Customer Reviews

Anxiety Free: Unravel Your Fears Before They Unravel You

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I know that the author a very important name in the CBT world. This fact made me buy this book. Despite the stellar endorsements from such giants like Aaron Beck, in my opinion, this book is not an essential read for someone who suffers from anxiety. It fails mainly because it lacks a clear step-by-step strategy.

Dr. Leahy tries to cover every possible anxiety variation: panic attack, social anxiety, GAD and so on. Each requires a somewhat different approach.

Author's goal for writing this book a bit confusing. It looks like he meant it as a self-help book. If so, it's not deep enough. If I, say, suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder, I would much rather prefer a book dedicated to GAD alone, rather than a book that lists a brief coverage of every possible disorders without giving me a clear step-by step road-map. Also, I'd require a book that emphasizes how to challenge the distorted thinking, which requires much more than a few pages. I felt lost in all the information without knowing what's essential.

The most helpful books on anxiety, by the way, already exist and it's very hard to top them. Please check them out: Anxiety Workbook by Bourne. This book also covers many varieties of anxiety, but is better organized. Another book, Mind over Mood by Padesky-mainly focuses on distorted thinking that causes depression, low self-esteem and anxiety.

As a clinician who specializes in treatment of anxiety disorders, this book is an excellent adjunct to providing evidence-based psychotherapy for any client suffering from an anxiety disorder. For those clients suffering from anxiety who do not have access to care, this book provides all of the details covered in treatment.

This book is a remarkable addition to the self-help literature. I highly recommend it to people suffering with anxiety and therapists alike. Dr. Leahy's "Anxiety Free" is more than a simple outline of popular and possible cognitive behavioral therapy techniques. The book uses innovative methods of presentation, e.g. "rulebooks" for anxiety, to bring the entire area of anxiety disorders into perspective. The cutting edge of cognitive and behavioral therapy is represented in a 100% user friendly manner. This book is beyond worth it, and it is essential reading in the treatment of anxiety problems. I'm recommending it to my patients. - Dennis Tirch PhD, Fellow Academy of Cognitive Therapy

This book is truly an incredible help for those suffering with anxieties and for their loved ones. It is very easy to read (without lots of psychological terminology) and it clearly goes into depth about each area of anxiety. It gives valuable information, examples, self evaluations, and very practical solutions. The principles taught in this book coincide with the principles that my son was taught at a highly specialized anxiety clinic. I consider this book a "must have" to help one understand and cope with anxiety.

I can highly recommend this book for anxiety sufferers and for therapists treating anxiety sufferers. One of the most helpful aspects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for anxiety disorders is the way that the therapist helps the patient makes sense of the bewildering and often frightening symptoms. "Anxiety Free" does this without the pricetag of a therapy session. Anxiety Free highlights the common processes underlying all anxiety, and helps the reader understand the often humorous set of rules they are following which maintains their anxiety. Dr. Leahy also pulls together top strategies for dealing with anxiety from a wide range of treatments. The writing is accessible, the tone is humorous yet compassionate. A great, helpful read!

I just finished Anxiety Free and loved it. Dr. Leahy provides "Anxiety Rule Books" which make understanding both the process and treatment of anxiety disorders remarkably clear. There is so much about facing anxiety that is counterintuitive and frightening- this book provides a clear path towards making changes. Highly recommend.

Before buying this book i was hoping to find something new on this field.In general this book follows the same pattern as many others...too much information on the problem but few solutions and coping strategies.Its sure only for beginners that want to learn about their problem,but if you already know about it from other sources, 2/3 of the book are useless.