Say goodbye to anxiety, OCD, and alarming thoughts with this compassionate guide for new moms as you welcome your baby with a warm hello. Motherhood is one of the most difficult and demanding jobs to exist. It has led many women to physical exhaustion, mental fatigue, emotional rage, and ultimately, chronic burnout. The expectation to be everything to everyone and be everywhere all at once requires mothers to give and give and give, until there’s nothing left to give. Yet, despite the challenges that naturally come with mom life, new or seasoned mothers are rarely prepared for the endless worries, spiral of anxiety, or frightening intrusive thoughts that disrupt this critical bonding period with your loving baby. Add perinatal mental health conditions like postpartum depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or psychosis to the mix that is even less talked about, and you have the perfect storm for maternal unwellness. Hello Baby, Goodbye Intrusive Thoughts offers evidence-based cognitive behavioral (CBT) and exposure and response prevention (ERP) strategies to stop the spiral of anxiety and alarming intrusive thoughts, so you can spend less time “in your head” and more time connecting with your child. Jenny Yip, PsyD, not only understands and treats anxiety and OCD, she has battled her own postpartum OCD with the birth of twin boys. Now in this groundbreaking book fueled by a lifetime of professional dedication and personal insights, Yip delivers the essential guide that has benefited countless patients and mothers under her empathetic expertise over the past two decades. Whether you’re a new or seasoned mom, Hello Baby, Goodbye Intrusive Thoughts provides a toolbox for all mothers to worry less, stress less, and do less of mom guilt in order to get back to what truly matters to you—Baby. Enriched with practical step-by-step exercises, heartfelt stories from moms across the globe, and the latest scientific research, you will discover strategies to: Grasp what drives your anxious thoughts and behaviors Embrace uncertainty to engage more authentically with baby Disconnect from the worry train that interrupts your bond with baby Build a flexible mindset to mitigate the negative mind traps that disengage you from baby Let go of perfectionism and mom guilt to restore maternal and baby wellness Establish mental, emotional, and physical boundaries to ease the invisible demands of mom life and honor your motherhood identity Create life-long stress-less habits that better serve your sanity and growing family By practicing the habits that will nurture your bond with baby, you too can reclaim wellness on your motherhood journey with Yip’s humble and compassionate tested approach.

Procrastination comes in all shapes and sizes... No matter the reason, there's one thing in common with all forms of procrastination: ANXIETY. Do you put off doing things until the very last second? Do you find certain tasks overwhelming to manage? Don't worry-you're not doomed to a life of chronic stress. There is a way to break that seemingly endless cycle of procrastination. By identifying anxiety as the root of procrastinating behavior, Dr. Yip has created a personal action plan to help individuals reach their fullest potential. With easy-to-read diagrams, charts, goal planners, and worksheets designed to increase motivation and keep you on track, Productive, Successful YOU! helps readers to finally break free from the negative thought traps that block the path to success. Read about four real cases of people who have applied these strategies successfully, and drastically changed their approaches toward stress and procrastination. And finally, learn how to turn anxiety into a power tool that works for you rather than against you with Dr. Yip's detailed instructions for a procrastination-free life.

A fascinating look at the evolution of behavioral science, the revolutionary way it’s changing the way we live, and how nurturing environments can increase people’s well-being in virtually every aspect of our society, from early childhood education to corporate practices. If you want to know how you can help create a better world, read this book. What if there were a way to prevent criminal behavior, mental illness, drug abuse, poverty, and violence? Written by behavioral scientist Tony Biglan, and based on his ongoing research at the Oregon Research Institute, The Nurture Effect offers evidence-based interventions that can prevent many of the psychological and behavioral problems that plague our society. For decades, behavioral scientists have investigated the role our environment plays in shaping who we are, and their research shows that we now have the power within our own hands to reduce violence, improve cognitive development in our children, increase levels of education and income, and even prevent future criminal behaviors. By cultivating a positive environment in all aspects of society—from the home, to the classroom, and beyond—we can ensure that young people arrive at adulthood with the skills, interests, assets, and habits needed to live healthy, happy, and productive lives. The Nurture Effect details over forty years of research in the behavioral sciences, as well as the author’s own research. Biglan illustrates how his findings lay the framework for a model of societal change that has the potential to reverberate through all environments within society.

