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Addicted to Anxiety

Addicted to Anxiety

Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

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?
  1. Recognize: You must understand your anxiety and identify your triggers before you can start to unpick it.
  2. Tackle: Discover vital techniques for breaking the underlying habits and patterns.
  3. 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.

‘Owen helps us look at our lives and happiness in a clear and practical way’
Fearne Cotton

‘Owen is an expert at showing, in his brilliantly down-to-earth way, how we can find happiness in the real world’ Rob Rinder, aka Judge Rinder

Owen is bringing much needed therapy to all of us. He brings down the stigma attached to being vulnerable and is making talking about mental health approachable for everyone’ Dr Rupy Aujla, MBBS, BSc, MRCGP The Doctor’s Kitchen

© Owen O'Kane 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

About the author

Owen O'Kane

Owen O’Kane is a specialist psychotherapist and one of the UK’s leading mental health experts with over twenty-five years of experience in physical and mental health. As a former NHS mental health clinical lead and a Sunday Times bestselling author of three previous books, Owen has a gift for making complex information accessible and understandable. Owen is the resident expert on BBC Radio 5 Live, helping listeners manage their everyday fears, and is a regular podcast guest. He speaks regularly at wellbeing festivals and conferences, as well as acting as a script advisor for BBC Drama on psychological matters. He delivers all of his work with great passion and is known for his down to earth approach, warmth and sense of humour. Owen lives in West London with his partner and dog. This is his fourth book.

Instagram: @owenokaneten
X: @owenokaneten
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