Book on mindfulness/anxiety?

Can anyone recommend a book on basic practices/strategies for coping with anxiety?

Ideally it would be suitable for someone who has NO interest in any kind of religion, including Buddhism, and for someone who would have NO patience for heavy academic or technical language. Something with pragmatic mindfulness exercises and clear explanations of how we get caught up in our inner drama, etc?

Any ideas? I don't know that territory.

She wants to find a long term strategy for dealing with the "anxiety channel" (which fills itself with whatever content is to hand) so that even if there's nothing concrete to worry about there's always worrying going on. She's had some stress reduction classes which gave some more lifestyle type approaches like "lower your expectations". She has no bigger "spiritual" goals (that she is aware of). (Not a student, btw - just an acquaintance.)

Rick Hanson just came out with a new book called Hardwiring Happiness. I have not read it but he spoke at the BG Conf and I read his book 'Buddha's Brain' years ago. He really breaks down what the brain is doing and why/how we react to negative states. Lots of good tips on how to help, and since he has a strong Buddhist background, most of the tips are basic mindfulness type things.

This is for depression not anxiety, though I think they're often connected, but there's The Mindful Way Through Depression - I have it but haven't read it, but my sense is it's considered the main text - there's also one called The Mindful Way Through Anxiety but I haven't heard anything about it. Jon Kabat-Zinn's stuff might also be worth checking out? People seem to think Full Catastrophe Living is great, and also there are lots of organisations that do short Kabat-Zinn mindfulness classes (I think sometimes targeting particular areas like anxiety).

Even before I'd pick up a book, I'd look at avoidable over-stimulation in my life and diet. Anxiety is the psychological/mental side of an overabundance of stimulating hormones-- the whole speedy adrenaline stress reaction. Things like sugar and caffeine are optional stressors. Fine for folks who aren't overly amped-up to start with; hard on those who are.

Therapy, meditation, or other techniques of symptomatic cure are secondary, it seems to me. But maybe mine is too simple an approach.

Thanks so much for all the suggestions so far!

Ona Kiser wrote: Can anyone recommend a book on basic practices/strategies for coping with anxiety?

Ideally it would be suitable for someone who has NO interest in any kind of religion, including Buddhism, and for someone who would have NO patience for heavy academic or technical language. Something with pragmatic mindfulness exercises and clear explanations of how we get caught up in our inner drama, etc?

Any ideas? I don't know that territory.

Here's one book that I've found to be helpful. The author gives many meditation techniques on how to use mindfulness to calm anxiety without Buddhist jargon: www.amazon.com/Calming-Your-Anxious-Mind...ing+the+anxious+mind

Best of Luck to your friend!

Years ago I found this book helpful, it offers of number of suggestions for feeling better, coping with anxiety, etc...
www.amazon.com/Natural-Highs-Supplements...niques/dp/158333162X
I also enjoyed this book, which is really about lifestyle changes that can be made to lead a happier life, and covers many things like CBT, mindfulness, diet, exercise, relationships, gratitude etc.
www.amazon.com/Spontaneous-Happiness-Andrew-Weil/dp/B00CC6DP6Q

I've worked with some folks with intense anxiety; one tool I recommend are products by Belleruth Naparstek. There is a Belleruth Naparstek page on amazon. They are audio cd's.I recommended that they listen to the cd (of their choice from her page) every day, in evening before sleep and in the morning, with quiet, peacefulness and more importantly--loving care. They have all benefited tremendously in a short period of time. A book that I've heard to be helpful is Courage to Change: One Day at a Time in Al-Anon II.

I'm a fan of the book The Worry Trap, which is based on ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy). There's a website that provides a good break down of the contents. I'm not sure that it recommends any actual sitting practice(s), but it does promote present-moment awareness and cognitive defusion (i.e. letting thoughts be thoughts). Here's the website link: www.anxietyhappens.com/TheWorryTrap/

Another offering: Henry Emmons The Chemistry of Calm.

@Kate: It's amazing how much less anxiety I have since I cut my workload, and since I got out of all non-essential activities on account of my arthritic hip. I no longer do the things that used to cause me problems (drive anywhere requiring a highway, play my viola in the orchestra or in church) because I can't. I still get a bit overextended, and feel anxious, and then I think oh, I'm overextended; time to get this extra stuff done. So on a quiet weekend I'll crank out the conference paper or do grading. And then I'll be fine again.

Of course, other people (read: my husband) have been picking up the slack with stuff like laundry and dishes. There are things that don't get done the way I'd like, but I made a deal with myself not to care. I wonder what will happen once my hip has healed and I can drive myself a little harder. Will I know what not to do?

I found this podcast helpful because it indicates different needs depending on the perceived situation:
www.soundstrue.com/podcast/self-directed-brain-change-part-1/
Part Two of the interview is also helpful.