Skip to main content
Cover of Breaking Anxiety's Grip

Breaking Anxiety's Grip

  • Christian Living
  • Counseling, Grief & Mental Health
  • Publisher: Revell (Baker Publishing Group)
  • Published: 2019

FritzSearch.com earns a commission on purchases made through Bookshop.org links.

Publisher's Description

Ours is an age of anxiety. We worry about our children, jobs, homes, health, and finances. News and social media feed our fears. Even the fear of missing out leads to anxiety. The solution isn't to rid ourselves of the sources of anxiety but to recognize that anxiety originates from a spiritual influence--and then use the weapons of power, love, and a sound mind to fight back and live in God's peace. Sharing her own story of emerging from the battle with anxiety as well as the stories of others, Dr. Michelle Bengtson reminds you of your identity as a follower of Christ and of the peace he promises you in spite of everything. She provides tools to cope with the crushing emotional burden of anxiety now, and, more importantly, shows you how to reclaim God's peace as a way of life so that you can break anxiety's grip.


Endorsements (20)

“As a woman who has fought anxiety most of her life, I’ve come to believe if you’re in a battle, it’s not a reason for guilt or shame. It simply means you’re a warrior. I’ve also learned having the right weapons helps me win. Breaking Anxiety’s Grip will encourage and equip you to defeat fear and experience more victory.”

Holley Gerth

“My listeners love to hear from Dr. Bengtson because she expresses empathy and understanding and provides practical and specific solutions to the daily anxieties that can plague us. This book not only turns our focus back to the Bible but applies its timeless wisdom to our lives in a very real and pragmatic way; it is truly a road map toward peace.”

Jeff Angelo

“Life is hard. At times, worry and fear seem the only logical response. But there is a peace that passes understanding available if we’ll just reach out and take it. In Breaking Anxiety’s Grip, Dr. Michelle Bengtson offers expert advice that’s both practical and biblical, helping us navigate life’s difficulties as we tap into the promises of God.”

Joanna Weaver

“If you’ve ever been strangled by anxiety, if you’ve awakened at night in a panic, if worry has become your constant, frustrating companion, then find the hope, instruction, and wisdom you need in the pages of Breaking Anxiety’s Grip by Dr. Michelle Bengtson. As a therapist, she brings astute counsel. As someone who has endured many stressors, she brings the wisdom that comes from endurance. And as a fellow struggler, she brings empathy. In these pages, you will find help and hope.”

Mary DeMuth

“We live in a culture of strife and disagreement. Yet everyone can agree that life is stressful and anxiety is our constant companion. Dr. Michelle Bengtson tackles these issues head-on and gives readers the tools to do the same thing. The pages of this book are filled with gentle insight and tough love that point us to the One who gives the peace we all crave. This will be a book that will become dog-eared with love and one I’ll pass on again and again.”

Edie Melson

“In Breaking Anxiety’s Grip, the truth of God’s Word coupled with the perspective of a medical professional sheds light on a peace that is possible. This how-to book is conversational and relational, backed by clinical facts and biblical truth. The peace of God transcends our understanding, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t possible. Breaking anxiety’s grip really is a process that requires some action on our part. Michelle gives us the steps to take to reclaim that peace and gently takes our hand and walks through it with us.”

Eryn Hall

“Breaking Anxiety’s Grip is a great encouragement and tool for those who reside in the ‘what ifs.’ Dr. Michelle Bengtson shows her readers how to move from worry, anxiety, and fear to hope, trust, and peace. This book offers biblically sound and effective practices to loosen anxiety’s grip in order to find peace in the palm of God’s hand.”

Lori Wildenberg

“In Breaking Anxiety’s Grip, Dr. Bengtson enhances the current work on the topics of worry, anxiety, and fear by adding an intentionally spiritual approach while not ignoring the contributing physical and psychosocial factors. I love the reflective application questions given at the end of each chapter and am excited to add this title to our counseling center’s list of faith-based recommendations.”

Michelle Nietert

“As a diagnosed bipolar for twenty years, my one earnest prayer has been, ‘God, please send more workers to the mental-health field!’ (Matt. 9:37). That prayer is being answered through people like Dr. Michelle Bengtson, a board certified neuropsychologist with thirty years of professional experience in mental health who also understands from her own personal struggles and revelation. To pastors, spouses, teachers, parents, principals, psychologists, and psychiatrists: this book is a resource for your leadership AND a gift for anyone under your care struggling and searching for a breakthrough. God bless you, Michelle, for writing this! Thank you, Lord, for hearing my prayers!”

