Future Tense by Tracy Dennis-Tiwary Summary

Future Tense reframes anxiety as an evolutionary advantage, arguing it fuels creativity, problem-solving, and preparedness for uncertain futures. Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary challenges the view of anxiety as a disease, offering a science-backed framework to harness it as a tool for growth and resilience.

This book is ideal for individuals struggling with anxiety, mental health professionals, and anyone interested in psychology. It provides actionable insights for transforming anxiety into a strength, making it valuable for personal development and therapeutic contexts.

Yes—it combines cutting-edge neuroscience with relatable narratives to redefine anxiety’s role in modern life. Readers praise its paradigm-shifting approach, which replaces fear with empowerment, backed by Dr. Dennis-Tiwary’s academic expertise and clinical experience.

Key concepts include:

• Anxiety as an evolved mechanism to anticipate and improve the future.
• The link between anxiety and hope, driving proactive behavior.
• Rejecting perfectionism in favor of “excellencism” (growth through setbacks).

The book posits that anxiety’s discomfort sparks imaginative problem-solving, helping individuals explore hypothetical scenarios and innovate. This aligns with its role as a survival tool that enhances adaptability.

• Reframing anxiety as informational rather than harmful.
• Embracing uncertainty to build emotional agility.
• Using mindfulness and cognitive restructuring to channel anxious energy productively.

Some may find its rejection of anxiety-as-disease controversial, particularly those accustomed to traditional therapeutic models. However, the book addresses these critiques by emphasizing empirical support for its framework.

Unlike works focused on eliminating anxiety, Future Tense advocates leveraging it as a strength. It merges neuroscience with practical philosophy, offering a proactive alternative to avoidance-based coping strategies.

• “Anxiety is not broken; our relationship with it is”.
• “The price of avoiding anxiety is living a life that isn’t fully yours”.

As mental health challenges persist globally, the book’s focus on sustainable, intrinsic coping mechanisms aligns with growing demand for holistic, non-pharmaceutical interventions.

A psychology and neuroscience professor at CUNY, she co-founded Wise Therapeutics, creating digital tools for mental health. Her research underpins the book’s claims, blending academic rigor with real-world application.

The book suggests reframing pressure as motivational energy, using anxiety to anticipate challenges and innovate—a strategy for improving productivity and reducing burnout in high-stress environments.