Authoritative Guide to Self-Help Resources in Mental Health.
(2000) By J. C. Norcross, J. W. Stanrock, and others. New York: Guilford Press.

Comprehensive description of self-help resources including books, videos, and Web sites. Designed for professionals, but may be helpful to general readers as well.

The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook (3rd edition). (2001). By E.J. Bourne. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

• Provides information and exercises to master coping skills. Has a strongly holistic approach, and includes sections on the body, self-esteem, and spirituality.

10 Simple Solutions to Worry: How to Calm Your Mind, Relax Your Body & Reclaim Your Life.
(2006). By Kevin Gyoerkoe, PSY.D. and Pamela Wiebarta, Ph.D. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

• Powerful and effective techniques using principles from cognitive behaviour therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy to help you control worry and reduce stress.

Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway. (1992). By S. Jeffers. New York: Fawcett.

• A ten-step program designed to help you channel fear, indecision and anger into empowerment. Has excellent sections on visualization and imagery, power vocabulary, and optimism.

Triumph Over Fear: A Book of Help and Hope for People with Anxiety, Panic Attacks, and Phobias. (1995). By Jerilyn Ross. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell.

• A practical and inspirational guide to understanding and overcoming anxiety problems.

Triumph Over Shyness: Conquering Shyness & Social Anxiety. (2001) By Murray B. Stein and John R. Walker. New York: McGraw-Hill.

• A self help book describing what we know about shyness and social anxiety and how to overcome problems in these areas. Includes a detailed self-help program including information in developing friendships and improving relationships.

10 Simple Solutions to Shyness.:How to Overcome Shyness, Social Anxiety & Fear of Public Speaking. (2004). By Martin M. Antony, Ph.D. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

• A concise guide filled with practical and easy to learn exercises to help the reader manage social anxiety. The book is small enough to carry with you in your pocket or purse.

Dying of Embarrassment: Help for Social Anxiety & Phobia. (1992). By Barbara G. Markway, Ph.D., Cheryl N. Carmin, Ph.D., C. Alec Pollard, Ph.D., and Teresa Flynn, Ph.D. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

• Our all-time favorite until our own book came along! Provides a good description of the kinds of problems faced by socially anxious people, along with solid advice about how to get help and move forward.

The Shyness & Social Anxiety Workbook: Proven Techniques for Overcoming Your Fears. (2000). By Martin M. Antony Ph.D., and Richard P. Swinson, M.D. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

• A highly readable self-help book with practical recommendations to help overcome shyness and social anxiety.

Diagonally Parked in a Parallel Universe: Working Through Social Anxiety. (2000). By Signe A. Dayhoff, Ph.D. Placitas, New Mexico: Effectiveness-Plus Publications.

• Covers everything from soup to nuts. Written from an insider’s perspective, with humor and empathy.

Stop obsessing: How to overcome your obsessions and compulsions. (2001). By E. Foa & R. Wilson. New York: Bantam Books.

• A book by one of the most active researchers on obsessive-compulsive disorder. Can be used independently but it also works well with professional treatment by a clinician experienced with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Help for Children and Adolescents (2000). By Mitzi Waltz

• This book helps family members understand OCD and provides information on medication and behavioural techniques for dealing with this difficult anxiety disorder.

The OCD Workbook: Your Guide to Breaking Free from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. (1999). By Bruce M. Hyman and Cherry Pedrick

• This book contains easy to read case descriptions, list of symptoms, questionnaires for assessing yourself and behavioural techniques for complex OCD.

Master Your Panic and Take Back Your Life: Twelve Sessions to Overcome High Anxiety. (1994). By D.F. Beckfield. San Luis Obispo, CA: Impact Press.

• Self-help book based on principles of cognitive-behavioural therapy.

10 Simple solutions to Panic: How to Overcome Panic Attacks, Calm Physical Symptoms & Reclaim Your Life. (2004). By Martin Antony, Ph.D. and Randi McCabe, Ph.D. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

• Simple and effective techniques to help you discover ways to replace anxious thinking with calmer, more realistic thoughts and to develop ways to face fearful situations.

