Customer Reviews

Panic Attacks Workbook: A Guided Program for Beating the Panic Trick

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In my opinion, "Panic Attacks Workbook" is the best self-help book for overcoming panic - and I have read nearly all of them. The author, Dr. David Carbonell, is one of the leading experts in the field of anxiety disorders. With clarity, compassion and humor, he presents the most effective approaches to overcoming panic. Reading this book is like having several sessions with a caring, expert therapist. If you are facing the challenge of panic attacks, this book is the place to start.

In 1998, after years of struggle, I overcame panic disorder & agoraphobia. Since 2001, I have been directing a popular website that provides resources for people recovering from these conditions. Among all the self-help books, my #1 recommendation is "Panic Attacks Workbook."

This book has been the most practical and useful one on the market. It's like having a real person walk you through, step by step, not a bunch of "psychobabble". It respectfully addresses every aspect of panic you have experienced. Advice includes reasons why you might have this "problem" and how to cope, realistically. If you feel you are beyond hope, don't believe it, buy this book, read it, read it again, do the "homework" (at your own pace) and in time (you choose how soon) you will begin to see results--it may take a while, so be patient...if you don't have patience, get some! :) However long you have "suffered" there is hope. And whatever you do, DO NOT skip the part about BREATHING. Don't think you've heard it all. I especially liked all the anecdotes of Dr. Carbonell's: if you like a little humor thrown in (trust me, it helps!) with some real-life scenarios, this is the book for you. Written in everyday language, and I do not mean "dumbed down" this book has been incredibly useful. And a bargain!

Dr. David Carbonell's Panic Attacks Workbook is an invaluable resource for anyone struggling with anxiety or panic disorder. Founder and director of the Anxiety Treatment Center in New York and Chicago and an expert in the treatment of anxiety disorders, Dr. Carbonell offers simple to follow, immediately useful advice on how to unmask the "panic trick" and get back to living your life. In compassionate and reassuring language, he explains that panic attacks are not your fault and provides hope that you, too, can recover from this "very treatable" condition. Emphasizing always that you are not alone (many people experience such attacks) and can get better, Dr. Carbonell offers a complete self-help recovery program that includes the use of panic diaries, desensitization, and cognitive therapy. He makes clear how panic attacks work and what to do if you have one, provides specific self-tests and exercises that will help you begin to heal yourself right away, and explains how to discuss your problem with a trusted friend or loved one, and why you might want to. He explains how to defeat the panic trick by using such techniques as belly breathing (breathing from your belly, not your chest), self-hypnosis, and the rule of opposites (whatever your panic tells you-to avoid public places, for example-do the opposite). In addition to the practical advice you'll find here, this book is distinguished by Dr. Carbonell's ability to make you feel like a normal person with a common problem and by his power to make you feel optimistic about your prospects for recovery. Arm yourself with Panic Attacks Workbook and let your panic attacks-not you-be afraid, be very afraid.

This book is one of the most practical, consumer friendly, and professionally developed resources for managing fear, anxiety and panic I have used. It explains how "the Panic Trick works", where fear comes from and gives practical applications on how to dismantle the panic. The book offers information for assessing your own level of fear, helps you isolate issues, and uses examples and excersizes for dealing with the fear. I felt like I was in the Dr's office, and getting personalized compassionate treatment. The book works with consumers in a humane and caring way. The book exlains what it can and can't do, and the applications offer the consumer an empowering approach for taking control of their lives.

It is working for me.

I've dealt with anxiety and panic attacks for the last 11 years! I had an especially hard time with feeling "trapped" in places, such as a traffic jam, elevators, and couldn't even fathom the idea of going on an airplane! I was so dissapointed everytime friends or family would take a trip and invite me. I would always make up excuses as to why I just could not go, knowing all the while that I was just too scared of having a panic attack. I have read tons of books, been to psychotherapy, and even used other panic attack programs and all was in vain. Finally, I came across this book and it has changed my life!! I flew for the first time in 10 years two weeks ago. I had the book in my lap the whole time, and I was fine! I couldn't believe it. I had the skills to deal with my panic attack on the flight out, and on the flight back, I didn't need to open the book at all. It was an amazing accomplishment for me, and I thank Dr. Carbonell for restoring my sense of freedom.