When someone is diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), chances are they've been living with the symptoms for a long time. People with OCD may have long felt embarrassed by their thoughts and behaviors, which may include fear of contamination, the need for symmetry, pathological doubt, aggressive thoughts, repeating behaviors, and obsessive cleaning. OCD: A Guide for the Newly Diagnosed helps readers understand how OCD works so they can develop better strategies for coping with their symptoms. This pocket guide offers guidance for coping with the diagnosis itself, discusses stigmas related to OCD, and includes help for readers unsure of who they should tell about the diagnosis. Readers also learn about the most effective treatment approaches and easy ways to begin to manage their OCD symptoms. An OCD diagnosis can be a devastating event, or it can be a catalyst for positive change. Books in the Guides for the Newly Diagnosed series provide readers with all the tools they need to process a diagnosis in the healthiest way possible, and then move forward to manage their symptoms so that the disorder doesn't get in the way of living a fulfilling life. This book has been awarded The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Self-Help Seal of Merit — an award bestowed on outstanding self-help books that are consistent with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles and that incorporate scientifically tested strategies for overcoming mental health difficulties. Used alone or in conjunction with therapy, our books offer powerful tools readers can use to jump-start changes in their lives. This book is a part of New Harbinger Publications' Guides for the Newly Diagnosed series.The series was created to help people who have recently been diagnosed with a mental health condition. Our goal is to offer user-friendly resources that provide answers to common questions readers may have after receiving a diagnosis, as well as evidence-based strategies to help them cope with and manage their condition, so that they can get back to living a more balanced life. Visit www.newharbinger.com for more books in this series.

"How do we move actors into the less accessible regions of themselves and release hotter, more dangerous, and less literal means of approaching a role?" Superscenes are a revolutionary new mode of teaching and rehearsal, allowing the actor to discover and utilize the primal energies underlying dramatic texts. In Acting, Archetype, and Neuroscience Jane Drake Brody draws upon a lifetime’s experience in the theatre, alongside the best insights into pedagogical practice in the field, the work of philosophers and writers who have focused on myth and archetype, and the latest insights of neuroscience. The resulting interdisciplinary, exciting volume works to: Mine the essentials of accepted acting theory while finding ways to access more primally-based human behavior in actors Restore a focus on storytelling that has been lost in the rush to create complex characters with arresting physical and vocal lives Uncover the mythical bones buried within every piece of dramatic writing; the skeletal framework upon which hangs the language and drama of the play itself Focus on the actor’s body as the only place where the conflict inherent in drama can be animated. Acting, Archetype, and Neuroscience weaves together a wealth of seemingly disparate performance methods, exciting actors to imaginatively and playfully take risks they might otherwise avoid. A radical new mixture of theory and practice by a highly respected teacher of acting, this volume is a must-read for students and performance practitioners alike.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is now rated the fourth most common psychological disorder in the United States. This resource addresses obsessive thoughts as a specific symptom of the disorder, and in addition to self-care strategies, offers information about professional care.

Powerful skills based in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help you break free from the fear of uncertainty and put a stop to compulsive checking and reassurance seeking. “How do I know I made the right decision?” “What if I’m wrong?” “I need to know for sure.” Do you have thoughts like these—thoughts that cause you to second-guess yourself, and lead to anxiety, stress, and worry? Do you find yourself repeatedly checking your email for no reason, asking others for their opinions about something again and again, or lying awake at night overanalyzing and planning ahead in an attempt to feel less anxious? If so, you probably have a problem with compulsive reassurance seeking. The good news is that you can break free from this “reassurance trap”—this book will show you how. In this unique guide, you’ll find proven-effective tips and tools using CBT to help you tolerate uncertainty, face specific worrying scenarios, and gradually reduce the compulsion to incessantly seek reassurance. Most importantly, you’ll learn to deal with those pesky “doubt attacks” and trust your own judgment. Asking for reassurance is a self-reinforcing behavior—if you do it, you’re less likely to handle stressful situations without needing further reassurance. And so the cycle continues. The CBT skills in this book will help you break this exhausting and painful pattern, so you can build self-confidence and improve your life.

