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Addicted to Anxiety: How to Break the Habit
A GROUNDBREAKING NEW WAY TO OVERCOME YOUR ANXIETY, FROM BESTSELLING AUTHOR OWEN O’KANE
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?
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.
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?
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.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 20, 2025
573 people are currently reading
5950 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
March 27, 2025
I found this an irritating read - lightweight, full of exclamation marks, cringe-worthy jokey style, and feeling like it needed more drafting and editing to make it truly work, even though the premise was interesting: that anxiety itself can be addictive and hold us stuck.
It may be that the book is directed at those who have not travelled down any discovery routes such as counselling or spent any time understanding how to make of use of techniques like CBT, but even taking a step back it felt infantilising. It also barely justified the word 'book' - more of a long article - as it was printed in giant text with lots of line spacing to make it into a sufficiently thick spine. And that was even after including chapter reviews of what had gone before, chapter previews of what was to come, and chapter reviews of what had just been covered in each chapter. This approach can be useful for consolidating learning and reinforcing how each element is connected, but was a sledgehammer / nut scenario for the depth of content and the level of repetition/reinforcement going on here.
There was also an acronym in every chapter to reinforce the work, but these just felt shoehorned together, desperate to make a word, with no real resonance. And not bound together with previous or subsequent acronyms.
The concept was definitely worthy of exploration but I didn't feel O'Kane explored the proposition sufficiently to stand it up. Bones of an argument and insight but needed to be rationalised further. Really just felt like there was a book deadline and this was rattled out to meet it and ride a marketing opportunity.
I was interested to read this after an interview with Owen O'Kane in the Times and put in a pre-reservation request at the library. I had to do a speed read in the end because I was away and then discovered there were some 20 reservation requests at the libary so i could not extend the loan date. I did not fully read the last 70 pages, only scanned through, partly because of the time limit but also it felt a bit of a waste of time. I hope all those in the queue find it useful - it has made me think, but I feel the book as it stands was a wasted opportunity. Something is not always better than nothing...
It may be that the book is directed at those who have not travelled down any discovery routes such as counselling or spent any time understanding how to make of use of techniques like CBT, but even taking a step back it felt infantilising. It also barely justified the word 'book' - more of a long article - as it was printed in giant text with lots of line spacing to make it into a sufficiently thick spine. And that was even after including chapter reviews of what had gone before, chapter previews of what was to come, and chapter reviews of what had just been covered in each chapter. This approach can be useful for consolidating learning and reinforcing how each element is connected, but was a sledgehammer / nut scenario for the depth of content and the level of repetition/reinforcement going on here.
There was also an acronym in every chapter to reinforce the work, but these just felt shoehorned together, desperate to make a word, with no real resonance. And not bound together with previous or subsequent acronyms.
The concept was definitely worthy of exploration but I didn't feel O'Kane explored the proposition sufficiently to stand it up. Bones of an argument and insight but needed to be rationalised further. Really just felt like there was a book deadline and this was rattled out to meet it and ride a marketing opportunity.
I was interested to read this after an interview with Owen O'Kane in the Times and put in a pre-reservation request at the library. I had to do a speed read in the end because I was away and then discovered there were some 20 reservation requests at the libary so i could not extend the loan date. I did not fully read the last 70 pages, only scanned through, partly because of the time limit but also it felt a bit of a waste of time. I hope all those in the queue find it useful - it has made me think, but I feel the book as it stands was a wasted opportunity. Something is not always better than nothing...
March 26, 2025
Listened as an audiobook. There are some really interesting techniques to tackling anxiety in this book and fascinating ideas around anxiety and how we might be addicted to the comfort and protection that anxiety can bring.
February 24, 2025
I really enjoyed Owen O'Kane's previous book so was looking forward to this one for a further insight into mental health and anxiety.
Unfortunately I didn't get as much from this book as I did his first. I found the info to be very repetitive, and it kept going through the same things. There was of course, some interesting takeaways - but just not a lot of them.
I didn't feel that Owen O Kane was very empathetic to people suffering with anxiety, I felt like I was being talked down to.
Not for me!
Unfortunately I didn't get as much from this book as I did his first. I found the info to be very repetitive, and it kept going through the same things. There was of course, some interesting takeaways - but just not a lot of them.
I didn't feel that Owen O Kane was very empathetic to people suffering with anxiety, I felt like I was being talked down to.
Not for me!
November 15, 2025
"Addicted to Anxiety" by Owen O’Kane is a powerful, compassionate, and refreshingly relatable look at how anxiety takes hold, and how we can break free. O’Kane blends his clinical expertise with real-world clarity, making complex psychological patterns easy to understand without ever feeling oversimplified. O'Kane explains why anxiety can become a habitual, almost addictive cycle and offers practical strategies to interrupt those patterns and build a healthier mindset. The tools he provides are realistic, actionable, and grounded in modern therapeutic approaches, making them easy to integrate into daily life.
Whether you’re personally struggling, supporting someone who is, or simply seeking a deeper understanding of anxious thinking, "Addicted to Anxiety" is an empowering and enlightening read.
Thank you to the NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and the author for providing an early digital ARC of this book! "Addicted to Anxiety" is available for purchase in the US beginning 5/5/2026.
Whether you’re personally struggling, supporting someone who is, or simply seeking a deeper understanding of anxious thinking, "Addicted to Anxiety" is an empowering and enlightening read.
Thank you to the NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and the author for providing an early digital ARC of this book! "Addicted to Anxiety" is available for purchase in the US beginning 5/5/2026.
February 18, 2026
Very helpful read. Provides examples, tasks and summary’s throughout to always make sure you know what’s happening and explains science and thoughts behind all actions. Not daunting or dated and provided exactly what I think will be helpful. String recommend
July 16, 2025
I was genuinely excited to delve into "Addicted to Anxiety" by Owen O'Kane, especially given my personal experiences with anxiety and alcohol addiction. Having faced significant challenges with anxiety, including periods that were nearly crippling, I was hopeful that this book would provide me with fresh insights and relatable strategies.
