How to Conquer Anxiety

By Lee Chambers

Have you ever conquered your anxiety in the moment and found great things waiting on the other side?

So often in society, we see anxiety as a negative state, something to avoid and something that is fundamentally for the weak. However, anxiety is an important part of being human, and to be able to conquer it, we must first accept and embrace it.

My life changed when I lost the ability to walk on a day back in 2014. And ever since then, I've been on a quest to see how I could conquer my anxieties about my health, my future and the world around me.

Join me as I explore 10 big ideas and insights that have had the biggest impact on my journey to learn to walk again, face my fears, see threats as challenges and lead a happier, healthier life.

About the Author

Lee Chambers is an award-winning British psychologist, coach and founder of Essentialise Workplace Wellbeing. He has been interviewed by Vogue, The Guardian and Newsweek, and is known for analysing the psychological aspects of the workplaces, wellbeing and colour.

His clients include Indeed, RBS, Oppo Mobile and PwC, and he works with athletes, leaders and entrepreneurs to support them to reach optimal performance through wellbeing and psychology. He is the host of the Self Aware Entrepreneur Show and was voted in the Top 50 BAME Entrepreneurs Under 50 in 2020. He is trusted by publications such as Medical News Today, the BBC and Healthline, and was awarded the Psychologist of the Year by the UK Enterprise Awards.

Having studied across a range of psychology fields at the University of Surrey, the University of Pennsylvania and Lancaster University, he is now on a mission to distil his learnings into a series of actionable guides to leading a healthier, happier life that promotes thriving and flourishing. It is one of these guides you hold in your hand today.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lee Chambers
• Release date: Sep 18, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005449520

Lee Chambers

Lee Chambers (born 22 May 1985) is a British psychologist, entrepreneur, coach and radio host.Born in Bolton in the United Kingdom in 1985, he is the founder of both PhenomGames and Essentialise. He has been interviewed by Vogue, The Guardian and Newsweek, and is known for analyzing the psychological aspects of colour and workplaces.He holds an MSc in Environmental Psychology from the University of Surrey, and his clients include Indeed.com, RBS, Gazprom and PwC.He is trusted by publications including Medical News Today, the BBC and Healthline.He is the host of the Self Aware Entrepreneur Show, and was voted in the Top 50 BAME Entrepreneurs Under 50 in 2020.

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About the Author

Lee Chambers is an award-winning British psychologist, coach and founder of Essentialise Workplace Wellbeing. He has been interviewed by Vogue, The Guardian and Newsweek, and is known for analysing the psychological aspects of the workplaces, wellbeing and colour.

His clients include Indeed, RBS, Oppo Mobile and PwC, and he works with athletes, leaders and entrepreneurs to support them to reach optimal performance through wellbeing and psychology. He is the host of the Self Aware Entrepreneur Show and was voted in the Top 50 BAME Entrepreneurs Under 50 in 2020. He is trusted by publications such as Medical News Today, the BBC and Healthline, and was awarded the Psychologist of the Year by the UK Enterprise Awards.

Having studied across a range of psychology fields at the University of Surrey, the University of Pennsylvania and Lancaster University, he is now on a mission to distil his learnings into a series of actionable guides to leading a healthier, happier life that promotes thriving and flourishing. It is one of these guides you hold in your hand today.

Introduction

Anxiety is rife in our modern, fast-paced society. It has become a common discussion topic in the news, and thankfully it is no longer taboo. Mental health awareness has improved greatly, and many people feel comfortable talking about anxiety and depression with people other than medical professionals. Clinical anxiety is a serious condition that requires professional support and treatment. But most people experience anxiety at some point in their life, and I will be discussing how to manage anxiety in this book.

Not too long ago, I was living at high speed in order to keep my anxiety at bay. I thought that if I packed my day enough, I would not have time to feel anxious. I ran a video game business while forging a career in elite sports, and if that was not enough, I was studying too. My days were so packed that weeks, months, and years passed in a flash.

Unfortunately, I also had no time to focus on the important things in life. My life revolved around performance, progress, deadlines, and my never-ending to-do list. I didn’t allow myself to slow down or reflect on my life. I saw anxiety as a weakness, as something held me back from the grind. But living life at breakneck speed caught up with me, and before long, my life came crashing down around my ears.

2014 was the year from hell, but it was also a year of rebirth. It was the hardest year of my life, and at the time, I didn’t think there was any coming back. But it was the year that forged me into the person I am today. When I refused to slow down, my body forced me to slow down. My immune system attacked my body, and I was left unable to walk. My wife was pregnant at the time, and I had to learn to walk and rebuild my life, all while figuring out how to become a father and a supportive partner in a time of huge change.

My inability to walk gave me a lot of time alone with my thoughts. My anxiety crept up on me after years of ignoring it. So, there I was, learning to walk at the same time as my daughter was, which makes it very difficult to keep tabs on an energetic toddler! While I was trying to learn how to manage my chronic illness, it became apparent