The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook (New Harbinger Workbooks) [Paperback]

Edmund J. Bourne Ph.D. (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1572240032 | ISBN-13: 978-1572240032 | Publication Date: 1995 | Edition: 2nd Rev

This workbook provides a practical set of treatments for anxiety and phobias. It covers all aspects of anxiety disorders and how to combat them with relaxation techniques, building self-esteem, using visualization techniques and desensitization for phobias. Two new chapters have been added to this edtion.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This book excels not only in explaining the cause and nature of anxiety disorders and phobias but also in describing treatments. Director of the Anxiety Treatment Center in Santa Rosa (California), Bourne emphasizes the cognitive-behavioral model of treatment but includes information on biopsychiatry, intense psychotherapy, and spirituality as additional treatment modalities. This is truly a "workbook," with exercises designed to facilitate recovery, either through private use or in conjunction with professional therapy. If your library already owns the 1990 edition and money is an object, you can probably pass on this revision, which updates the definitions of anxiety and phobia so that they conform with the new DSM-IV diagnostic criteria and includes new information on the biological causes of anxiety and related treatment developments. However, if your collection lacks a good lay reader's book on anxiety and phobia, this is an excellent choice.?Jennifer Amador, Central State Hosp. Medical Lib., Petersburg, Va.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Any who've struggled with panic attacks and fears will find this packed with self-help exercises and guidelines to overcoming anxiety and stress, from understanding how to assert oneself to creating a positive recovery strategy. This focuses on handling feelings, including plenty of tips on handling life problems. -- Midwest Book Review

Product Details

• Paperback: 429 pages
• Publisher: New Harbinger Pubns Inc; 2nd Rev edition (1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572240032
• ISBN-13: 978-1572240032
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #845,016 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

172 of 197 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Useful Tool for Therapists or as a Self-Help Workbook, September 22, 2002

By 

Rebecca Johnson "The Rebecca Review" (Washington State) - See all my reviews
(COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook (New Harbinger Workbooks) (Paperback)

Did you know that anxiety disorder is fairy common and affects approximately one out of every ten people in the United States at any given time. Could we all be living under too much stress? I think so.

"Research conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health shows that anxiety disorders are the number-one mental health problem among American women and are second only to alcohol and drug abuse among men."

Have you ever felt panicky?
Are you fearful of entering certain places?

Are you anxious in social situations?
Do you feel apprehensive for extended periods of time?

This workbook is a practical guide that offers help to anyone struggling with panic attacks, agoraphobia, social fears, generalized anxiety and obsessive-compulsive behaviors. Dr. Edmund J. Bourne, Ph.D. is a psychologist and author who specializes in the treatment of phobias and other anxiety disorders.

Some of the Topics Include:

Causes of Anxiety Disorders
Visualization for Anxiety

Overcoming Negative Self-Talk
Real-Life Desensitization
Coping with Panic Attacks
Imagery Desensitization
Identifying and Expressing Feelings
Existential and spiritual Perspectives on Anxiety
Changing Mistaken Beliefs
Relaxations Techniques
Physical Exercise
Asserting Yourself
Nutrition
Medication
How to Create Your Own Recovery Program
Self-Esteem (including creating a relationship with your inner child)

This book emphasizes that anxiety can be a result of cumulative, long-term stress and there is a focus on adopting lifestyle changes to promote a more relaxed, balanced and healthy approach to life.

The chapter on Relaxation gives some great advice. Simple techniques like breathing properly or visualizing yourself in a peaceful scene can give immediate relief. There are lists of coping statements you can say to yourself to encourage calmness when you feel panic symptoms coming on. The list of 57 affirmations help you counter mistaken beliefs. Like, you tell yourself that you are responsible and in control of your life or you are willing to accept yourself the way you are and will take small steps to recover at your own pace.

I also liked the "Self-Nurturing Activities" which is a fun list of activities to make yourself feel good. Something as simple as taking a warm bath to sleeping out under the stars. The "Life Events Survey" is very interesting. The Death of a spouse, divorced, marital separation or being fired from work are at the top of the stress scale. Christmas comes in at 12 on the stress score as compared to 29 when you have trouble with inlaws.

For example: If you got married, changed to a different line of work, changed residence, and took two vacations, your total stress score would be at 132.

According to this chart, my current stress level is at 143. So, I am below the level of cumulative stress. Between 150 and 300 you would be suffering from chronic stress depending on how you perceived and coped with any particular life events.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is dealing with:

Panic Disorder
Agoraphobia
Social Phobia
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Acute Stress Disorder
Food Allergies

"But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself." -Desiderata by Max Erhmann

The most comprehensive book I've seen on
this subject!

~The Rebecca Review

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely comprehensive book on anxiety / phobias., January 5, 2001

By 

"nicolettim" (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook (New Harbinger Workbooks) (Paperback)

This book has a good claim to being the most comprehensive text written about anxiety and phobias.

This does NOT mean that it is superficial or just touches upon the various techniques to aid sufferers - quite the opposite; there is enough detail and different recommendations to give even the most apathetic of people hope that things CAN and WILL get better. Certainly the book is written in such a fashion to enable the reader to work on individual areas eg relaxation, nutrition, self-esteem, communication at their own pace. One doesn't have to read the whole book to put the ideas into practice.

Dr Bourne is to be congratulated for keeping the language simple and, without doubt, I found the book to be very easy reading - a delight in fact. Don't be mistaken, however, the techniques are very powerful and everything is explained in sufficient detail to enable the reader to decide which approach is best for him / her.

Highly recommended. Surely "a classic" in the making.

32 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Take control of your life!, August 21, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook (New Harbinger Workbooks) (Paperback)

If you want to outline a self-help recovery plan for your anxiety disorder, this is the book to get. Bourne explains each anxiety disorder, helps you figure out if you have one, and then provides the tools you need to get well.

Each chapter focuses on a different skill to learn. When designing your plan, you can decided which skills you need to learn. Skills range from better nutrition to improved self-esteem. You can learn relaxation techniques, assertiveness and more.

With each skill, Bourne presents numerous options for learning. If one way doesn't work for you, try another. Bourne's methods are based on a large library of resources, and he cites further reading suggestions at the end of each chapter.

With your therapist or on your own, you can easily begin recovery now.

Cathleen Henning
http://panicdisorder.miningco.com