However, my overall impression of the book was somewhat disappointing. One of the primary critiques I have is the repetitiveness of the content. While I understand that the author is trying to convey the idea that anxiety can be viewed as an addiction, I found this perspective to be, in my opinion, misguided. O'Kane seems to spend considerable effort attempting to convince the reader of this thesis, but for me, he fell short in making a compelling case.
While there are certainly some valuable strategies for coping with anxiety sprinkled throughout the text, I don’t believe this book stands out as a leading resource on the subject. Given my own experiences with severe anxiety, I found myself wishing for a more relatable narrative. Instead, the language felt overly explanatory at times, detracting from the personal connection and understanding I was seeking.
In summary, while "Addicted to Anxiety" has its merits and may offer useful tactics for some readers, it ultimately did not resonate with my understanding of anxiety. I appreciate the author's efforts, but I would recommend exploring other works that delve into anxiety in a way that feels more authentic and relatable to those who have lived with it.
However, my overall impression of the book was somewhat disappointing. One of the primary critiques I have is the repetitiveness of the content. While I understand that the author is trying to convey the idea that anxiety can be viewed as an addiction, I found this perspective to be, in my opinion, misguided. O'Kane seems to spend considerable effort attempting to convince the reader of this thesis, but for me, he fell short in making a compelling case.
While there are certainly some valuable strategies for coping with anxiety sprinkled throughout the text, I don’t believe this book stands out as a leading resource on the subject. Given my own experiences with severe anxiety, I found myself wishing for a more relatable narrative. Instead, the language felt overly explanatory at times, detracting from the personal connection and understanding I was seeking.
In summary, while "Addicted to Anxiety" has its merits and may offer useful tactics for some readers, it ultimately did not resonate with my understanding of anxiety. I appreciate the author's efforts, but I would recommend exploring other works that delve into anxiety in a way that feels more authentic and relatable to those who have lived with it.
March 24, 2026
Great book with interesting insights but I think my anxiety is deeper than a book being able to help me lol
May 6, 2025
A very decent read. Helps see things from a different angle.
“If you truly want to move past your addiction to anxiety, then that involves letting go of the addiction to wanting life on your terms.
Harsh and brutal to hear, I know.
Liberating when taken seriously.”
“Everyone falls in life at some point. It's the getting back up that really counts.”
“If you truly want to move past your addiction to anxiety, then that involves letting go of the addiction to wanting life on your terms.
Harsh and brutal to hear, I know.
Liberating when taken seriously.”
“Everyone falls in life at some point. It's the getting back up that really counts.”
March 10, 2025
Very different book for me but a very interesting read and a different outlook on anxiety. I can see why this outlook could be considered controversial for some, but me for I completely understand the perspective of the book and see it could help me going forward!!
July 25, 2025
Literally gave me my own self back. Thank you, thank you and thank you again to the author. This came to me at an important part of my life and I’m sure it will be a lifelong companion.
February 19, 2026
I’ll be frank. It was an annoying read, already started oversimplified and poorly edited, but I wanted to see past the introduction, and then I didn’t abandon it altogether purely for some personal start-to-finish rule. There was not much for someone familiar with the idea of therapy who has some psychological knowledge and has been deep in self-reflection for some time, I’m afraid. I am not an expert, but the attempt to make every statement appear more ground-breaking that its reality was clear.
It is true that anxiety is not happening to you and you can break out of this loop, but did it have to be so infantilising with ‘revelations’ sold as brand new? It felt like trying to introduce a subject in the plainest means possible when you already know a whole lot on it, it’s just the addictive component that has you hooked, not lack of understanding. It genuinely felt like a social media post set up solely for engagement, built for shorter attention span — chapters within chapters within chapters, everything in digestible chunks, huge bullet points every other page — which was irritating and distracting.
Almost as if the author had been expecting the book to be thrust in our hands, every once in a while he placated while we were raising some imaginary ruckus, which in fact interrupted my peaceful reading session. I quickly had enough of phrases such as “I know it’s hard to hear” and “I know you’re angry at what I’m saying” and a call to take time to work through resistance. (The reader is not all that resistant if they picked up the book.) Too focused on how the message comes across and constantly defending against ‘woo-woo’ allegations.
I appreciated the more down-to-earth approach, though, instead of relying on higher forces and impractical theories. Sense of humour did not exactly ‘click’, despite the irritating beginning the book had its good moments around the middle mark, where I could really get immersed and not check how much material is left, it just seemed more tolerable and hopeful going forward.
Overall, regardless of its rather frustrating form, the book had some good points, which were nothing new for me, unfortunately. If someone thinks they might gain from it more than I have, by all means, give it a try.
It is true that anxiety is not happening to you and you can break out of this loop, but did it have to be so infantilising with ‘revelations’ sold as brand new? It felt like trying to introduce a subject in the plainest means possible when you already know a whole lot on it, it’s just the addictive component that has you hooked, not lack of understanding. It genuinely felt like a social media post set up solely for engagement, built for shorter attention span — chapters within chapters within chapters, everything in digestible chunks, huge bullet points every other page — which was irritating and distracting.
Almost as if the author had been expecting the book to be thrust in our hands, every once in a while he placated while we were raising some imaginary ruckus, which in fact interrupted my peaceful reading session. I quickly had enough of phrases such as “I know it’s hard to hear” and “I know you’re angry at what I’m saying” and a call to take time to work through resistance. (The reader is not all that resistant if they picked up the book.) Too focused on how the message comes across and constantly defending against ‘woo-woo’ allegations.
