Anxiety, Phobias, & Panic: A Step-by-Step Program for Regaining Control of Your Life (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Anxiety and fear are normal responses to a perceived threat..." (more)
Key Phrases: Block Method, Panicky Always, Recommended Reading (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

An experienced professional counselor offers an understanding of common nervous disorders--from mild anxiety and stress to severe agorophobia--and shows how they can be controlled. Originally self-published.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Warner Books (September 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446670537
• ISBN-13: 978-0446670531
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #117,837 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

114 of 116 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This program WORKS!!, July 30, 1996

By A Customer

This book avoids all the hype and moralizing and psychobabble, the useless anecdotes so often found in the "Quick Tips To Anxiety Relief" genre. It's a solid, step-by-step program of cognitive techniques which, when practiced and mastered SLOWLY over time, can change your life. I know from personal experience. After three years of therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder, I decided I was getting worse, not better. I had the good fortune to find this book at the library, and was excited to see that it took the responsibility for "changing me" out of the hands of a therapist and put the responsibility squarely where it belonged: on me. Starting in 1992 I spent over a year mastering the skills, and still use the book once a month for reference and a bit of a "refresher course." What can I say? My symptoms have vanished! No more undiagnosable stomache and joint aches, no more pills, no more panic attacks. Even my ALLERGIES have disappeared! It's amazing how much of our poor health is stress-related, and even more amazing how a book like this can help one to unlearn a lifetime of bad thought habits (like perfectionism.) If you're motivated to change your life, the program works. That's the best review I can give it!

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Accessible, Practical and Effective -- even for PTSD, August 21, 2001

By	Dr. Rosemary Bannon Tyksinski "www.rosemarys-... (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This is a bargain! I have used this book with many clients who suffer with PTSD, OCD, specific Phobias, and other severe anxiety disorders. For those suffering trauma symptoms but lack the memories of the events that likely generated these symptoms this book offers an approach that does not directly address the issue of trauma (as you know, PTSD is an anxiety disorder. Some have suggested it should be called "Chronic Fear Disorder.") Rather it teaches you how your body works when it gets overloaded by fear and anxiety. Several psychophysisiological theories are explained and diagrammed. The criteria for various kinds of anxiety disorders articulated and explained (so you can see which one or ones you suffer from). A pre-test is included that you can take and score yourself -- and retake as you progress through the program to chart specific changes you make along the way. The author walks you through the irrational thinking patterns that accompany anxiety symptoms that seem to "come out of nowhere" and tells you specific ways to counter these irrational thoughts. Further, it gives you practical information about the roots of the "high anxiety personality" and some of the possible causes being so endowed. The book teaches numerous exceptionally effective techniques for regaining a sense of control and self-efficacy. These include establishing a daily routine of decompressing, cognitive monitoring, desensitization, visualization, tips on overcoming perfectionism and the excessive need for approval and control. I have my patients "memorize" the chapter (I think it is Chapter 5) on the 10 most common cognitive distortions that accompany anxiety and depression. When they do this (it is easier to memorize than you think) they are able to immediately recognize when they are falling into a thought pattern that amplifies anxiety. A motivated person learns quickly how to self-correct and replace anxiety producing thoughts with calming ones that put life into perspective. It helps to know that your "crazy" thoughts are actually quite common and shared by others who suffer with various forms of anxiety.

40 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb, August 10, 1999

By A Customer

After 42 fairly anxiety-free years, I had a monster panic attack (my first!) last March. This book has been a tremendous help. Recommended by my therapist (I had never seen a mental health professional before, either), the book is clear, complete, simple, and helpful. When dealing with something like generalized anxiety and panic, a strong prescriptive approach seems like just the thing. I devoured the book faster than the author recommends, but I'm now going through it again. Like a good novel or film there is a lot more here than you will discover or be able to use on the first pass.

I especially recommend the breathing and relaxation exercises for quick anxiety first aid.