Embracing

Your emotions are not your enemies. They are messengers.

Anger, shame, fear, anxiety, and sadness each carry a message. When we fight, flee, or bury them, they quietly wear down our health and our relationships. When we learn to listen, they become our greatest source of strength.

In this expanded second edition, social worker and mental health clinician Edy Fils-Aimé blends stories inspired by years of clinical practice with clear, current science to show you how to understand your emotions and respond with wisdom.

Inside, you will learn how to:

- Calm your nervous system and widen your window of tolerance
- Let anger teach you instead of control you
- Turn shame into a guide for change, using self-compassion
- Face fear and anxiety one manageable step at a time
- Find your way through trauma and depression, and recognize growth along the way

New in the second edition: Science Spotlight sections on topics such as allostatic load, polyvagal theory, and post-traumatic growth; Clinician's Toolbox exercises in every chapter; chapter summaries; reflection questions with space to write; and a resources section with crisis lines for Canada and the United States.

Warm, practical, and grounded in evidence, Embracing is for anyone ready to stop fighting their feelings and start embracing them.

This book is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional care.