I appreciated the more down-to-earth approach, though, instead of relying on higher forces and impractical theories. Sense of humour did not exactly ‘click’, despite the irritating beginning the book had its good moments around the middle mark, where I could really get immersed and not check how much material is left, it just seemed more tolerable and hopeful going forward.
Overall, regardless of its rather frustrating form, the book had some good points, which were nothing new for me, unfortunately. If someone thinks they might gain from it more than I have, by all means, give it a try.
April 24, 2026
Great thanks to Macmillan Audio, Libro.fm, and the American Library Association for the ALC.
I should note that I live with CPTSD and have done years of therapy for it, so that informed my view of this book.
I found the this to be a largely well written and well structured book on anxiety - both an overview of anxiety as a condition as well as potential treatments for people who suffer from it. Some topics were basic for anyone who has already gone through therapy for their anxiety (though a refresher isn't a bad thing). Some topics were new and/or novel to me and may well be for others.
I think the biggest compliment I can give this is that I regularly found myself thinking that I would like to buy the text version of this to have for quick and easy reference to return to specific chapters. There was a lot to digest and I am sure I'd like to revisit some of the material in the future.
I did think that the author over-used similes that I found to be "cutesy," and it grated on me after a bit. Your mileage may vary, of course.
I should note that I live with CPTSD and have done years of therapy for it, so that informed my view of this book.
I found the this to be a largely well written and well structured book on anxiety - both an overview of anxiety as a condition as well as potential treatments for people who suffer from it. Some topics were basic for anyone who has already gone through therapy for their anxiety (though a refresher isn't a bad thing). Some topics were new and/or novel to me and may well be for others.
I think the biggest compliment I can give this is that I regularly found myself thinking that I would like to buy the text version of this to have for quick and easy reference to return to specific chapters. There was a lot to digest and I am sure I'd like to revisit some of the material in the future.
I did think that the author over-used similes that I found to be "cutesy," and it grated on me after a bit. Your mileage may vary, of course.
Read
May 6, 2026I was skeptical of the "addiction" framework for anxiety, but I actually gelled with that framework as he explained it. I really liked his exercises on sticking with your anxiety instead of exacerbating the anxious state via constant rejection. Otherwise, while I did enjoy and connect with the much tougher voice of a self-help book, I also found the voice almost hostile at points. It felt protective of the author in ways that weren't productive and not necessarily addressing permissiveness that I assume the voice is supposed to counteract.
Overall, a zippy book with some helpful tips, but with an odd tone and a formatting that read a little grift-y (lots of lists, large font, and to-the-point storytelling).
Overall, a zippy book with some helpful tips, but with an odd tone and a formatting that read a little grift-y (lots of lists, large font, and to-the-point storytelling).
December 29, 2025
Kohutavalt tüütu stiiliga raamat - autor pöördub pidevalt lugeja poole ja pool teksti on ballast, tühjad laused. Umbes sellised, et “Mõtlesin, et jagan sinuga üht mõtet. Ei tahaks sellega pikemalt venitada, nii et asun kohe asja kallale. Ilma pikemalt keerutamata. Ma arvan, et sul on tõesti vaja seda teada. Mu enda elu muutis see teadmine täielikult.” Ja nii veel ja veel, nii et kui see mõte lõpuks tuleb, siis tundub ta pika sissejuhatuse taustal lahjavõitu. Samas mõned head mõtted ikka olid, nii et täitsa kasutu see lugemine ei olnud.
Read
January 31, 2026I was excited by the title of this book because I have felt for a long time that there is an addiction component to anxiety, and no one really talks about it.
However, the book fell a bit flat for me. Unfortunately I'm not allowed to rate it because supposedly it hasn't been published (which it has), but I would probably give it 2 stars.
When it arrived it was so big, and the font even bigger (I have never read a book with a font this big before in my life). It felt faintly ridiculous, like a book for giants, and was harder to read because of the font size. I'm sure it's some sort of clever marketing trick in order to be noticed, but come on.
The author starts from the position that the reader does not believe it's possible to be addicted to anxiety, and is constantly trying to convince, which grates somewhat. If I felt that way why on earth would I buy a book with this title?
The description of how anxiety addiction works was actually, despite the author trying so hard, not very convincing. I've tried to re-read a lot of the book and I'm still not entirely sure what he means even though, like I said, I agreed with the premise before even starting the book. Sadly this sort of fuzziness, where I don't quite know what the author is getting at, is a theme for me with this book.
The advice on how to deal with anxiety (or anxiety addiction) is mostly covered by several cumbersome acronyms where a lot of the terms feel shoe-horned in. It's true that an acronym by the name AWOL is easy to recall, but if one of the letters refers to "watch" and the other to "observe" it becomes near impossible to remember what those things are supposed to refer to.
It's also not entirely sure to me how the acronyms are supposed to fit together. I tried to check, but the author does not appear to explain when I am supposed to use which one. Some of them seem to overlap in advice too, so if I were to work through them in a row I would be going over the same steps twice. Is that how it's supposed to be? If so, I feel like the author should probably mention that that's the point, and he doesn't.
There is a chapter called "Addicted to Controlling Energy" at the end which feels confusing as well. He starts the chapter making a big deal out of explaining the concept of energy, but I'm still not sure what he means by it. The chapter actually ends up being about the need for control, so in my view you could just leave the word "energy" out of that chapter entirely and it would mean the same but make more sense.
The advice overall feels well meaning but unclear and I'm left with the impression that this book was written very hastily. I'm still convinced the author does have a point to make, he just never quite makes it.
However, the book fell a bit flat for me. Unfortunately I'm not allowed to rate it because supposedly it hasn't been published (which it has), but I would probably give it 2 stars.
