The Anxiety Disease: New Hope for the Millions Who Suffer from Anxiety (Mass Market Paperback)

by David Sheehan (Author) "Maria was heartbroken..." (more)
Key Phrases: The Four Targets of Treatment, United States

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Anxiety is not always psychological but rather a disease that can now be controlled. The symptoms are devastating: sudden unprovoked attacks of anxiety-accompanied by skipping and racing of the heart, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, dizzy spells. Even worse is the fear that you are losing your mind. But here's the good news. The more unexpected and unprovoked the attacks or the symptoms, the more likely that the victim is suffering from a biologically beset disease. What's more, medical science can now overcome this disease in virtually all cases through a combination of drugs and behavior therapy. Dr. David V. Sheenan, formerly of the Havard Medical School, is now the Director of Research of the College of Medicine at the University of South Florida in Tampa. He draws upon recent research and his own pioneering breakthroughs in the treatment of anxiety to present in this book: -Quizzes that will help you determine whether your anxiety is caused by normal stress or is the result of a genetically influenced physical disorder. Seven progressive stages of the disease-and the four steps necessary for recovery. Detailed case histories of former anxiety victims who are now leading full and productive lives. Reassurance and guidance to family members and friends who want to help, but don't know how. This book offers new hope to millions of men and women across the country.

From the Publisher
Anxiety is not always psychological but rather a disease that can now be controlled. The symptoms are devastating: sudden unprovoked attacks of anxiety-accompanied by skipping and racing of the heart, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, dizzy spells. Even worse is the fear that you are losing your mind. But here's the good news. The more unexpected and unprovoked the attacks or the symptoms, the more likely that the victim is suffering from a biologically beset disease. What's more, medical science can now overcome this disease in virtually all cases through a combination of drugs and behavior therapy. Dr. David V. Sheenan, formerly of the Havard Medical School, is now the Director of Research of the College of Medicine at the University of South Florida in Tampa. He draws upon recent research and his own pioneering breakthroughs in the treatment of anxiety to present in this book: -Quizzes that will help you determine whether your anxiety is caused by normal stress or is the result of a genetically influenced physical disorder. Seven progressive stages of the disease-and the four steps necessary for recovery. Detailed case histories of former anxiety victims who are now leading full and productive lives. Reassurance and guidance to family members and friends who want to help, but don't know how. This book offers new hope to millions of men and women across the country.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (May 1, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553272454
• ISBN-13: 978-0553272451
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #80,526 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LIFE SAFER, November 5, 1999

By	"ltsgodvls" (Naples, FL) - See all my reviews

This book is the most phenomenal writing on panic & anxiety disorder that I have read...and I have read almost all of them. Before being diagnosed with panic disorder I was in absolute turmoil. Every book, article & pamphlet that I had picked up only ever told of the MOST COMMON symptoms of the disorder, leaving me feeling alone and helpless. My symptoms went far beyond the most commonly observed ones. I had no idea what was wrong with me. I literally thought that I was going crazy! It wasn't until after one more exhausting day living with the fear that I would never be the same again that I stumbled upon Dr. Sheehan's book at the University of South Florida's campus library. Despite the fact that my eyes seemed as if they were completely dialated and my hands and feet were shaking uncontrollably I could not put this book down. This was the first time in my several months of suffering that I finally thought that I was going to be ok. Dr. Sheehan had simply told accounts of other people's bouts with panic in detail. It was these stories that made me realize that I was not alone. There were other people in the world going through the same thing as me. It was because of the information in this book that I decided to contact Dr. Sheehan to see if he could help me too. To my complete amazement I found that he was working in the clinical psychology department at the University of South Florida. He has been my doctor ever since. His many years of study involving panic and anxiety disorders has left him with an incredibly vast knowledge of the subject. I would reccomend it to anyone suffering from panic and anxiety disorder as well as anyone else who would like a broader understanding of this debilitating disease that is affecting more and more people everyday. At the risk of sounding overly dramatic I would like to conclude in saying that this book literally saved my life.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The beginning of the end of fear, January 8, 2001

By	Richard Gargano (Staten Island, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book was the first step in changing my life and ending anxiety's control over it. This book should be read by those *who feel they suffer alone; *who feel they have a personality flaw that causes their anxiety; *who discourage themselves because they mistakenly believe that their anixety can be overcome by 'pulling themselves together' like 'other people do'; *are afraid to take medicines for anxiety

Sheehan's book breaks the taboo that 'its all in your mind', but rather demonstrates how the "anxiety disease" has a biological base and thus can be treated ... completely managed by proper medication.

Though dated (many new medicines have come to the market since Sheehan's book), this book explains to the lay person the new paradigm of modern psychopharmacology. (It should be required reading for every psychiatrist!)

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars No better description of panic/anxiety exists, January 9, 1999

By A Customer

I'm a person who's had panic disorder and OCD for as far back as I can remember. It's a real challenge to get someone who doesn't have these disorders to understand what they're like. This book is the absolute best at describing the undescribable. The medications are out-of-date, but this is a must for every support of a panic disorder victim.