Customer Reviews

Healing Fear: New Approaches to Overcoming Anxiety

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Chapter 1 -- The Author's Own Story
Chapter 2 -- Restoring Lost Connections (family, community, nature, self, God)
Chapter 3 -- Simplifying Your Life (reducing stress, doing what you want for a living, reducing exposure to television, increasing exposure to nature, delegating, learning to say "No")
Chapter 4 -- Caring for Your Body (relaxation, abdominal breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, pacing and downtime, exercise programs, overcoming excuses for not exercising, energy balance)

Chapter 5 -- Caring for Your Body (improving your nutrition, minimizing caffeine, reducing sugar, identifying allergic foods, reducing saturated fats, eating whole and unprocessed foods, organic foods, vegetables, fiber, daily fluid intake, protein-to-carbohydrate ratio, vitamins, amino acids, tryptophan, GABA, DLPA, herbs, glandulars, hormones, detoxification, fasting)
Chapter 6 -- Tools that Work: Help for Overcoming Panic and Phobias (The truth about panic attacks: [1] Panic attacks are unpleasant but not dangerous [2] A panic attack cannot cause heart failure or cardiac arrest [3] A panic attack will not cause you to stop breathing or suffocate [4] A panic attack cannot cause you to faint [5] A panic attack cannot cause you to lose your balance [6] You won't fall when you feel "weak in the knees" during a panic attack [7] You cannot "go crazy" during a panic attack [8] A panic attack cannot cause you to "lose control of yourself" [9] Don't fight panic. Coping strategies for managing panic: [1] Use the anxiety scale [2] Abdominal breathing [3] Coping statements [4] Other diversion techniques [5] Revising catastrophic thoughts that contribute to panic. Examples of how to change self-talk: [1] Fear of driving on a freeway [2] Fear of flying [3] Fear of contracting a serious illness. How to face what you fear: [1] Taking manageable steps [2] Relying upon a support person [3] Coping strategies [4] Avoid flooding [5] Practicing exposure to phobia 3 to 5 times each week [6] Maintaining the right attitude)
Chapter 7 -- Medication (Serotonin, tryptophan, St. John's wart, exercise, exposure to light. Types: SSRIs, benzodiazepines, cyclic antidepressants, MAO inhibitor antidepressants, beta-blockers, buspar. Should I take medication? For how long? When should I discontinue it?)
Chapter 8 -- Addressing Personality Issues (Fear of abandonment or isolation, fear of rejection or embarrassment, fear of losing control, fear of death or injury, fear of confinement)

Chapter 9 -- Developing Your Observing Self (Meditation)
Chapter 10 -- Finding Your Unique Purpose
Chapter 11 -- Enlarging Your View of Life (How spirituality can help overcome anxiety, your concept of God, deepening your relationship with God, viewing adversity and difficulties from a spiritual perspective)
Chapter 12 -- Letting Go (relaxation, humor, patience, creativity, doing for others, overcoming perfectionism, relying upon others, tolerating uncertainty, faith)
Chapter 13 -- Affirming Your Recovery
Chapter 14 -- Learning to Love (forgiveness, compassion, generosity, kindness)
Chapter 15 -- Conclusion: Acquiring Courage (Ten ways to heal fear daily)

Although the title of my review may sound a little cliche and gaudy it is actually not far from the truth. Having read the excellent Anxiety and Phobia Workbooks and gaining immense insight from them, I was eager to read one more book from Edmund Bourne. This book is an excellent read/resource for a number of reasons. Bourne, himself has suffered from anxiety for over 30 years and in the first part of the book he shares his struggles with the reader which gives us a sense of connection with him. Healing Fear does have some similarities to his previous books but it has evolved and expanded. Bourne now believes that there are far more circumstances when medication may be appropriate and even necessary. Also, there is a section on herbs which are relatively new to western civilization in the treatmentment of anxiety. Something else that is different about this book is the second section which has some definite ties to spirituality. Developing Your Observing Self is one of the most powerful and meaningful chapters that I have ever read in any book. Additionally, the numerous forms of relaxation are discussed as well as finding meaning in life. There are undoubtable ties between these subjects and lasting recovery from anxiety. True recovery ofter requires a shift in the way we look at things and the pace at which we live our lives. Incorporating a certain amount of relaxation and thought calming in our everyday lives is in many cases very necessary to our complete and full recovery from anxiety. In the last chapter there is a list of things to do everyday to avoid an accumulation of stress and there is a complete appendix to the book filled with suggested readings that are inspiring. Healing Fear does just what the title says it does and you will not be disappointed with your purchase.