When it arrived it was so big, and the font even bigger (I have never read a book with a font this big before in my life). It felt faintly ridiculous, like a book for giants, and was harder to read because of the font size. I'm sure it's some sort of clever marketing trick in order to be noticed, but come on.
The author starts from the position that the reader does not believe it's possible to be addicted to anxiety, and is constantly trying to convince, which grates somewhat. If I felt that way why on earth would I buy a book with this title?
The description of how anxiety addiction works was actually, despite the author trying so hard, not very convincing. I've tried to re-read a lot of the book and I'm still not entirely sure what he means even though, like I said, I agreed with the premise before even starting the book. Sadly this sort of fuzziness, where I don't quite know what the author is getting at, is a theme for me with this book.
The advice on how to deal with anxiety (or anxiety addiction) is mostly covered by several cumbersome acronyms where a lot of the terms feel shoe-horned in. It's true that an acronym by the name AWOL is easy to recall, but if one of the letters refers to "watch" and the other to "observe" it becomes near impossible to remember what those things are supposed to refer to.
It's also not entirely sure to me how the acronyms are supposed to fit together. I tried to check, but the author does not appear to explain when I am supposed to use which one. Some of them seem to overlap in advice too, so if I were to work through them in a row I would be going over the same steps twice. Is that how it's supposed to be? If so, I feel like the author should probably mention that that's the point, and he doesn't.
There is a chapter called "Addicted to Controlling Energy" at the end which feels confusing as well. He starts the chapter making a big deal out of explaining the concept of energy, but I'm still not sure what he means by it. The chapter actually ends up being about the need for control, so in my view you could just leave the word "energy" out of that chapter entirely and it would mean the same but make more sense.
The advice overall feels well meaning but unclear and I'm left with the impression that this book was written very hastily. I'm still convinced the author does have a point to make, he just never quite makes it.
July 9, 2025
Interesting not just in the context of anxiety but also from the wider perspective of our attachments to our habits.
August 24, 2025
Great - really hit home. Quite technical so a lot to take in so will probably read again soon to revisit!
February 5, 2026
This book could have easily been 100 pages shorter. Also felt like it had 0 edits and was written so shit. 💩
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Meh. I really think the author tried to be different than every other book on anxiety. But the message was still the same. Way too many exclamation points and acronyms. Not my favorite I'm sorry.
January 25, 2025
As soon as I saw the title I know this book was for me as I have really felt recently that anxiety is taking hold of my life. It was a great read which really broke down anxiety, helped me to understand it and showed me how to break some of the habits that come with anxiety.
The book was set out into 3 sections was laid out well and was easy to understand with chapter summaries.
It was great to hear about not just the authors issues with anxiety but also case studies which added to the book.
Overall this was a great read which I would definitely recommend to anyone who suffers with anxiety. It has some excellent advice, tips and processes on how to overcome the addiction to anxiety which I will definitely be using and I think will improve my life.
Thanks to NetGalley, Owen o’Kane and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
The book was set out into 3 sections was laid out well and was easy to understand with chapter summaries.
It was great to hear about not just the authors issues with anxiety but also case studies which added to the book.
Overall this was a great read which I would definitely recommend to anyone who suffers with anxiety. It has some excellent advice, tips and processes on how to overcome the addiction to anxiety which I will definitely be using and I think will improve my life.
Thanks to NetGalley, Owen o’Kane and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Review of advance copy
This book is helpful for general Anxiety. Sadly not for people with Chronic life changing conditions that cause the Anxiety. Does say in the beginning of the book.
September 20, 2025
Such an interesting concept and a good start, but just like most modern self help books the rest is just a repetitive blathering on to get to an acceptable word count to publish. Could have been like 100 pages.
November 26, 2025
DNF. Having loved all of Owen O'Kanes previous work, I didn't hesitate to start this on Audible. So disappointed by it though and it doesn't come close to anything else that he has written. Felt like the information written was really basic stuff and kept repeating itself. Such a shame 😔
May 9, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ALC.
I loved that the author narrated this audiobook, because his accent is great. It was very nice to listen to and automatically made the author feel more like a real human being. That was cool.
I was a bit unhappy to see the author use "his or her" about the anxiety - yeah, you don't need to say "it", but English has a perfectly fine gender neutral pronoun, which both reads less clunkily and is less exclusive of gender diversity. It's a bit ironic to face cisnormativity - a source of anxiety for many trans people - in a book about anxiety. And that while literally describing a MENTAL STATE which is not human and does not have pronouns.
There was also a certain degree of oversimplification when it comes to anxiety, which was to be expected as that also exists in the psychiatry field more generally, but I would have hoped that the author had actually explored the difference between pathological anxiety and pathologised anxiety. I am disabled, chronically ill, with conditions that have no cure and barely even have medication or other treatment available. Of course I'm going to be anxious about what this means for me! Especially considering the risk of further health deterioration! Being anxious here is very different from someone with clinical anxiety, though I've also been assigned the anxious label by mental health professionals that failed to see the very real, reasonable nature of my worries. I also have OCD, but my OCD interacts with my schizophrenia - my obsessions and compulsions center around avoiding very real psychosis triggers, and not doing a certain thing has the very real potential to trigger a psychotic break. My anxiety here does serve a very real purpose, because I would rather have OCD than active psychosis. Obviously the author doesn't know me personally, but there are many situations like this in which it's not as easy as just "you need to work on your anxiety addiction because it gives you the ILLUSION of keeping you safe". For some people, it isn't merely an illusion of safety, and for other people, it isn't even an illusion of safety but exclusively a stressor.
The author does try to be empathetic, but he does seem very... in his own bubble, in a way. I know that the variety of ways in which "anxiety" is used can make it difficult to clearly communicate, but if you write a book about anxiety, you should be aware of this and make it very clear what exactly you are talking about, which the author did not. He talks about both clinical anxiety and everyday anxiety, OCD etc., and it didn't do his thesis any favours here. Also, this book is just way too short, and way too repetitive, to really explain his "anxiety addiction" concept and introduce it as a genuine thing. Sadly, this book didn't do what it set out to do.