Your Perfect Right, Ninth Edition: Assertiveness and Equality in Your Life and Relationships (2015). By R. Alberti & M. Emmons. San Luis Obispo, CA: Impact.

• A bestseller emphasizing the development of better communication skills for assertiveness. Contains questionnaires, step-by-step learning procedures, and information on related topics such as anger, school, the workplace, and the family.

The Assertive Woman (3rd edition). (1997). By S.Phelps & N.Austin. San Luis Obispo,CA: Impact.

• Offers help with body image, attitude, power, compliments, saying no, and anger. Explores possible scenarios and response strategies.

How to Start a Conversation and Make Friends (2000) by D. Gabor. New York: Simon & Schuster.

• Practical advice about initiating contacts and developing friendships.

Be Your Own Dating Service: A Step-By-Step Guide to Finding and Maintaining Healthy Relationships.(1996). Nina Atwood. New York: Henry Holt.

• Atwood, a therapist, provides details on how to handle the dating process from first steps to the development of a healthy romantic relationship, with emphasis on creating a full, rewarding life as a single person. The book provides step-by-step information about how to search for the right partner.

Date Lines: Communications from ‘Hello’ to ‘I Do’ and Everything in Between. (1998). By Nina Atwood. New York: Henry Holt.

• A follow-up to the author’s previous book (listed above), this one puts more emphasis on communication in dating and developing a healthy romance. Very practical and down-to-earth advice. The very specific information and coaching (including ideas for wording when dealing with difficult topics) should be very helpful for people with social anxiety.

Helping Your Anxious Child : A Step-By-Step Guide for Parents. (2000). By R. Rapee, S. Spence, V. Cobham, & A. Wignall Oakland, Ca.: New Harbinger Press.

• As it promises, provides a step-by-step approach. Illustrations can be understood by children. Many useful and practical examples. Uses plain language. One of the best books for parents.

Keys to Parenting Your Anxious Child. (1996). K. Manassis. NY: Barron’s Educational Series, Inc.

• This book is briefer than the one by Rapee and colleagues. Less detail about techniques. Has a good section on medication and coaching for parents when dealing with professionals.

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk. (20th edition). (1999). By A. Faber & E. Mazlish. New York: Avon.

• An easy-to-read and very successful instructional guide to parent-child communication.

1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 2 to 12 (2nd edition). (1996). By T.W. Phelan.

• In a very entertaining manner, Phelan shows why parent-child communication must be different from adult-adult exchanges. Provides excellent suggestions for promoting and discouraging various behaviours.

How to deal with your Acting-up Teenager: Practical Self-Help for Desperate Parents. (1998). By Robert Bayard and Jean Bayard.

• A self-help book with detailed steps for parents in establishing mutually respectful relationships with their children.

Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy. (1999). By D.D. Burns. New York: Avon.

• Self-help book on overcoming depression. Emphasizes cognitive-behavioural techniques. Depression is frequently a problem for persons with anxiety disorders.

Mind Over Mood, Second Edition: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think (2015) By D. Greenberger, & C.A. Padesky, C.A.. New York: Guilford Press.

• Designed to be used independently or in the context of cognitive therapy for depression.

A Time to Heal: The Road to Recovery for Adult Children of Alcoholics. (1988). By T.L.Cermak. Los Angeles: Jeremy P. Tarcher.

• This book is out of print (also, the pub house is no longer in LA but in NYC, known as Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam). It’s all right to list it anyway, but you should note here that it may be hard to find.
  A hope-inspiring book for children of alcoholics who are having relationship difficulties or are still troubled by childhood trauma. Includes personal stories of alcoholic families and individual recovery. Describes a “path to healing” and various steps taken along the way.

The Recovery Book. (1992). By A.J.Mooney, A. Eisenberg, & H. Eisenberg. New York: Workman.

• Detailed prescription for recovering from addiction; also of interest to family members and friends. Discusses how to choose treatment, possible obstacles to recovery, and relapse prevention.