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. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Help for the hopeless
I had suffered from symptoms of panic disorder for nearly 20 years and NOBODY could identify what was going on. I joined a support group and learned about this book which was fairly new when I first read it.When I read the case study that was in the book I finally understood what had been going on with me.I made an appointment with a doctor who had talked to this support group and recommended the book.That was twenty two years ago.Once diagnosed and treated properly I've been able to lead a normal life pretty much free of symptoms.Unfortunately there are genetic links with this disorder and a few weeks ago my son now 29 had started having symptoms.I ordered a copy for him and got him an appointment with the Doctor who had helped me.The book is a little dated now but still very relevant and an excellent book still recommended highly by the National Anxiety Foundation.

great service
The book came in great shape, was there when it promised to be and was a lot of help.

Very helpful
This is a book I read twenty years ago that helped me so much to understand my panic disorder.I remembered it and purchased it recently for someone who was going through a similar ordeal.Learning about a problem is half the solution, and it did that for me.

wonderful
This is the second book I have purchased.The first was 20 years ago as I was experiencing these symptoms, and now to send to my 21 year old daughter, who has recently moved,and is now going through the same thing. I found it to be spot on to our symptoms, and feel as if it helped me regain my sanity!I recommend it to anyone who feels as if they are "losing it" and can't explain why.

The Best Book I have ever read for Panic Disorder
I developed Panic disorder in 1978. I have collected
over 20 books on Panic and anxiety disorders. This
book, in my opinion, was the best. BUY IT !!! ... Read more

Product Description
Children pay close attention to their parents' moods. When parents feel upset, their kids may become anxious, and when parents wind down, children also get the chance to relax. When you feel overwhelmed and stressed, it can be hard to help your child feel balanced. The Relaxation & Stress Reduction Workbook for Kids, written by two child therapists, offers more than fifty activities you can do together as a family to help you and your child replace stressful and anxious feelings with feelings of optimism, confidence, and joy.

You'll learn proven relaxation techniques, including deep breathing, guided imagery, mindfulness, and yoga, and then receive guidance for teaching them to your child. Your child will also discover how taking time to do art and creative projects can create a sense of fulfillment and calm. By completing just one ten-minute activity from this workbook each day, you'll make relaxation a family habit that will stay with both you and your child for a lifetime.

Customer Reviews (4)

Great book
I love this book it works for children and adults.I am a professional counselor but it works great for parents as well.

GREAT BOOK!
I use this book in an individual and group counseling setting! This has great activities for any kid! I think it works especially well with kids that have ADD/ADHD, anger, anxiety, and/or impulse control problems.
Use this book to start teaching your child relaxation and self calming skills early!

Helpful resource
This books is an invaluable resource for therapists and counselors seeking practical techniques to help children cope with stress and anxiety. Readers may also be interested in the following books:

Assessment and Treatment Activities for Children, Adolescents, and Families: Practitioners Share Their Most Effective Techniques

Creative Interventions for Troubled Children & Youth

More Creative Interventions for Troubled Children and Youth

Ready, Set, Relax : A Research-Based Program of Relaxation, Learning and Self-Esteem for Children

Cool Cats, Calm Kids: Relaxation and Stress Management for Young People

Easy to Use and Extremely Effective
My 10 year old daughter has been experiencing some situational anxiety.She and I began using this workbook together to help her feel more relaxed and in control.At first, she was very skeptical, but we began using the Relaxing through Guided Imagery activities.Within a few nights, she was no longer experiencing the anxiety attacks that prevented her from falling asleep.She now asks for the activities before bed and we have begun to do them as a family. I highly recommend this book.It is easy to use and extremely effective. ... Read more

Product Description

A Comprehensive, Holistic Guide to the Conventional Medical and Self-Care Treatments for Anxiety Disorders

Customer Reviews (7)

Very Informative
This book was very helpful in giving the reader some very informative options when it comes to dealing with anxiety. Very easy to read and understand. Though no very pro-medication, has a very good chapter on different antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs. I would recomment this book to anyone that is new to anxiety problems.

