Resources — Understanding Anxiety
Welcome to the resources page for Understanding Anxiety — What Is Actually Happening. Everything below is curated to go alongside the guide.
If You Are in Crisis
If you are having thoughts of harming yourself, please reach out for help right now.
- Call or text 988 — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.) — free, confidential, 24/7
- Text HOME to 741741 — Crisis Text Line — free, confidential, 24/7
- Go to your nearest emergency room if you feel you may act on those thoughts
You are not alone, and you do not have to carry this alone.
Your Free Worksheet
The companion worksheet to Understanding Anxiety is yours to print and use as long as you need it. It includes a 7-day anxiety log, lifestyle audit, technique practice log, cognitive reframe worksheet, 30-day action tracker, and weekly reflection prompts.
Download the Anxiety Worksheet →
Already inside your purchased PDF as a clickable link.
Free Mental Health Resources
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
The U.S. government's primary mental health research agency. Plain-language explanations of every major mental health condition, evidence-based treatment information, and clinical trials. nimh.nih.gov
Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA)
Nonprofit dedicated to anxiety, depression, OCD, and related disorders. Free self-screening tools, find-a-therapist directory, and educational resources written by clinicians. adaa.org
Psychology Today — Therapist Finder
Largest searchable directory of licensed therapists in the U.S. Filter by insurance, specialty, sliding-scale fees, telehealth, and more. Reading therapist profiles helps you find someone whose approach fits. psychologytoday.com/us/therapists
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Largest grassroots mental health organization in the U.S. Free helpline, peer support groups, and family resources. Helpline: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) nami.org
Open Path Collective
Network of therapists offering sessions at $40–$80 for people without insurance or with limited budgets. Membership ($65 one-time) gives lifetime access to the network. openpathcollective.org
Recommended Books
When the Body Says No — Gabor Maté, M.D.
A physician's exploration of how chronic stress and unprocessed emotion translate into physical illness. Essential reading for understanding the mind-body link in anxiety. Find it on Bookshop.org
The Body Keeps the Score — Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.
The definitive book on trauma's effect on the nervous system. Heavy but transformative if you suspect anxiety has roots in unprocessed trauma. Find it on Bookshop.org
The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook — Edmund Bourne, Ph.D.
Practical, exercise-driven workbook used by therapists for decades. Best for self-directed work between or instead of therapy. Find it on Bookshop.org
Hope and Help for Your Nerves — Claire Weekes
Written in the 1960s by an Australian doctor, still one of the clearest explanations of the anxiety cycle and how to break it. Short, kind, and practical. Find it on Bookshop.org
Note: Book links go to Bookshop.org, which supports independent bookstores. These are not affiliate links — we don't earn a commission. Find any of these at your local library for free.
Tools & Apps
Insight Timer
Largest free meditation app, with thousands of free guided meditations specifically for anxiety. No subscription required for the core library. insighttimer.com
Calm Harm
Free app developed by a UK mental health charity for managing self-harm urges and anxiety spikes. Evidence-based techniques in 5-15 minute exercises. calmharm.co.uk
Woebot
Free AI-based CBT tool, built by Stanford clinicians. Not a replacement for therapy, but useful between sessions or for daily check-ins. woebothealth.com
Finch
Self-care app structured as a virtual pet you raise by completing small wellness tasks. Sounds silly; works surprisingly well for low-motivation days. finchcare.com
Curated Video Lessons
How to Cope with Anxiety — Olivia Remes (TEDx)
Researcher-led talk on the cognitive habits that fuel and reduce anxiety. Watch on YouTube
What Is Anxiety — Andrew Huberman
Stanford neuroscientist breaks down the biology of anxiety. Watch on YouTube
The Truth About Anxiety — Therapy in a Nutshell
Licensed therapist on healthy vs. disordered anxiety. Watch on YouTube
Box Breathing 4-4-4-4 — Mark Divine
Practical breathwork demo used by elite performers. Watch on YouTube
CBT Explained Simply — Psych Hub
Clear introduction to cognitive behavioral therapy. Watch on YouTube
Continue Your Knowledge Stack
The rest of the Mental Health library builds directly on what you've learned here:
Browse the Mental Health collection →
Anxiety doesn't exist in isolation. Sleep, nutrition, and physical health are all deeply connected. Each guide in our library is built to extend the others.
This page is a free companion to the Understanding Anxiety PDF. All links above are to free or third-party resources. We do not earn a commission on any link on this page. This guide is education, not treatment. If you are in crisis, please call or text 988. Last updated May 2026.