I bought this book for my husband and whenever he seemed to feel a
panic attack coming on, he would go to this workbook. I won't say it
resolved the attack, but it helped substantially.
This is a very practical "hands on" workbook that should be in any panic
attack victim's library. I highly recommend it.

Quick. Easy to understand. Effective. This informative workbook describes the panic trick and arms you with the tools to overcome it. Easy to follow examples and exercises will help you beat the trick in no time at all. Understanding the panic is your key to quick recovery and this workbook describes it all. Well worth the time and minimal cost.

I have suffered from anxiety and panic attacks since I was small. This workbook offers step by step help for cognitive retraining in order to reach recovery. I purchased this book about three weeks ago, and it has helped me immensely. It does not offer a magic cure, it offers a plan. There is real effort involved in following the plan, but the results are solid. I have spent lots of money on books and cures, including the Joe Barry "one move". This is superior, and much less expensive.

I have been a Panic disorder sufferer for about 10 years and nothing has helped. this book truly is the beggining to the answers i have been asking for so long. David Carbonell uses the best techniques i have ever tried, and the reality of it all is amazing. It is so comforting knowing that I am not the only one that has these same problems, as so many other people do. He explains excersizes, meditation, and gives stories of actual patients he has had and what they experienced and how they over came their fear and anxieties using these methods. The truth is, THEY REALLY WORK!

First, a little personal background. It was a Monday in early May (10th to be exact) when it hit like a ton of bricks. When I say that I mean a TON OF BRICKS and it felt as if each and every brick was piled on my chest. I had no doubt whatsoever that I was about to die. At the time I was driving on a limited access toll road and the exits were few and far between. Somehow that afternoon I made it home. I tried to calm down but I was walking outside and I could not stop moving. It was absolutely horrible.

Our son had a little league baseball game at 7 p.m. which is why I came home early. As I backed out of the garage and started for the park I found myself turning toward the hospital instead. I presented with chest pains, sky high blood pressure, thought I was going nuts (it might have been too late for that - it might have already happened), was shaking all over, could not sit still and knew I was going to die. I was whisked past the emergency room and promptly deposited in a bed in the Coronary Care Unit of a major teaching hospital with a suspected heart attack.

For the next two days the staff ran tests, more tests and I think they tested the tests. A bucket of money later the Chief of Cardiology, who was also a friend, proclaimed from "on high" that I had not had a heart attack and he didn't have a clue about what happened. He was not alone in his non-diagnosis diagnosis.

Over the next nine years I saw 13 physicians and 2 psychologists with the end result being that I LOST nine years of my life as I became agoraphobic also. All they actually did for me was shove another Valium scrip into my pocket until I was at 60 mg. of Valium and ValRelease per day. It was like popping M & Ms for all the good it did. For five years, in my prime with our son's sports events and all, I could not leave our home. The most I could do was walk to the end of the driveway and get the newspaper.

When I finally found someone who could help me on July 20, 1991 it only required about 2 days of meds to get my *whole* life back.

Now, on to the review:

A little fast for the review notice from Amazon as this book is a course of action self-learning. All great knowledge stems from autodidactic personalities and David Carbonell definitely provides a wonderful process of self-learning. After just a few minutes with this tome you will be able to see where he is going. All you have to do is follow the bread crumbs to get home safely.

This should tell someone reading these reviews that this is not a "grab it, couldn't put it down" type of book (or manual, if you prefer that term). This is not a quick fix like a pill that lasts until its half-life depletes its efficacy. To complete the program you must work at it like you have never worked before. It's scary. It's challenging. It's a lifesaver.

The book does not have a path to a cure for panic disorder but you do not need to find a cure to get your life back. This program is really good.

While The National Institute of Mental Health says, "There is no cure for panic disorder" relief is something you can achieve if you decide to own this book. If you suffer from Panic Disorder, to any degree, you owe it to yourself to order this book as soon as practicable.