Customer Reviews

Surviving Panic Disorder: What You Need to Know

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Several years ago I was fortunate to discover the website of the wonderful doctor/author of this book. I've lived with this incredibly misunderstood disorder all my life and never knew what I had. Why? Because the vast majority of doctors don't understand the full spectrum of panic disorder and attribute so much of the physical problems that go along with it as separate entities. Dr. Shipko is the first doctor that I know of who has put it all together for those of us who have panic disorder. He has defined it and made sense of it. His book will literally change your life if you have panic disorder. The information is so comprehensive and so clearly explained. Knowledge IS power and you will be given the tools to take charge of this disorder and make your way safely through the maze of today's medications and the doctors who try to treat panic disorder. While some physicians listen to their patients and respect their opinions, many doctors have sketchy information about panic disorder and how best to treat it. I can honestly say that the author of this book probably saved my sanity and, I am certain, spared me from the hell of much of today's medications. I have exhausted library books on panic disorder and skimmed books in bookstores and nowhere have I found a single source as concise, clear, helpful, and valuable as this book.

Dr. Shipko's book not only provides a great overview of panic disorder, but also addresses topics that are often neglected on the subject. Psychological, psychiatric and medical aspects of this frequently misunderstood condition are clearly addressed. Even as an educated patient, I found myself learning new things beyond the DSM-IV manual. Topics include necessary medical tests, GERD and IBS issues, medication and psychotherapy issues, as well as heredity, pregnancy, birth, children, relationship and marriage issues. I believe that anyone with panic disorder could greatly benefit from this insightful book.

"Surviving Panic Disorder What You Need to Know" is a must read for anyone who has just had a diagnosis of Panic Disorder. It is also a valuable book for the general public who has to inter face with people who have anxiety and Panic anxiety disorder. The stats show that 2 to 4 in every 100 persons will suffer from panic disorder during some stage of their life. It affects people of all races and classes. Recent research has shown that there is a genetic or hereditary component, which predisposes people to panic. It is most common for panic disorder to affect people between 20-40 years of age, but it can also affect the very young and the elderly. Dr. Shipko has in his book has done an excellent job in not only describing panic disorder, but methods of "Surviving Panic Disorder".

D.L. Hurley (lori)
Author of " Fear From Nowhere Children with Anxiety"

I feel like I've spent my whole life in search of a book like this. It is by far the best book on panic disorder I have ever read. Reading this book felt like coming home. I have read many, many books on the subject of panic disorder, but this was the ONLY book I ever truly got anything out of. Definitely Five Plus Stars.

An easy to read, no nonsense book about Panic Disorder. Written in clear laymans' terms, double spaced text and short chapters, this book moves along quickly and is filled with information that is easily absorbed. With good advice and a keen understanding of Panic Disorder, the author writes about treating real people and shares their experiences. The treatment advice and coping mechanisms are right on. One of the best I've read on the subject.

As a person that suffers from panic disorder, I was very excited about the excellent reviews for this book and bought a copy immediately from Amazon. There is a lot of misinformation on the Internet on panic disorder and so an authoritative guide would be most welcome. On the positive side, the book is more than double spaced, with large type and can be read in a couple hours-at most-and it covers most of symptoms the panic disorder suffer might encounter. On the neutral side, it proposes unproven-observational-theories by the author about the relationship to GERD, etc. The most controversial idea from a conventional wisdom point of view is that Xanax (alprazolam) should be the first-line drug treatment, not SSRI's, although he infers talk therapy only would be a better choice..

Shipko states (and I am of the same opinion) that the "benzos" have been given a bad name in the medical community to promote the SSRI antidepressants, some of which are much more expensive and not available generically. The problem is that the panic sufferer doesn't need something to make him/her more anxious, and most SSRI's do just that. Rather like going to the doctor with severe pain and being given something that causes more pain. To the extent that Dr. Shipko has convinced even a few docs of the therapeutic value of the benzodiazepine family (Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin) and the intense suffering of panic disorder, he has done the community a great service.

The reason for three stars is that the book offers little else, other than several interesting, if not proven opinions. While a minor point, on p.113, there is a glaring error: "Of the three BDZs mentioned [Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin; my insert] Ativan is the only one ever approved by the FDA for the treatment of panic disorder." That's 100% wrong-the only FDA-approved benzodiazepine for panic disorder is Xanax (feel free to look it up on your favorite search engine). While it is easy to understand the "mistake", it is so crucial to his argument that I have questions as to how carefully the manuscript was read.

In summary, it is an interesting book that is a quick read and has some interesting ideas, but is not worth buying-borrowing from the library, yes, purchasing, no.

Update August 28, 2010
Having read Dr. Shipko's book two additional times, I've come to the conclusion that some of my criticisms were misplaced.There are invaluable "gems" hidden in the text that I missed upon first reading-but in my defense, Dr. Shipko often does not elaborate; example, p.141, "The Internet information on BDZ withdrawal is extreme and seems most appropriate for BZD-addicted people..."-this is HUGE point, deserving, to my way of thinking, a bit more explanation. Such an explanation might warn the reader not to be fearful of what one reads about Xanax withdrawal on the Internet, because the majority of the information is for Xanax-loving addicts, not benzo-hating panic disorder patients. Another important seldom-mentioned insight casually passed over is the psychological aspect of withdrawal-if you are very scared of withdrawing, you will generate physical symptoms that will not allow you to continue to taper...I found that point very helpful in a recent withdrawal; you have to be in a relative calm place to withdraw and attempting to withdraw while still quite ill is doomed to failure.

If one searches for the "gems"-and recognizes them when they are found, the book becomes an extremely valuable addition to the panic disorder literature, worthy of five stars.

I'm not even through with the book yet, but upon completing about 10 chapters in a day and a half I am in awe of how amazing of a Doctor he is. He specifically studied cases of panic attacks and everything I read hits the nail right on the head. Things that I have problems explaining, he says in there and I realize what's happening to me EXACTLY. I'm really glad I bought this book. He is a dedicated Doctor and I would see him as a regular patient if I could. He's seen it all and it helps me feel that my panic attacks are so normal because he's dealt with so many people with the exact same symptoms. He doesn't sugar coat it either.It's not concluded in a mean, and belittling way, but rather a way that he understands, and that you are FAR from being alone.He also doesn't blab on about meaningless symptoms. He literally takes the words right out of my mouth and sums them up. Definitely worth every penny and I WILL be passing this on to other friends I know who suffer from panic disorders. Thank You Dr. Shipko!