Catholic Medical Quarterly Volume 75(3) August 2025
Book review
Anxiety- A Catholic Guide To Freedom From Worry And Fear
by Art Bennett, Laraine Bennett, and Lianna
Bennett Haidar. Sophia Institute Press
Reviewed by Dr Pravin Thevasathan
Anxiety
is on the rise. I was speaking to a priest who said that he was dealing
with more and more people who are anxious and who don't know how to manage
it. The authors of this very helpful and practical book argue that there
are good ways and bad ways of managing anxiety.
One option is avoiding all occasions that cause us more anxiety. But this may be impractical or more lead to more anxiety in the long term. The strategy known as "Reframing" leads us to reframe the anxiety-provoking situation. Rather than running away, we need to look at it in a different way. All this sounds like living the spiritual life according to the Catholic faith: accepting the cross in such a way that it ceases to be a burden.
It is therefore not surprising to see so many scriptural quotes and stories from the saints in this book. St Therese of Lisieux, for example, suffered from anxiety until she reframed her circumstances. Of course, grace is needed.
Anxiety may also damage our interior life. We may become so preoccupied with our worries that we no longer focus on God. Reframing changes the way we manage anxious thoughts. We move from negative to positive thinking. By examining the evidence for and against negative thoughts, we learn to develop a more realistic understanding of them. Reframing our thought patterns lead to less anxiety.
Reframing appears to be in harmony with Catholic spirituality. The Way of the Cross is the way to happiness