A few new ideas
As with most books on anxiety, this one doesn't cover a lot that's new (if you've done any reading at all) -- but it does offer some different information.I would definitely recommend this book for new anxiety sufferers, and for those who aren't new to anxiety, though, because the book does provide some new suggestions for natural anxiety treatments (Chinese medicine, in particular, isn't usually mentioned in most anxiety books).It's also refreshing because the author is very anti drug.Most anxiety books present the idea that, yeah, you can give natural remedies a try, but you'll probably need medication at some point.

Overall, I'd recommend this book.Although the author is one of those people who had a brief period of anxiety (as opposed to a lifelong problem), she offers some good advice about managing anxiety.Definitely worth a read.

medication is not your only treatment option
When I was diagnosed with anxiety, the psychiatrist led me to believe that my only treatment options were medication and therapy.For various reasons, I was strongly opposed to the idea of medication so before taking his advice, I decided to get on amazon and find some books that might offer some other alternatives.

This book has definitely been the MOST HELPFUL for me. The book is divided into chapters based on different approaches - such as Nutrition, Herbs, Alternative treatments.What I really like is the fact that the author provides dozens of different treatment options and explains them in a way that you can kind of pick and choose what you think will work best for you.

When I got this book I was almost entirely overwhelmed by anxiety and depression.I dreaded leaving my apartment or making phone calls, and I often spent days on the couch, drinking virtually every night.My school work severely suffered, and I felt like a complete failure at life.After a couple months of suffering, I ended up starting acupuncture treatment (one of the methods suggested in this book), and I have made an amazing recovery.As well, I have been taking several supplements, and I have been working to improve my sleeping and eating habits.But the best part is that I have been able to gain control over my anxiety WITHOUT the use of prescription drugs!

If you are feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, I would STRONGLY recommend this book.

Holistic Help for those with Anxiety
Living Well with Anxiety is a concise, well written book that offers easy to follow ways to deal with anxiety using a combination of traditional and complementary health interventions. The addition of complementary self-help interventions makes this book different from most books on anxiety and includes information on nutrition, exercise, herbs, environmental factors, stress reduction, and relationship aspects as they influence anxiety. The comprehensive section on resources includes related websites, audio- cassettes and CD's, and brief outlines of relevant literature. This book should be valuable to anyone who experiences anxiety, and wants a better understanding of the condition. It provides a wide range of interventions that will be useful to anyone who wants to assume more responsibility for their own care.

Carl O. Helvie, R.N., Dr.P.H., Author "Healthy Holistic Aging."

It's a keeper
Many people will find Carolyn Chambers Clark's book to be an indispensable support. If you've been accumulating a shelf of books on the subject, Living Well with Anxiety is the keeper; it's a comprehensive guide to every angle of approach.
The book is in part a tool for exploring cause and effect; Clark writes that some lucky individuals, for instance, may find their symptoms alleviated by addressing environmental factors that may not have occurred to them (such as indoor pollutants) or even by changing a prescription they've taken for granted (perhaps an oral contraceptive).

For some, her pg. 87, #5 strategy for quitting smoking alone will be worth the cover price!

For those tormented by more complex issues, Clark discusses the connection between muscle tension and heartbeat, adrenaline and exercise, relaxation and breathing. She cautions against looking for a miracle in a pill bottle, but holds out the hope that it is possible to discover the source of any condition and, armed with that knowledge, to create a treatment program based on what the sufferer knows, or comes to know, to be true about himself.

Self-healers will find a plethora of practical anxiety-reducing measures with which to experiment.

There are also valuable sections on psychiatric drugs and on the variety of professional practitioners and treatments available.

The advice here will be perfect for those who already have a good support system of family and friends, a good job, and decent health care; these people will gather confidence from the author's firsthand knowledge as a professional in the field who has herself struggled to overcome the paralyzing symptoms of anxiety.They can easily apply everything they learn to their own situations.

Those in less favorable circumstances may be put off by some of the suggestions involving, for instance, time management skills, and calling meetings.But, skipping those items, they will find much of substance remains.

Likewise the references to a "Higher Power (or God)" and a "life's purpose" will annoy many people; but the chapter which covers the benefits and dangers of spiritual belief also contains much food for thought about interpersonal relationships, including strategies for dealing with the sorts of people whose attitudes cause stress in their associates.

