Beyond the Spiral: Why You Shouldn’t Believe Everything Anxiety Tells You

by Will Hutcherson, Chinwé Williams

Anxiety is a normal human response to stressful circumstances. But sometimes anxiety takes more control over us than we would like, and we find ourselves stuck in a cycle of fear and anxious thoughts. That cycle (sometimes called the spiral of anxiety) can leave us feeling overwhelmed, helpless, and exhausted. Teenagers and young adults already have a lot on their minds, with the pressures of keeping up grades, navigating their future, and keeping their social life intact. Anxiety can make life even more difficult. They need to discover that anxiety doesn’t have to own or define them and that they can move beyond the spiral of anxiety. If you are a teenager or young adult looking for help to manage your anxiety (or you know someone who is), and you're discouraged by dismissive answers like, "you should just pray more and worry less," this book is for you. In Beyond the Spiral, Will Hutcherson and Dr. Chinwé Williams (authors of Despair and Anxiety in Kids and Teenagers and the Power of Connection ) will help you discover six lies that can keep us spiraling in Then they'll help you discover the truths to replace those lies, along with practical strategies to break free from the cycle. Not only will you learn coping skills as if you were on the couch of a licensed therapist, you'll also discover how to apply them from a faith perspective. Beyond the Spiral  seamlessly combines both faith and psychology to give a teen or young adult everything they need to stop believing the lies of anxiety and to thrive instead of just surviving life. 

Genres: Mental Health, Nonfiction, Self Help, Psychology, Christian, Parenting

160 pages, Paperback

Published May 8, 2023

Reviews

[Logan Carrigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely accessible and excellent resource for anyone looking to understand and work through anxiety, but especially wonderful for anyone who works with students.

[WillyB · Rating 4 out of 5]

The true rating would be much closer to a 4.5. This book was a solid easy read with great worksheets and breakout activities amidst it. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who works with youth, as I believe it has helped give me some new insight on how to work with my youth facing anxiety. I’m grateful that I was able to attend a workshop by each of these authors, and can testify that they do great work and that they truly care about helping others navigate this mental health epidemic we are facing. I also think this is a great book and resource to offer up to youth (as that is the designed reading audience), as this book gives great tangible ways to work through anxiety through community and through faith.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am thankful to this book and these authors for communicating with such clarity, research, and biblical faithfulness. It is so helpful to hear from followers of Jesus who step into the space of mental health and psychology with a biblical perspective and are willing to also lean into psychological research and the reality that God has given us knowledge and wisdom to discern the human mind and delve into its depths. So much misleading information goes around that is harmful to many in the space of psychology and mental health. This resource is biblically faithful, helpful, practical, encouraging, and a great book to have alongside in the journey.

[Peter Graham Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beyond the Spiral by Will Hutcherson and Dr. Chinwé Williams is an excellent resource for those working with teens facing anxiety. I appreciated the practical clinical strategies, the emphasis on physical health, and the final chapter focused on God, it was inspiring.
Some sections on involving God felt either too lofty or too simple, though the examples were helpful. I also wish the book addressed how sin can sometimes contribute to anxiety-inducing situations.
Overall, this is a valuable tool for students and those who lead them, offering practical strategies and spiritual encouragement.

[Avery Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good and so helpful! I have felt for a long time like no one truly had practical ways to combat anxiety that would help me, but this book did just that. It also added a Christian aspect that wasn’t the basic “God is bigger.” It truly understood that anxiety is not easy and I loved it!