You are not your thoughts! In this powerful book, two anxiety experts offer proven-effective cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) skills to help you get unstuck from disturbing thoughts, overcome the shame these thoughts can bring, and reduce your anxiety. If you suffer from unwanted, intrusive, frightening, or even disturbing thoughts, you might worry about what these thoughts mean about you. Thoughts can seem like messages—are they trying to tell you something? But the truth is that they are just thoughts, and don’t necessarily mean anything. Sane and good people have them. If you are someone who is plagued by thoughts you don’t want—thoughts that scare you, or thoughts you can’t tell anyone about—this book may change your life. In this compassionate guide, you’ll discover the different kinds of disturbing thoughts, myths that surround your thoughts, and how your brain has a tendency to get “stuck” in a cycle of unwanted rumination. You’ll also learn why common techniques to get rid of these thoughts can backfire. And finally, you’ll learn powerful cognitive behavioral skills to help you cope with and move beyond your thoughts, so you can focus on living the life you want. Your thoughts will still occur, but you will be better able to cope with them—without dread, guilt, or shame. If you have unwanted thoughts, you should remember that you aren’t alone. In fact, there are millions of people just like you—good people who have awful thoughts, gentle people with violent thoughts, and sane people with “crazy” thoughts. This book will show you how to move past your thoughts so you can reclaim your life! This book has been selected as an Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Self-Help Book Recommendation—an honor bestowed on outstanding self-help books that are consistent with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles and that incorporate scientifically tested strategies for overcoming mental health difficulties. Used alone or in conjunction with therapy, our books offer powerful tools readers can use to jump-start changes in their lives.

If these thoughts seem to be permanent fixtures in your mind, you're in good company. New moms have a lot to be anxious about, and it's perfectly natural to have some fears during and after pregnancy. The problem is, anxiety can grow, disrupting your daily life and keeping you from enjoying motherhood. The Pregnancy and Postpartum Anxiety Workbook provides proven-effective strategies drawn from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for keeping anxious thoughts at bay and getting back to the productive and positive thinking you've been missing. Through a series of easy exercises and worksheets, you'll learn skills for relaxing yourself when you feel stressed. You'll also learn to reduce the frequency and intensity of anxious feelings many pregnant women and mothers of infants face. The book also includes a chapter that offers tips to help fathers understand and support their partners. How I wish I'd had this book when I suffered from postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder! Pregnant and postpartum moms need to know that perinatal anxiety disorders are common and treatable, and that there's no need to continue suffering. -Katherine Stone, editor of Postpartum Progress, the most widely-read blog on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, and board member of Postpartum Support International Wiegartz and Gyoerkoe have adapted the powerful and scientifically proven techniques of cognitive behavioral therapy into tools that new moms and mothers-to-be can use to overcome the most common anxiety-related problems and reclaim this special time of life. -Jonathan S. Abramowitz, Ph.D., ABPP, professor and director of the Anxiety and Stress Disorders Clinic at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

We all worry about things from time to time, but some of us just can’t seem to stop expecting the worst—even when our expectations are very unlikely to occur. This condition, chronic worry, is disruptive all by itself, and it can lead to other, more serious anxiety problems. This little book—the fifth in New Harbinger’s Ten Simple Solution series—offers a handful of easy and effective techniques for getting rid of worry once and for all. Drawing on powerful psychotherapeutic techniques, 10 Simple Solutions to Worry is a succinct resource of cognitive-behavioral techniques for controlling worry and reducing stress. Exercises include self-assessments, motivation builders, relaxation training, and cognitive restructuring. After identifying and changing the negative thoughts that result in worry, you’ll learn to replace worry behaviors with other, more positive and constructive activities.