I loved that the author narrated this audiobook, because his accent is great. It was very nice to listen to and automatically made the author feel more like a real human being. That was cool.
I was a bit unhappy to see the author use "his or her" about the anxiety - yeah, you don't need to say "it", but English has a perfectly fine gender neutral pronoun, which both reads less clunkily and is less exclusive of gender diversity. It's a bit ironic to face cisnormativity - a source of anxiety for many trans people - in a book about anxiety. And that while literally describing a MENTAL STATE which is not human and does not have pronouns.
There was also a certain degree of oversimplification when it comes to anxiety, which was to be expected as that also exists in the psychiatry field more generally, but I would have hoped that the author had actually explored the difference between pathological anxiety and pathologised anxiety. I am disabled, chronically ill, with conditions that have no cure and barely even have medication or other treatment available. Of course I'm going to be anxious about what this means for me! Especially considering the risk of further health deterioration! Being anxious here is very different from someone with clinical anxiety, though I've also been assigned the anxious label by mental health professionals that failed to see the very real, reasonable nature of my worries. I also have OCD, but my OCD interacts with my schizophrenia - my obsessions and compulsions center around avoiding very real psychosis triggers, and not doing a certain thing has the very real potential to trigger a psychotic break. My anxiety here does serve a very real purpose, because I would rather have OCD than active psychosis. Obviously the author doesn't know me personally, but there are many situations like this in which it's not as easy as just "you need to work on your anxiety addiction because it gives you the ILLUSION of keeping you safe". For some people, it isn't merely an illusion of safety, and for other people, it isn't even an illusion of safety but exclusively a stressor.
The author does try to be empathetic, but he does seem very... in his own bubble, in a way. I know that the variety of ways in which "anxiety" is used can make it difficult to clearly communicate, but if you write a book about anxiety, you should be aware of this and make it very clear what exactly you are talking about, which the author did not. He talks about both clinical anxiety and everyday anxiety, OCD etc., and it didn't do his thesis any favours here. Also, this book is just way too short, and way too repetitive, to really explain his "anxiety addiction" concept and introduce it as a genuine thing. Sadly, this book didn't do what it set out to do.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you very much to NetGalley, Owen O’Kane, and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.
I want to start off by saying I usually don’t rate nonfiction books unless they’re personal development, as I feel like those books are more of a “fun” reading choice; of which, are privileges to read. Those who may be compelled to read THIS book, on the other hand, may not be picking this up to “better themselves” but looking for a real solution for their real life problem. For this reason, I will be rating this book as I believe my rating could be useful to someone who could use it.
As someone who has dealt with chronic anxiety for a huge portion of her life, I found this book to be a great “prescription,” a book full of strategies to tackle anxiety with a deeper understanding of the disorder. (To note, this book could be a great start to tackling anxiety before taking the medication route—something else I have experience with and now, no longer take. **Keep in mind, I am not a doctor nor am I making any type of medical claim from my prior statement!**)
O’Kane has an incredible tone and prose throughout the book, is straightforward in his approach, and has great humor throughout to keep it lighthearted. This was an absolute joy to read. O’Kane’s relatable stories were critical as they felt so real without DRAGGING, which has been my biggest complaint about most other “strategy” books I’ve read. These were simple stories, full of integrity and heart, and made the book a breeze to read through.
Now the strategies though? Those weren’t EASY, per se. They were intentional and simple to remember but they take WORK, as anxiety is not an easy beast to tackle. But O’Kane created an approachable framework to his book that has stuck with me since finishing. I’ve already told friends about a couple of the techniques, encouraging them to check this book out, and believe this would be a useful read for anyone and everyone who deals with anxiety: from the chronically anxious to those who may have small bouts of the feeling.
Overall, I’ve given this book 5 stars. It’s simple, it’s to the point, it’s meaningful, it’s FUN, and it’s approachable. These are all traits I look for in any “personal development” book, but I love that this is all these things for those who may not be picking this up from curiosity or enrichment, but from necessity or urgency. O’Kane wrote a book for everyone and anyone at the end of the day, because truly, we’re all addicted to anxiety.
Thank you again to NetGalley, Owen O’Kane, and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.
I want to start off by saying I usually don’t rate nonfiction books unless they’re personal development, as I feel like those books are more of a “fun” reading choice; of which, are privileges to read. Those who may be compelled to read THIS book, on the other hand, may not be picking this up to “better themselves” but looking for a real solution for their real life problem. For this reason, I will be rating this book as I believe my rating could be useful to someone who could use it.
As someone who has dealt with chronic anxiety for a huge portion of her life, I found this book to be a great “prescription,” a book full of strategies to tackle anxiety with a deeper understanding of the disorder. (To note, this book could be a great start to tackling anxiety before taking the medication route—something else I have experience with and now, no longer take. **Keep in mind, I am not a doctor nor am I making any type of medical claim from my prior statement!**)
O’Kane has an incredible tone and prose throughout the book, is straightforward in his approach, and has great humor throughout to keep it lighthearted. This was an absolute joy to read. O’Kane’s relatable stories were critical as they felt so real without DRAGGING, which has been my biggest complaint about most other “strategy” books I’ve read. These were simple stories, full of integrity and heart, and made the book a breeze to read through.
Now the strategies though? Those weren’t EASY, per se. They were intentional and simple to remember but they take WORK, as anxiety is not an easy beast to tackle. But O’Kane created an approachable framework to his book that has stuck with me since finishing. I’ve already told friends about a couple of the techniques, encouraging them to check this book out, and believe this would be a useful read for anyone and everyone who deals with anxiety: from the chronically anxious to those who may have small bouts of the feeling.
