Why on Earth Do I Feel This Way? brings an entirely new perspective to the field of anxiety and mental health and will make a drastic impact that no other treatment intervention has done before. As a psychologist who has worked in various clinical venues, I found there to be a pattern of anxiety at the root of the symptoms my clients were experiencing. This was the same pattern for clients who were battling addiction and experiencing mood disorders, schizophrenia, and even personality disorders. Although each case was unique, I would hear the same questions repeated: "Why me? Why on earth do I feel this way?" I stopped focusing on the specific symptoms of my clients that would qualify them for a mental health diagnosis but focused on how and why they were experiencing anxiety. I was then able to recognize another factor that was precipitating the anxiety: a lack of control.
Focusing on control, or lack thereof, as presented by control theory in the book, can supplement the work that people have been doing to manage their mental health and better help them understand why they have been making progress in their work. It will also provide a preventive approach to managing anxiety and mental health moving forward and increasing self-esteem and self-confidence by understanding what anxiety is, where it comes from, and what to do with it.
The information provided in this book can be utilized by various demographics, including adolescents, adults, parents (parents can also apply these tools for younger-age children), teachers, and other school personnel. There is a lack of preventive measures in place to help address anxiety at the forefront and prevent it from progressing into more severe mental health disorders or prevent students from engaging in maladaptive, harmful, and risky behaviors. Although schools have started taking additional steps to address mental health, they are still struggling to keep up with the need for services and are only targeting students who are at risk or suffering. Why on Earth Do I Feel This Way? provides students, parents, and teachers with a road map of how to effectively manage and get control over their anxiety.