The author's voice will please most of her readers; in every authoritative statement there is also a sense of empathetic camaraderie.

Whether you're reading on your own account, or on someone else's behalf, you'll findClark's optimism contagious, because it's genuine--the author, with full knowledge of the realities involved, promises that in time you CAN learn to control your anxiety; you can even make your sensitivity work FOR you.With fifteen pages of further resources at the back of the book, this is the volume to get you started, keep you motivated, and help you get there. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Extremely Helpful
Before purchasing this workbook; my understanding of what the general term "anxiety" encompassed was very limited. This workbook provided an awareness in me of how great the scope of anxiety is and the vast effect it has on my life. Working through this workbook has given me a wealth of knowledge about the variety of anxiety disorders and which physical and mental habits in my lifestyle contribute to this issue. The information and direction provided in this workbook has given me tremendous relief and hope! In just a matter of weeks, since purchasing this book and following it's advice, I have noted a marked improvement in the level of anxiety in my daily life. Learning that anxiety disorders can be managed through methods of change in behavior and thought, versus years of psychological and/or pharmaceutical therapy was a great relief!
I highly recommend this book and am purchasing six more copies for the two siblings, two nephews, a niece and my mother, who also suffer from anxiety. I believe that the lives of my loved ones will be greatly improved by the information provided in this book.

One of the best, if not the best I've found for anxiety so far
Having gone through an incredible amount of research and reading on this topic over the last couple of years to help myself through anxiety, I have to say this is one of the most approachable and informative books I've found.I appreciate the format of the book, the fact he doesn't push pills, rather discouraging use of them in favor of conquering the anxiety, the relatable examples of people with anxiety (recognized myself in some unexpected ways through those examples) and the way he breaks down the different kinds of anxiety. The exercises are helpful. He is realistic that anxiety can be conquered but it requires maintenance so we don't fall back into bad habits (which is so true), and he provides excellent guidelines (a relapse prevention plan) to staying anxiety free in the long run (which not all books cover).He also covers the importance of nutrition, exercise and what happens in our brains when our anxiety is peaked which was helpful and it helped me (especially the nutrition part). Like the editorial review stated, the book itself is nice to handle and is very conductive for use as a work book as it opens flat.It is not at all overwhelming, it has just the amount information needed (and maybe a little more).I highly recommend it, renewed it from the library three times and I have been reading it and using it and am planning to buy it.I have found the book to be very valuable, helpful and just what I needed.So much so, I felt compelled to sign on and specifically write a review for this book, because I would like other people to benefit from it too or at least give it a try. Definitely give it my full recommendation. ... Read more

Product Description
This is Volume 1 of the Book. Other volumes can be found at Amazon Search using the ISBN 9781458720733. Research conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health has shown that anxiety disorders are the number one mental health problem among American women and are second only to alcohol and drug abuse among men. Approximately 15 percent of the population of the United States, or nearly 40 million people, have suffered from panic attacks, phobias, or other anxiety disorders in the past year. Nearly a quarter of the adult population will suffer from an anxiety disorder at some time during their life. Yet only a small proportion of these people receive treatment..... It is quite possible to overcome your problem with panic, phobias, or anxiety on your own through the use of the strategies and exercises presented in this workbook. Yet it is equally valuable and appropriate, if you feel so inclined, to use this book as an adjunct to working with a therapist or group treatment program. ... Read more

Product Description
This booklet explains the difference between dogs who truly have separation anxiety and those that merely misbehave. Written by Patricia McConnell, it describes a dog behavior modification program for the prevention and treatment of both problems. A treasure chest of ideas for keeping your dog happy in your absence, this booklet can help prevent and treat both minor and severe dog problems related to dogs being " home alone." Clear and understandable, this easy to read booklet is written for anyone who wants to leave the house knowing that their dog is happy and their house is safe. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

Easy Read/Straight to the Point
This booklet was recommended to me by a doggie behavioristtohelp me and my very sweet dog with her very bad case of separation anxiety.It's been a month and we are making progress.I love that there isn't alot of extra wordiness to get through to get to the actual instructions in this book.], it is clear and concise.A very small investment for extremely good advice.

short but to the point
i was a bit surprised that it was really more like a pamphlet than a book, but actually, it was quite helpful.. i will challenge anyone out there to the separation anxiety problem they have with their pet as compared to mine. the crazy viszla that wants to attach to me permanently. i have him on prozac (doggie style) and it is necessary to use behavior mod in addition. this pamphlet helps identify what else you have to do, rather succinctly. if you are as desperate as i am, you will really appreciate any and all info. don't want to have to give up the dog...