Bourne attains one of the biggest challenges for a therapist - to be able to put himself in his client's (anxiety sufferer's) shoes. This wholelistic book traces causes for anxiety from your way of living, diet, how you experience or think about yourself, etc. The climax of the book takes you on a road of finding meaning, purpose and a deep relationship with your higher power. Very comprehensive and "wise." God send!

This book has been one of the most influental books I have ever read, and is easily the best book on shyness I have ever read. The author gave me many good ideas to reduce my stress/anxiety in social situations, and also helped me to better understand the sources of my anxiety and shyness. I still sometimes go back and reread portions of the book. A huge thank you to Dr. Bourne for giving me a way to change my life for the better.

Never in my life have I appreciated something as much as this book - it is almost like my bible. I was recently diagnosed with an exhausting and terrifying anxiety disorder. Just when I thought there was no other way to go on, I found the piece of mind and the words that I needed to start my journey toward recovering. Edmund Bourne offers words of inspiration like I've never known and not only offers ways to combat anxiety, but ways to make your life more peaceful and healthy. He is also kind enough to share his own battle with anxiety in this book, which makes his words and advice all the more meaningful. Another great part of his book is that he offers a number in the back for anyone who is suffering to call, and he will personally call you to assist any questions you may have and counsel you with his warm words. I found this service and his book to be the key factors in helping me find the strength to face my battle - he has pulled me from my dark hole and has made me feel understood and no longer alone with my pain. This book offers everything you need to know and more about how to overcome anxiety and create a wonderful and fulfilling life for yourself. Through his amazing guidance, I feel like there is hope again. I reccommend this book to anyone - even if you don't have a diagnosed anxiety disorder. It provides valuable tools not only for healing, but for creating an uplifting and meaningful life.

I just finished reading Healing Fear. Bourne takes you through a number of paths that lead you towards discovering the way suitable to your own recovery. Healing Fear is very well written. I am sure that hours of careful reflection preceded each thought put forward in the book. It is comprehensive, thoughtful, maintains a high level of maturity through Bourne's opennes to refer you to other resources and communicates compassion as well as understanding for anxiety suffers that i experienced for the first time on this level.

Dr. Bourne was so available when I was at the end of my road looking for recovery. He gave me the tools and the people to help me stand up and continue. I also use this book and his other book as my bible and I refer to it in every situation. There is a way out and he shows you the door to open.

Dr. Bourne has an excellent track record for providing real help for real people, and this book is no exception. I always love it when a self-help author is willing to put his own story out there, and Dr. Bourne does so in a way that helps readers know that they are not alone with whatever degree or variety of anxiety that haunts them.

As a psychotherapist and author who also teaches about overcoming fear's control in our lives, I have tremendous respect for Dr. Bourne's well-thought out, thorough approach to the subject. He is not a "one technique fits all" kind of author, but instead offers a very complete catalog of options from which to choose.

Last, but not least, Healing Fear has something many self-help books don't have: humility. Dr. Bourne understands that cognitive/behavioral techniques are very powerful in the face of fear and anxieties, but he includes respectful and intelligent information about the value of medication and of spiritual practice. This is a book to which I never hesitate to refer a client, friend or family member.

-Thom Rutledge, Author of Embracing Fear (HarperSanFancisco)

This book is not just for people who have anxiety or panic disorder. It encompasses healthy living for the mind, body and spirit. I recommend this book for anyone attempting to live a peaceful, healthy existence.

Dr. Bourne writes in such a way that I feel that I am not the only person on the planet who has had the thoughts that frighten me and have made me feel alone in my world. I have read and reread all of this book and use it as a workbook of life and peace. WHen I am having those feelings I just need to open his book and I am at once reassured that someone understands what I feel. The magic words of his writing makes me know that he knows from his heart and is not just a good writer who uses words and not the experience. thank you for sharing Dr. Bourne and I look forward to another book to live my life by....