Overcoming Animal and Insect Phobias: How to Conquer Fear of Dogs, Snakes, Rodents, Bees, Spiders, and More [Paperback]

Martin Antony PhD (Author), Randi E. McCabe PhD (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2005

As the makers of blockbuster movies like The Birds, Jaws and Arachnophobia well know, animal fears are the most commonly reported phobias. Some 6 percent of Americans suffer from diagnosable animal phobia at any given time, and 11 percent will experience an episode at some time in their lives. Nearly three quarters of animal phobia sufferers are women, and most symptoms of animal phobia come on in childhood. Since most people with animal phobias experience panic attacks when they encounter certain animals, these fears can cause victims to lose significant quality of life.

Fortunately, specific phobias are among the most responsive of anxiety disorders to behavior therapy, the research-proven treatment adapted for self-help readers in this book. Readers first learn about their phobia, where it comes from, what factors influence it, and how best to prepare for treatment. Then they learn to confront and overcome their animal and insect phobia. These techniques are effective and fast. The book includes information about avoiding relapse and helping someone else who suffers from an animal phobia.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Millions of people suffer from animal and insect phobias. Not only are the fears they experience distressing and in some cases disabling, but individuals who suffer from these phobias are often embarrassed to admit to the problem and thus never seek treatment, even though specific phobias are highly treatable. Antony and McCabe have provided a step-by-step treatment plan—the same one that would be used by a skilled clinician—that can be used by anyone to overcome their phobia in the privacy of their own home!"
—William C. Sanderson, PhD, professor of psychology and director of the Anxiety and Depression Treatment Program at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY

"Animal and insect phobias are prevalent, and they often lead to major distress and impaired functioning in everyday life. In this self-help book, Antony and McCabe address these phobias head on. Their advice is clinically sensitive and based on the best scientific evidence available to us at this time. They show us how to confront our fears, change our dysfunctional thoughts, and overcome our avoidance. This is a much-needed book—one that every person who experiences these phobias should read, as should their therapists! It is a book whose time has come. Phobias beware!"
—Thomas H. Ollendick, PhD, University Distinguished Professor of Psychology and director of the Child Study Center at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

"Phobia specialists around the world use exposure therapy to help their patients because research has shown that it works. Antony and McCabe describe these same techniques in this straightforward guidebook filled with helpful tips and examples of people who have overcome severe fear of animals. This book is the place to start for phobia sufferers who are trying to conquer their fear on their own or with a caring helper or professional. It is also fascinating reading for the beginning therapist or for those who are simply interested in animal phobias."
—Sheila R. Woody, PhD, RPsych., clinical faculty member in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia

From the Publisher

Written by two renowned anxiety experts, this easy-to-read and practical guide teaches readers how to understand, confront, and overcome persistent fear of animals such as dogs, snakes, insects, spiders, and bees.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: New Harbinger Publications (June 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572243880
• ISBN-13: 978-1572243880
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #806,879 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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