression, and what we can do to overcome it. In this fully revised and updated edition — which includes updated information on the power of mindfulness, the relationship between depression and other diseases, the risks and side effects of medication, depression’s effect on thinking, and the benefits of exercise — Dr. O'Connor explains that, like heart disease and other physical conditions, depression is fueled by complex and interrelated factors: genetic, biochemical, environmental. But Dr. O'Connor focuses on an additional factor that is often overlooked: our own habits. Unwittingly we get good at depression. We learn how to hide it, and how to work around it. We may even achieve great things, but with constant struggle rather than satisfaction. Relying on these methods to make it through each day, we deprive ourselves of true recovery, of deep joy and healthy emotion. Undoing Depression teaches us how to replace depressive patterns with a new and more effective set of skills. We already know how to "do" depression—and we can learn how to undo it. With a truly holistic approach that synthesizes the best of the many schools of thought about this painful disease, and a critical eye toward medications, O'Connor offers new hope—and new life—for sufferers of depression.

The author of Undoing Depression gives readers a new approach to modern misery by revealing the missing connection between depression, anxiety, and 21st-century illness.

From the bestselling author of Undoing Depression – a groundbreaking program to get happy and stay happy! Do you want to live the happiest, most satisfying life possible? Does happiness feel like an elusive goal? According to the most recent developments in psychology and science, the brain can be trained to be more receptive to happiness, because staying happy doesn't come naturally. Nor does our society make it easy. In Happy at Last, psychotherapist Richard O'Connor offers new thinking about how we attain and maintain happiness, and he shows us that it doesn't necessarily have to come at a high cost or in a big package. Rather, we can be in command of our happiness by learning to control how our minds work so that we can identify and savor the hidden positive aspects of everyday life. To do this, O'Connor provides us with a set of skills that will help us re-wire our brains to allow ourselves more joy. Filled with practical advice and exercises, Happy at Last is a step-by-step guide that will help you achieve * The core skills that we need to feel happy and fulfilled in today's world. * Strategies for increasing happiness, reducing unnecessary misery, and experiencing greater satisfaction. * Techniques for keeping sadness at bay and stress from getting in the way of enjoying life. This is not glib pop psychology but rather the best current science has to offer, put into an accessible and absorbing book. Richard O'Connor makes it possible to be, finally, Happy at Last!

Parenting Without Stress is a multiple award-winner and the only approach that is TOTALLY noncoercive (but not permissive) and does not use rewards, threats, or imposed punishments.

A refreshing guide to becoming a healthier, happier self. We humans tend to get in our own way time and time again—whether it comes to not speaking up for ourselves, going back to bad romantic partners, dieting for the umpteenth try, or acting on any of a range of bad habits we just can’t seem to shake. In Rewire, renowned psychotherapist Richard O’Connor, PhD, reveals exactly why our bad habits die so hard. We have two brains—one a thoughtful, conscious, deliberative self, and the other an automatic self that makes most of our decisions without our attention. Using new research and knowledge about how the brain works, the book clears a path to lasting, effective change for behaviors that include: • Procrastination • Overeating • Chronic disorganization • Staying in bad situations • Excessive worrying • Risk taking • Passive aggression • Self-medication Bringing together many different fields in psychology and brain science, Dr. O’Connor gives you a road map to overcoming whatever self-destructive habits are plaguing you, with exercises throughout the book. We can rewire our brains to develop healthier circuitry, training the automatic self to make wiser decisions without having to think about it; ignore distractions; withstand temptations; see ourselves and the world more clearly; and interrupt our reflexive responses before they get us in trouble. Meanwhile, our conscious minds will be freed to view ourselves with compassion at the same time as we practice self-discipline. By learning valuable skills and habits—including mindfulness, self-control, confronting fear, and freeing yourself from mindless guilt—we can open ourselves to vastly more successful, productive, and happy lives.

“A compelling story of everyday courage” (Elizabeth Gilbert). Patty Chang Anker grew up eager to please and afraid to fail. But after thirty-nine years, she decided it was time to stop being a chicken. Motivated initially to become a better role model for her two kids, she vowed to master the fears that were choking the fun and spontaneity out of life. She learned to dive into a swimming pool, ride a bike, do a handstand, and surf. As she shared her experiences, she discovered that most people suffer from their own secret terrors—of flying, driving, heights, public speaking, and more. It became her mission to help others do what they thought they couldn’t and to experience the joy and aliveness that is the true reward of becoming brave. Inspired and inspiring, this book draws on Anker’s interviews with teachers, therapists, coaches, and clergy to convey both practical advice and profound wisdom. Through her own journey and the stories of others, she conveys with grace and infectious exhilaration the most vital lesson of all: Fear isn’t the end point to life, but the point of entry.