Overall, I’ve given this book 5 stars. It’s simple, it’s to the point, it’s meaningful, it’s FUN, and it’s approachable. These are all traits I look for in any “personal development” book, but I love that this is all these things for those who may not be picking this up from curiosity or enrichment, but from necessity or urgency. O’Kane wrote a book for everyone and anyone at the end of the day, because truly, we’re all addicted to anxiety.
Thank you again to NetGalley, Owen O’Kane, and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Know what you are getting. First, some definitions. Anxiety is a sympathetic response to threat causing the Fight, Flight or Freeze response. Acute Anxiety is a normal response. Chronic/persistent Anxiety is a mental health disorder. Many mental health disorders have similar origins and can be treated in similar fashion with similar medications and lifestyle changes. These mental health disorders include but are not limited to depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, and chronic/persistent pain (that is being shown in research to be incredibly similar in the brain to anxiety). This is ONE OF THE BEST self-help books for anxiety (and the other mental health disorders) that I have seen.
The author identifies a practical framework for identifying anxiety as an addictive problem for people who experience persistent/chronic anxiety. He describes how it feels, how it should feel, and how it becomes persistent.
Owen O'Kane gives several practical treatment options for people suffering from chronic anxiety. Many practical case studies are presented including his own.
I have seen the complaints online about the writing being repetitive. That is the simple psychology of learning and teaching abstract concepts. I did not feel that it was repetitive but rather geared to teach a unique way of framing the problem.
I listened to the Audiobook but will be gifting the print or eBook version to multiple people who are close to me who could benefit from the insights given with practical note taking options for the written versions.
NOW FOR THE NARRATION:
The narration was difficult for me. To give you context, I have a standard Western US accent frequently associated with California/Hollywood. Owen has a thick Northern Ireland accent with a soothing tone. It took a while to understand him consistently without pausing or having to think back asking myself what he had just said. Once I had listened to enough, it became much easier, but this was after 3 or more chapters. After that, his soothing tone was perfect! So, if English is your second language or you have not watched or listened to people with this accent, or if you have a very divergent accent yourself such as from the US southern states, this may be challenging to read in Audiobook format. You have been warned.
Writing: 5/5
Narration: ??/5--somewhere between 3/5 and 5/5. (Therefore disqualified.)
Overall: 5/5
The author identifies a practical framework for identifying anxiety as an addictive problem for people who experience persistent/chronic anxiety. He describes how it feels, how it should feel, and how it becomes persistent.
Owen O'Kane gives several practical treatment options for people suffering from chronic anxiety. Many practical case studies are presented including his own.
I have seen the complaints online about the writing being repetitive. That is the simple psychology of learning and teaching abstract concepts. I did not feel that it was repetitive but rather geared to teach a unique way of framing the problem.
I listened to the Audiobook but will be gifting the print or eBook version to multiple people who are close to me who could benefit from the insights given with practical note taking options for the written versions.
NOW FOR THE NARRATION:
The narration was difficult for me. To give you context, I have a standard Western US accent frequently associated with California/Hollywood. Owen has a thick Northern Ireland accent with a soothing tone. It took a while to understand him consistently without pausing or having to think back asking myself what he had just said. Once I had listened to enough, it became much easier, but this was after 3 or more chapters. After that, his soothing tone was perfect! So, if English is your second language or you have not watched or listened to people with this accent, or if you have a very divergent accent yourself such as from the US southern states, this may be challenging to read in Audiobook format. You have been warned.
Writing: 5/5
Narration: ??/5--somewhere between 3/5 and 5/5. (Therefore disqualified.)
Overall: 5/5
December 27, 2025
Książka ta wywraca do góry nogami tradycyjne podejście do lęku. Dr Judson Brewer, psychiatra i neurobiolog, stawia tezę, że lęk nie jest cechą charakteru, lecz nawykiem, który nasz mózg wykształcił w procesie ewolucji.
Autor wyjaśnia mechanizm tzw. pętli nawyku (Trigger – Behavior – Reward). Wyzwalaczem jest stresująca myśl, zachowaniem jest martwienie się (ruminacje), a "nagrodą" (paradoksalnie) jest chwilowe poczucie kontroli lub unikanie trudniejszych emocji. Książka pokazuje, jak nasze mózgi dosłownie "uzależniają się" od martwienia. Brewer nie zaleca walki z myślami ani siłowego "relaksowania się". Zamiast tego proponuje narzędzia oparte na uważności (mindfulness) i ciekawości, które pomagają "zaktualizować" system nagrody w mózgu i trwale wygasić nawyk lęku.
Książka Brewera wchodzi głęboko – wyjaśnia mechanikę tego, co dzieje się w naszych neuronach, i robi to w sposób fascynujący.
Dlaczego to jedna z najlepszych książek o lęku na rynku:
Naukowe podstawy: To nie jest kolejny poradnik w stylu "myśl pozytywnie". Brewer opiera się na twardych danych z badań nad mózgiem i uzależnieniami. Udowadnia, że lęk działa na tej samej zasadzie co palenie papierosów czy objadanie się – i można go leczyć podobnymi metodami.
Siła ciekawości: Autor wprowadza genialne w swojej prostocie narzędzie: ciekawość. Zamiast bać się lęku ("O nie, znowu się denerwuję!"), Brewer uczy nas podchodzić do niego z fascynacją naukowca ("Hmm, ciekawe, gdzie czuję to napięcie w ciele?"). Ta zmiana perspektywy natychmiast obniża poziom stresu.
Rozbrojenie "martwienia się": Książka doskonale demaskuje iluzję, że martwienie się pomaga rozwiązywać problemy. Uświadomienie sobie, że martwienie się jest tylko pustym "drapaniem psychicznego swędzenia", jest niezwykle wyzwalające.
