Triumph Over Fear: A Book of Help and Hope for People with Anxiety, Panic Attacks and Phobias [Paperback]

Jerilyn Ross (Author), Rosalynn Carter (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1995

The National Institute of Mental  Health calls anxiety disorders the most common mental  health problem in America. They are also among the  most treatable. Yet tens of millions of people  struggle with hidden fears and restricted lives  because they have not received proper diagnosis and  treatment. Triumph Over Fear  combines Jerilyn Ross's firsthand account of  overcoming her own disabling phobia with inspiring case  histories of recovery from other forms of anxiety,  including panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive  disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder; an  post-traumatic stress disorder. State-of-the-art  information is combined with powerful self-help  techniques, together with clear indications of when to seek  additional professional help and/or medication.  Also included is the latest research on anxiety  disorders in children, plus advice for dealing with  family members and  employers.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Ross, president of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, here eloquently addresses today's "number one mental health problem"--anxiety disorders--and offers help to the estimated million Americans who suffer from them. A former sufferer of panic attacks and agoraphobia, the author compassionately tells the stories of patients who are inflicted by the five primary types of anxiety disorders--panic disorder, phobias (including agoraphobia and social phobia), obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress syndrome, generalized anxiety--and how they triumphed over their crippling fears and went on to lead normal lives. Especially moving is the story of Grace, who didn't leave her house for 30 years but is now involved in many social activities. Also discussed are anxiety disorders in children, research on the latest therapies, and the value of tranquilizers and antidepressants to facilitate, rather than replace, therapy. Ross presents goal setting, daily task sheets, the "six-point" system, breathing control, and relaxation and exercise to manage panic and phobias. Final chapters offer advice on handling family, friends and associates affected by the anxiety sufferer's behavior and on overcoming setbacks. A valuable guide for patients and professionals.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

Ross, founder of the Anxiety Disorder Association of America, writes a cogent volume regarding anxiety disorders and phobias. Among these are more publicized phobias, such as agoraphobia and post-traumatic stress disorder, which physicians may not recognize. After several short case studies of people with a variety of conditions, Ross discusses recovery solutions using drug and cognitive behavioral therapy. She also borrows a six-point therapy from Dr. Manuel Zane, a pioneer in the treatment of anxiety disorders. After conquering a fear of heights herself, Ross climbs on elevators with patients or meets them in their homes. One success story concerns a woman who had not left her home in 30 years. A complementary workbook is Reneau Z. Peurifoy's Anxiety, Phobias and Panic (Life Skills, 1992). Great for public and medical patient libraries.
- Lisa Wise, Univ. of Southern Colorado, Pueblo
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (April 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553374443
• ISBN-13: 978-0553374445
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.6 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #316,975 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

95 of 97 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More helpful than years of therapy!, September 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Triumph Over Fear: A Book of Help and Hope for People with Anxiety, Panic Attacks and Phobias (Paperback)

Jerilyn Ross's book, Triumph over Fear, combines convential wisdom with creative, scientifically accurate and practical advice that enabled me to make the kind of changes in my life that six and a half years of therapy couldn't do. I had reached a point where, although I was fairly successful in business and have a wonderful family, my panic attacks and fear of the attacks were ruling my life and I was getting to the end of my rope. I was losing interest in things, barely sleeping and finding every day a struggle. A friend suggested I read this book and, although I resisted at first, thinking nothing could really help me, I can now look back and say that reading (and re-reading) it was a turning point in my life. Most helpful were some of the simplist things, such as the breathing re-training techniques, the concept of labelling my anxiety, and learning how to identify and modify the triggering thoughts and behaviors that were keeping me stuck. I recently accepted a promotion at work that I never could have handled without the help and inspiration I received from reading this book. Ms. Ross has a real gift and I encourage anyone suffering from an anxiety problem to get her book and follow her steps towards recovery. For me, they were more helpful than anything I learned in therapy.

64 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A superb book - informative, compassionate, very practical, October 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Triumph Over Fear: A Book of Help and Hope for People with Anxiety, Panic Attacks and Phobias (Paperback)

Triumph Over Fear is written with the compassion, knowledge and inspiration that only someone who has been on both sides of the problem could deliver. Having overcome her own anxiety disorder and worked as a therapist and patient advocate for many years before writing this book, Jerilyn Ross brings the kind of knowledge to the reader that I have not found in any other book on this subject. In addition to the comprehensive information about the nature of anxiety disorders and the latest treatment approaches, Ms. Ross gives the reader very specific tools, techniques and guidelines to follow as one moves towards recovery - all of which she has either practiced herself or taught to (or, as she states, learned from) her patients. After giving a thorough overview of the various anxiety disorders, including a good deal of scientifically based information that is presented in a very readable format, Ms. Ross presents several real case studies. Each case seems to have been carefully chosen to represent a different anxiety disorder,(ie. social phobia, panic disorder, generalized anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress) and the different diagnostic and treatment approaches used with each disorder. I found a little of myself in several of the people described in the stories and found that to be incredibly reassuring and comforting. The last part of the book is a supurb, easy to follow self-help section - the best I've seen - mainly because of it's practical, common sense, no-nonsense approach. I have had agoraphobia for almost sixteen years and, after diligently following Ms. Ross' instructions (even though at first I resisted keeping a diary), I am now doing things I never thought I would do again (ie. taking my daughter shopping in the mall, driving on the highway to get to work, going out to lunch with colleagues). I actually brought this book to my therapist and we used many of the techniques Ms. Ross described, such as the excellent re-breathing training exercises and "what if" challenges. Triumph Over Fear is a real gem and I was thrilled to see it on your list. THANKS

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely well-written, practical and inspiring, January 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Triumph Over Fear: A Book of Help and Hope for People with Anxiety, Panic Attacks and Phobias (Paperback)

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Triumph Over Fear and have since passed it on to several people in my anxiety disorders support group. All have agreed that this is one of the best books on the supject because it combines solid-information, common sense, inspirational patient stories and practical self-help exercises. The reader is left with a strong understanding of the problem and a road map to getting the right kind of help. It is often so confusing to figure out which direction to go in and Jerilyn Ross uses her personal and professional experiences to help sort out the best way of dealing with specific problems, ie. how to talk to family members about panic attacks, what to do when one is experiencing anticipatory anxiety or a setback and how to choose whether therapy or medication or a combination is best for you. I found a lot of answers to a lot of questions and owe a good deal of my own recovery to the information I gathered from reading this book.