What Happened to Make You Anxious? - by Jaime Castillo (Paperback)

About the Book

Is your anxiety trying to tell you something? And what would happen if you listened? In What Happened to Make You Anxious?, an anxiety and trauma expert offers a counter-intuitive approach to help readers tune in to the truth behind their anxiety, address the unhealed past traumas that drive their fear and worry, and live the life they truly want.

Book Synopsis

It's time to change the way you manage your anxiety--by working with it rather than against it. This revolutionary guide provides the key to understanding the root cause of your anxiety, so you can break free from its grip.

Let's face it: anxiety can interfere with every single aspect of your life, from work and family to relationships and finances. Left unchecked, the cycle of anxiety reinforces and perpetuates itself over time, and can leave you feeling paralyzed with fear. You've probably attempted to "get rid of" or "outrun" your anxiety, only to find your symptoms growing even stronger. What you need is a new way to deal with anxiety: one that emphasizes listening to what your anxiety is trying to tell you.

In What Happened to Make You Anxious?, anxiety expert Jaime Castillo offers a whole new approach; one that focuses less on avoiding or extinguishing anxiety, and more toward understanding and working with it to create a fulfilling, meaningful life. Using skills grounded in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), internal family systems therapy (IFS), and more, you'll learn how your anxiety is connected to what Castillo refers to as "little 't' traumas"--seemingly small, unhealed traumas from your past that drive your fear and worry, so you can get to the root of your anxiety and start healing.

Your anxiety works overtime communicating perceived threats; this book will show you how to listen to anxiety, discern which threats are real, which don't fit the actual facts of the situation, and which are triggered by past events. Once you and your anxiety are on the same page, anxiety will loosen its grip--freeing you up to live with clarity, confidence, and serenity.

You've tried managing it on your own. You may have even received treatment. If you're at your wit's end when it comes to your anxiety, this book will show you a new path toward lasting relief.

Review Quotes

"What Happened to Make You Anxious by Jaime Castillo is truly an incredible resource for folks struggling with anxiety and underlying little 't' traumas! This book will help you to change your relationship to anxiety and live life according to your true values. Jaime helps you to explore not just your anxiety symptoms, but also the underlying function of your anxiety. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who is feeling consumed by their anxiety and looking to improve their relationship with it!"
--Jennifer Rollin, LCSW-C, therapist, founder of The Eating Disorder Center, and coauthor of The Inside Scoop on Eating Disorder Recovery--Jennifer Rollin, LCSW-C

"What Happened to Make You Anxious is more than a book; it is an insightful, practical guide--full of tools and resources for people who struggle not just with anxiety, but with finding ways to respond to their fears, doubts, and feelings of overwhelm in a manageable way. Jaime Castillo's work is beautifully written and full of professional wisdom. I highly recommend this read!"
--Minaa B., LMSW, writer, speaker, and therapist--Minaa B., LMSW

"I have read a lot of books about anxiety, and I can say without a doubt that What Happened to Make You Anxious? is the only book on the topic that I couldn't put down. Jaime explains the many realities of anxiety plus what you can do about it in a relatable, interesting, and applicable way. If you struggle with anxiety, don't skip this one."
--Elizabeth Earnshaw, LMFT, author of I Want This to Work, clinical fellow of the AAMFT, creator of @lizlistens on Instagram, and cofounder of A Better Life Therapy--Elizabeth Earnshaw, LMFT

"If you've ever asked yourself, 'Why am I so anxious?, ' this is the book that will finally give you a clear answer. Jaime's compassionate tone and easy-to-use strategies are guaranteed to help you understand, manage, and use your anxiety to help you in powerful ways."
--Whitney Goodman, LMFT, licensed psychotherapist, and author of Toxic Positivity--Whitney Goodman, LMFT

"In a world where we are more anxious than ever, What Happened to Make You Anxious? is the smart and compassionate book we all need right now. In this warm and supportive guide, readers learn science-backed tools so that they can stop fighting their anxiety (and themselves) and start healing. This book is going to help so many!"
--Amanda E. White, LPC, founder of @therapyforwomen, and author of Not Drinking Tonight--Amanda E. White, LPC

"This book is fantastic, vulnerable, relatable, and versatile! It aims to help you understand the origins of anxiety, establish a relationship with worry, and cultivate connection with them to honor their purpose--as they serve as messengers. The activities within the book are creative and to the point. Jaime's beautiful and authentic anecdotes make you feel like you are chatting with a friend who really gets you."
--Kelly O'Horo, LPC, approved consultant, and founder of Infinite Healing and Wellness, an EMDR Center for Excellence; and contributing author of Is Therapy Right for Me?--Kelly O'Horo, LPC

"This is a useful guide in helping readers approach their anxiety from a place of curiosity and understanding. Jaime offers direct and succinct tools that promote action and self-reflection. This is a must-read for the person who is ready to put the shame and self-criticism to the side and take steps to transform their relationship with anxiety!"
--Alyssa Mancao, LCSW, licensed clinical social worker; writer; and owner of Alyssa Marie Wellness Inc. located in Los Angeles, CA--Alyssa Mancao, LCSW

About the Author

Jaime Castillo, LCSW, is founder of Find Your Shine Therapy, and a licensed clinical social worker specializing in the treatment of trauma and anxiety disorders. She is a certified eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapist and EMDRIA-approved consultant, and has additional training in internal family systems (IFS) and exposure therapy. She specializes in working with adults experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), phobias, and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Jaime has been featured for her trauma expertise in The Arizona Republic, The Verge, and Phoenix Voyage Magazine where she was named a Top Inspiring Phoenix Professional. She was a speaker at the 2020 Global Resiliency Summit alongside world-renowned mental health professionals, and appeared as a guest trauma and shame expert on The Things We Couldn't Say podcast.