This book relies on a form of cognitive behavior therapy, called cognitive restructuring. It is a psychological model that explains why we get stressed and anxious, and what we can do about it. Cognitive restructuring is backed up by a lot of research, and it has proven to be an effective treatment for those with anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. It is a potent way in which we can retrain our brains. You don't have to be a slave to your negative thoughts. You can reclaim your life and learn how to cope with any setback. Every chapter in this book contains powerful techniques that can transform your life.

From this book, you are going to discover how to transform your thinking and overhaul your relationships. It won't be easy, but every area of your life will change for the better. This isn't a book about always looking on the bright side of life. There's no technique that can take away all the trials of being alive. But you can learn to take a different approach when you hit a bump in the road. Every type of therapy is based on a set of assumptions. Cognitive Restructuring is based on the idea that anxiety and depression are caused by incorrect thinking and the negative beliefs we hold about ourselves. Humans are not very good at interpreting situations in a positive way. Our brains are quick to impose some kind of meaning on events that leave us feeling bad. When we have irrational or negative beliefs, we start to tell ourselves stories that make us feel unhappy and anxious; and it becomes easy to fall into the trap of using the same thinking errors over and over again. If you see the world as a hopeless place that offers you nothing but sorrow, your view of everything gets darker and you withdraw from situations that could make you feel better. The way we see the world affects our behavior. When we view the world through a distorted lens, we won't adopt well to our environment or to life's challenges. If you have anxiety, the stories you tell yourself about life might make you reluctant to go outside and find experiences that are better. But with the right techniques, you can discover why your thinking patterns make you feel bad. You can then choose to change them.

Wayne Smith was educated at the College of William and Mary in Virginia. He earned an Ed.D. in school psychology and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, and he was employed as a psychologist for forty years. Wayne lives in Virginia Beach with his wife, Kale.