Heather Palacios

“My friend Dr. Michelle Bengtson has written another book that has the precision of a laser when addressing worry, anxiety, and fear. As she did with Hope Prevails, Michelle takes a topic that many of us struggle with and demystifies the stigma surrounding it. I believe having both Hope Prevails and Breaking Anxiety’s Grip in your library will enable you to understand and combat two of the most prevalent mental health issues facing humanity today.”

Tim Ross

“Can you imagine what life would be like without any worry, anxiety, or fear? In Breaking Anxiety’s Grip, Dr. Bengtson shares from her professional expertise and personal experience how we can have a life governed by the peace God promises rather than unsettling and often paralyzing worry and anxiety. I speak to and hear from women weekly who have almost given up ever having an anxiety-free life. I am so thankful to have Breaking Anxiety’s Grip to put in their hands as a tool.”

Christi Miranda

“Reading Dr. Michelle Bengtson’s book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip is like talking to a trusted friend. Her voice throughout the book will calm and reassure you in life’s daily difficult challenges. Worry, anxiety, and fear are plaguing America, and Michelle deals with the topic head-on while giving both a clinical and biblical perspective for the ‘common cold’ of mental health.”

Jennifer Dukes Lee

“Nowhere else have I found an author to speak to the common struggles with worry, anxiety, and fear with as much professional authority, personal insight, care, and compassion. Reading Breaking Anxiety’s Grip is like having both a trusted friend and a personal counselor take you by the hand while you rely on God’s Word and his faithful promises to victoriously overcome!”

Amy Elaine Martinez

“Life is filled with changes that keep many in a constant state of anxiety. In Breaking Anxiety’s Grip, Dr. Michelle Bengtson speaks intimately about her personal experience with fear and practically on how to replace it with the truth of God’s Word. Through an engaging use of Scripture and powerful use of storytelling, Michelle invites us to exchange our persistent worries with lasting peace. If you struggle with trusting God in the middle of challenging times, this book is for you.”

Saundra Dalton-Smith

“Breaking Anxiety’s Grip shows how to scripturally break the strongholds of worry and fear in a world filled with doubt and distrust in God’s provision. Learn how to battle the enemy with eternal truths and exchange the worldview that embraces lies and momentary pleasures with a deeper faith and God’s peace.”

DiAnn Mills

“Buy a dozen copies, one for yourself and eleven to give away to those you love the most. You won’t regret it!”

Athena Dean Holtz

““Reading Dr. Michelle Bengtson’s book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip is like talking to a trusted friend. Her voice throughout the book will calm and reassure you in life’s daily difficult challenges. Worry, anxiety, and fear are plaguing America, and Michelle deals with the topic head-on while giving both a clinical and biblical perspective for the ‘common cold’ of mental health.”

Marta Greenman

““Every once in a while we come across a book that looks at everyday issues from a new and enlightened vantage point and helps remove the blinders that have kept us enslaved to problems. Breaking Anxiety’s Grip is one of those books. We have all suffered from the effects of worry, anxiety, and fear at some point. Dr. Bengtson takes a unique but biblically based perspective on how to rid ourselves of their slavery in our lives and live from a position of peace. This will be a book to share with family, friends, church leaders, and counselors so that together we can break the hold anxiety has in our lives.”

Michelle Wilson

““In an age where anxiety abounds, Dr. Michelle Bengtson gently takes the hands of readers on a step-by-step journey to find freedom from fear through the power of God’s perfect love. Her authenticity is refreshing. Her insight is empowering. My own ‘aha!’ moments came one after another. In a word—WOW! For anyone ready to cultivate the courage to become all God created you to be and live in his peace, this is your book.”

Aliene Thompson

““Worry, anxiety, and fear take a huge toll on our bodies and relationships. Dr. Bengtson has written an excellent book on how to overcome these significant stressors, and she gives you a pathway to reclaim a peace-filled life. You will want to read this book! This will be a helpful resource for readers, teachers, counselors, and ministry leaders.”

Nancy Houston

See something wrong on this page? Report a problem