Praktyczne mapowanie: Brewer uczy czytelnika tworzyć mapy własnych pętli nawykowych. Dzięki temu przestajemy działać na autopilocie i odzyskujemy sprawczość nad własnym umysłem.
Werdykt: To lektura obowiązkowa dla każdego, kto czuje, że utknął w spirali stresu. Brewer oferuje konkretny, logiczny i poparty nauką plan działania. To książka, która nie tylko koi, ale przede wszystkim wyposaża w "instrukcję obsługi" własnego mózgu.
Autor wyjaśnia mechanizm tzw. pętli nawyku (Trigger – Behavior – Reward). Wyzwalaczem jest stresująca myśl, zachowaniem jest martwienie się (ruminacje), a "nagrodą" (paradoksalnie) jest chwilowe poczucie kontroli lub unikanie trudniejszych emocji. Książka pokazuje, jak nasze mózgi dosłownie "uzależniają się" od martwienia. Brewer nie zaleca walki z myślami ani siłowego "relaksowania się". Zamiast tego proponuje narzędzia oparte na uważności (mindfulness) i ciekawości, które pomagają "zaktualizować" system nagrody w mózgu i trwale wygasić nawyk lęku.
Książka Brewera wchodzi głęboko – wyjaśnia mechanikę tego, co dzieje się w naszych neuronach, i robi to w sposób fascynujący.
Dlaczego to jedna z najlepszych książek o lęku na rynku:
Naukowe podstawy: To nie jest kolejny poradnik w stylu "myśl pozytywnie". Brewer opiera się na twardych danych z badań nad mózgiem i uzależnieniami. Udowadnia, że lęk działa na tej samej zasadzie co palenie papierosów czy objadanie się – i można go leczyć podobnymi metodami.
Siła ciekawości: Autor wprowadza genialne w swojej prostocie narzędzie: ciekawość. Zamiast bać się lęku ("O nie, znowu się denerwuję!"), Brewer uczy nas podchodzić do niego z fascynacją naukowca ("Hmm, ciekawe, gdzie czuję to napięcie w ciele?"). Ta zmiana perspektywy natychmiast obniża poziom stresu.
Rozbrojenie "martwienia się": Książka doskonale demaskuje iluzję, że martwienie się pomaga rozwiązywać problemy. Uświadomienie sobie, że martwienie się jest tylko pustym "drapaniem psychicznego swędzenia", jest niezwykle wyzwalające.
Praktyczne mapowanie: Brewer uczy czytelnika tworzyć mapy własnych pętli nawykowych. Dzięki temu przestajemy działać na autopilocie i odzyskujemy sprawczość nad własnym umysłem.
Werdykt: To lektura obowiązkowa dla każdego, kto czuje, że utknął w spirali stresu. Brewer oferuje konkretny, logiczny i poparty nauką plan działania. To książka, która nie tylko koi, ale przede wszystkim wyposaża w "instrukcję obsługi" własnego mózgu.
May 22, 2025
This book landed in my life at a time when I was really in need of some clarity.
Since the end of my last relationship, anxiety has been a constant presence — not just because of the emotional weight of the breakup itself, but also because I had to leave my cat behind.
It might sound like a small thing, but the bond we form with an animal runs deep, and his absence has affected me more than I expected.
At the same time, I started to notice my social anxiety creeping in more often, and my OCD symptoms began to worsen. Things I used to manage more easily were now starting to take over my day-to-day life. I felt stuck in a cycle — and that's precisely what this book helped me see.
In Addicted to Anxiety, Owen O'Kane introduces an idea that really clicked for me: what if anxiety, over time, becomes a habit — almost like an addiction?
Not in the classic sense of the word, but a kind of mental dependency on the thought patterns and behaviours we build to feel safe, even if they end up making us feel worse. The way he explains it is simple, clear, and filled with compassion.
There's no judgment here, just understanding — and genuinely helpful strategies.
This isn't a book full of miracle promises, but rather one that offers practical tools to understand your triggers, cope with setbacks, and, most importantly, begin to rewire the way you respond to anxiety. One of the things that stayed with me most was the reassurance that setbacks are part of the process. That really helped ease some of the guilt I often feel when I think I'm "going backwards".
Reading this gave me a new perspective on my anxiety. It helped me spot unhelpful patterns, show myself more kindness, and slowly start to shift some of the mental habits that are no longer serving me.
Of course, I'm still in the middle of the journey, but having this book by my side has made me feel a little less alone in it.
If you're living with anxiety — whether it's something new or something that's been with you for years — I really recommend this book.
It feels like an honest conversation with someone who knows exactly what it's like to be caught in the chaos, but also believes that change is possible. And sometimes, that's all we need to hear.
Since the end of my last relationship, anxiety has been a constant presence — not just because of the emotional weight of the breakup itself, but also because I had to leave my cat behind.
It might sound like a small thing, but the bond we form with an animal runs deep, and his absence has affected me more than I expected.
At the same time, I started to notice my social anxiety creeping in more often, and my OCD symptoms began to worsen. Things I used to manage more easily were now starting to take over my day-to-day life. I felt stuck in a cycle — and that's precisely what this book helped me see.
In Addicted to Anxiety, Owen O'Kane introduces an idea that really clicked for me: what if anxiety, over time, becomes a habit — almost like an addiction?
Not in the classic sense of the word, but a kind of mental dependency on the thought patterns and behaviours we build to feel safe, even if they end up making us feel worse. The way he explains it is simple, clear, and filled with compassion.
There's no judgment here, just understanding — and genuinely helpful strategies.
