The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook, Fourth Edition [Paperback]

Edmund J. Bourne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2005 | ISBN-10: 1572244135 | ISBN-13: 978-1572244139 | Edition: Fourth Edition

Practical, step-by-step directions for the mastery of:
• Visualization
• Self-Esteem
• Nutrition
• Medication
• Meditation techniques
• Anxiety-triggering health conditions

Over 600,000 Copies Sold

Since its first edition in 1990, The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook has sold more than 600,000 copies. Its engaging exercises and worksheets have helped millions of readers make real progress in overcoming problems with anxiety and phobic disorders. The Authoritative Guide to Self-Help Resources in Mental Health (Norcross, et al., 2003) gave the book its highest rating and praised it as 'a highly regarded and widely known resource.' Thousands of mental health and medical professionals recommend this book to their clients and patients every year. Simply put, it is the single finest source of self-help information on its topic available anywhere.

The text of this edition has been fully revised and expanded and includes two new chapters: a discussion of physical conditions that can aggravate anxiety and an overview of the use of mindfulness practice in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder and some forms of obsessive-compulsive disorder. As in previous editions, the book offers the most up-to-date information on medications, natural supplements, and complementary strategies that can alleviate anxiety symptoms. The sections on relaxation, nutrition, and exercise have all been updated and broadened.

Editorial Reviews

Review

From the Publisher

A revision of the best-selling classic, this fourth edition of this book provides step-by-step help for sufferers of anxiety and phobic disorders. It offers the latest treatment strategies for the whole range of these problems-panic disorder, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder-with revisions that include updated information on medications, mindfulness training, and health-related conditions that aggravate anxiety.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: New Harbinger Publications; Fourth Edition edition (May 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572244135
• ISBN-13: 978-1572244139
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 1 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (122 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27,446 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #21 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Behavioral Sciences > Behavioral Psychology
  • #47 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Mental Health > Anxiety Disorders
  • #86 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Mental Health > Mood Disorders

More About the Author

Edmund J. Bourne, Ph.D., has specialized in the treatment of anxiety disorders and related problems for two decades. For many years, Bourne was director of the Anxiety Treatment Center in San Jose and Santa Rosa, CA. His bestselling anxiety books, which have helped hundreds of thousands of readers throughout the world, include The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook, Beyond Anxiety and Phobia, and Coping with Anxiety.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 34 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good December 26, 2005

By Robert T. Merrill

Format:Paperback

I bought this back in August, based on my family doctor's recommendation and many good reviews. The change-your-thoughts therapies described have come a long way since I was first exposed to them in the mid-1980s. The worksheets make writing (journaling) easier and more effective. I also appreciate the breadth of help offered; Dr. Bourne gives you a lot of different things to try, and see what helps.

For all that, I still keep returning to Claire Weekes ("Hope and Help for Your Nerves," ISBN 0451167228). What that dear woman managed to figure out back in the 1960s still amazes me. And her words convey a strong, sweet, compassion that Dr. Bourne's "Workbook" lacks. The two books complement and strengthen one another.

Be kind to yourself, and don't be too proud or too ashamed to give medication a try, too.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific resource for therapists or those who suffer with anixety February 2, 2006

By Kimberly Wagner

Format:Paperback

The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook addresses the whole range of anxiety disorders and symptoms and how to deal with them. Chapters focus on relaxation techniques, coping strategies, interfering thoughts, identifying feelings, assertiveness, and self-esteem. Types of medication and what to consider are also explained. Even areas that you wouldn't think would be related to anxiety, like nutrition, are explored.

I first bought this book when I was in graduate school and found it to be an incredibly helpful resource to use with clients. I have done exercises from the book with clients or even encouraged them to buy a copy for themselves. The text is written in a reader-friendly way; someone with anxiety who might not want to go see a counselor could use this book and gain some relief from their symptoms (of course, the actual exercises would have to be completed, not just read). The cognitive-behavioral approach that this book takes is the intervention of choice for most therapists for working with people with anxiety issues.

23 of 29 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Somewhat dated, some misinformation February 6, 2010

By D. Hughes

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I think all of us that suffer from anxiety disorders are so happy to find someone who has an inkling of what we are going through that we are willing to give that person five stars, just for their understanding.

First the good: I won't go into detail, because other reviewers have done an excellent job of pointing out how comprehensively the author has listed and described the various modalities that can be used to reduce anxiety-he truly presents a holistic approach.

Next, the not-so-good: the author is a therapist at heart and by degree, and it shows in his writing. Some anxiety disorders, panic disorder for example, really respond much better to medication that therapy, despite the current craze over CBT. He also dislikes the Xanax (Klonopin, Ativan) family of drugs because they are "addictive" (he means "causes dependence"), that is, if you stop taking them the drug abruptly, you may well suffer a withdrawal, so you are advised to taper the withdrawal from the medication, which is a good idea with many meds. What he fails to mention is that the Xanax family (benzodiazepines) is far-and-away the most prescribed and effective psychoactive set of medications for anxiety disorders. You might want to check the Web site [...] or others for confirmation of that statement. Remarkably, he suggests taking medications like gabapentin instead, which are vastly more toxic than the Xanax family (but then, that's not hard, Xanax, et. al. are very, very non-toxic). There are other examples, but the medication section is a bit weak-and as to the objection that medication just masks "the cause"-the cause may be that you chose the wrong parents and inherited the wrong genes.

Another objection is that the author suggests taking mega doses of vitamins for anxiety. This is a well-studied idea, but it just doesn't work, unfortunately. You might look at what the Mayo Clinic or other reputable sites have to say about vitamin therapy, if in doubt. He also recommends a vegetarian diet and eating organic foods-which I am in agreement with from a general health and ethical point of view, but I've never read that organic eggs will bring you peace of mind.

The author also states that antidepressants are not "addictive"-which dates this volume: Effexor is notorious for causing "head-zaps" and other unpleasant sensations upon withdrawal. "Antidepressant withdrawal syndrome" is fairly recent as a concern, but it isn't included in this book. Other antidepressants that patients often have difficulty withdrawing from (after they have waited 6-8 weeks for the drug to do something for their anxiety) include Paxil (which the author mentions) and Cymbalta.

The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook may be of use to you if you know nothing about anxiety or if your anxiety is fairly mild-but the book is somewhat dated and contains some misinformation which is presented as fact.