This isn't a book full of miracle promises, but rather one that offers practical tools to understand your triggers, cope with setbacks, and, most importantly, begin to rewire the way you respond to anxiety. One of the things that stayed with me most was the reassurance that setbacks are part of the process. That really helped ease some of the guilt I often feel when I think I'm "going backwards".
Reading this gave me a new perspective on my anxiety. It helped me spot unhelpful patterns, show myself more kindness, and slowly start to shift some of the mental habits that are no longer serving me.
Of course, I'm still in the middle of the journey, but having this book by my side has made me feel a little less alone in it.
If you're living with anxiety — whether it's something new or something that's been with you for years — I really recommend this book.
It feels like an honest conversation with someone who knows exactly what it's like to be caught in the chaos, but also believes that change is possible. And sometimes, that's all we need to hear.
May 2, 2026
Firstly, thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for this ARC. I picked it up, not because I was looking for the topic or needed to address it currently, but because it is something I HAVE dealt with and I expect to deal with again to some degree, through my life and others around me. This book offered confirmation of successes I’ve experienced and further understanding of why it worked. It also gave a great reference to turn to if i should ever struggle with this topic or known someone who is.
This book is especially great for people who haven’t been to therapy for their anxiety or haven’t found success there. He does not spend much time discussing medication or inpatient programs, but I did not see this as a dismissal of those options. This book was simply dealing with the things you can put into practice yourself. I really liked the idea of addressing anxiety as a person who deserves to be heard and welcomed, but also being given firm boundaries.
The bottom line of this book reminds me of a book quoted within Abby Jimenez’s latest book (which discusses mental health struggles in a fictional format). The gist is this: THIS is why we love our anxiety - the familiarity is a strange sort of comforting.
One last thing I appreciate about this book is the length. It seems that these type of self improvement books tends to be pompous and lengthy. The author is succinct here, a great balance of scientific knowledge, personal expounding, and simple application. While there was some mild repetition (ie Belfast), I understand the need to instill meaning and it may not even be present in the final publication.
If you are curious about this book for yourself or someone else, I definitely recommend it!
This book is especially great for people who haven’t been to therapy for their anxiety or haven’t found success there. He does not spend much time discussing medication or inpatient programs, but I did not see this as a dismissal of those options. This book was simply dealing with the things you can put into practice yourself. I really liked the idea of addressing anxiety as a person who deserves to be heard and welcomed, but also being given firm boundaries.
The bottom line of this book reminds me of a book quoted within Abby Jimenez’s latest book (which discusses mental health struggles in a fictional format). The gist is this: THIS is why we love our anxiety - the familiarity is a strange sort of comforting.
One last thing I appreciate about this book is the length. It seems that these type of self improvement books tends to be pompous and lengthy. The author is succinct here, a great balance of scientific knowledge, personal expounding, and simple application. While there was some mild repetition (ie Belfast), I understand the need to instill meaning and it may not even be present in the final publication.
If you are curious about this book for yourself or someone else, I definitely recommend it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an early copy of the ebook.
The title "Addicted to Anxiety" immediately caught my attention. It presents an intriguing idea — that the labels we place on ourselves can sometimes become excuses to fall back into behaviors we’re trying to move away from, if that makes sense.
I picked up the book wanting to understand O’Kane’s thoughts on an issue that is very serious for many people. As I began reading, I found his approach to be compassionate and practical. He suggests that anxiety attacks may, in some cases, be connected to habitual thought patterns and behaviors.
As I continued reading, I found many practical suggestions for recognizing, understanding, and managing anxiety triggers. The tools offered are straightforward and accessible, making them realistic to apply in everyday life.
Initially, I wasn’t sure how I felt about describing anxiety as a “habit” to be broken rather than an emotion to be managed. As someone who has experienced anxiety attacks, that framing felt a bit uncomfortable. However, the perspective might be helpful for others.
The thought kept concerning me. Don’t fear and anxiety often stem from past experiences — from fearing what has already happened? Is it truly addictive behavior, or is our brain trying to protect us from experiencing what triggered our last feelings of discomfort? That thought shifted my perspective somewhat. Regardless, I reasoned, overcoming was the goal, not labeling. Each of us reacts differently.
While no single book contains all the answers, I would consider Addicted to Anxiety a worthwhile addition to a self-healing journey. My biggest concern is that the material felt somewhat repetitive. If joined with other helpful books, this is worthwhile.
It offers thoughtful insights and practical tools that may benefit readers struggling with anxiety.
The title "Addicted to Anxiety" immediately caught my attention. It presents an intriguing idea — that the labels we place on ourselves can sometimes become excuses to fall back into behaviors we’re trying to move away from, if that makes sense.
I picked up the book wanting to understand O’Kane’s thoughts on an issue that is very serious for many people. As I began reading, I found his approach to be compassionate and practical. He suggests that anxiety attacks may, in some cases, be connected to habitual thought patterns and behaviors.
As I continued reading, I found many practical suggestions for recognizing, understanding, and managing anxiety triggers. The tools offered are straightforward and accessible, making them realistic to apply in everyday life.
Initially, I wasn’t sure how I felt about describing anxiety as a “habit” to be broken rather than an emotion to be managed. As someone who has experienced anxiety attacks, that framing felt a bit uncomfortable. However, the perspective might be helpful for others.
The thought kept concerning me. Don’t fear and anxiety often stem from past experiences — from fearing what has already happened? Is it truly addictive behavior, or is our brain trying to protect us from experiencing what triggered our last feelings of discomfort? That thought shifted my perspective somewhat. Regardless, I reasoned, overcoming was the goal, not labeling. Each of us reacts differently.
While no single book contains all the answers, I would consider Addicted to Anxiety a worthwhile addition to a self-healing journey. My biggest concern is that the material felt somewhat repetitive. If joined with other helpful books, this is worthwhile.
It offers thoughtful insights and practical tools that may benefit readers struggling with anxiety.
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