Ill Be Home Real Soon
Needed this more for me than my dog.Has some great new ideas and I put them to use over the weekend.Bought this over my vacation as an impulse buy but glad I did!

Good book for helping separation anxiety dogs
This book was recommended to me by the behaviorists at a local shelter.The hardest part of her plan is that she wants the dog to always be with someone while you are training him to lessen his separation anxiety, which will take 6-8 weeks.I'm about two weeks into it and I don't follow it letter for letter, but we have already seen some progress which is encouraging.I think the book is definitely worth the tiny amount of money and time it takes to read, as it is very short and to the point.Definitely worth a try.

I'll Be Home Soon
Book was in nice condition. I only wish Amazon had informed me when it was in the mail.
THANKS! SULLY'S MOM ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

ANGST DESCRIBED IN CHRISTIAN TERMS
The Concept of Anxiety:
A Simple Psychologically Oriented Deliberation
on the Dogmatic Issue of Hereditary Sin

Kierkegaard's Writings, VIII
Edited and Translated with Introduction and Notes
by Reidar Thomte in collaboration with Albert B. Anderson
(Princeton, NJ: Princeton UP, 1980)
(ISBN: 0691072442)
(Library of Congress call number: BT720.K52 1980)
(first published in Denmark, 1844)
This is a careful, scholarly edition of the book previously
translated (by Walter Lowrie) as The Concept of Dread.

Kierkegaard presents what is probably
the first philosophical analysis of existential anxiety.
Angst became one of the buzz words of the 20th century,
but here we have a careful discussion
of what existential anxiety feels like from the inside.
Anxiety also appears in a number of other books by Kierkegaard.

Søren Kierkegaard here deals with the relationship between
angst and existential guilt, traditionally called "original sin",
--a sense of 'guilt' that is not related to moral misbehavior.
The thought is profound, but Kierkegaard has not worked out
the phenomenon of existential anxiety
as carefully as Martin Heidegger would do it in the 20th century.

Since Kierkegaard draws heavily upon Christian theology
(the sub-title should have "doctrinal" rather than "dogmatic"),
this book might be somewhat difficult for the general public
--but not for people familiar with Christian philosophy.
The Concept of Anxiety is one of Kierkegaard's central books.
Other existential writers have created better formulations of angst,
but it all began here--and it will continue into the future.

If existential anxiety (angst) helps you to understand yourself,
you might be interested in other books along the same line:
Search the Internet for the following expression:
"Books on Existential Spirituality".

James Leonard Park, existential philosopher
and seeker on the path of existential spirituality.

Kierkegaard's Psychodynamic Theory of Personality
Kierkegaard herein proposes a theory of personality he eventually complimented with "The Sickness Unto Death," a unique psychological perspective not unlike modern psychoanalytic views, but in my opinion, much more sane and well-founded.As a graduate student in marriage and family therapy, I spoke to my professor of personality theory about these views, which one might call a "trinitarian-dialectical" view of object relations.Object relations is of course based on dialectic, but as with SK's thinking, the basis is not a Hegelian dialectic: there is no synthesis except in spirit.For instance, in couples therapy, object relations presumes that the couple will not magically "merge" into one agreeing person!SK here uses the Christian view of God as thearchetypal "other" to found a theory of personality, which also calls for a reinterpretation of what "original sin" actually is.Therefore the concept of motive (spirit) is fleshed out, and in fact made central.SK as well takes into account the historical compounding of neurosis, which is fascinating.Yet the core is of course the individual, and I can say that these ideas are not only profound for the theorist or philosopher, but offer clinical usefulness to mental health professionals!I recommend reading "The Sickness Unto Death" alongside this book; these two are SK's most psychological works, and complimentary.A common criticism is that SK's books are quite dense; generally this criticism is made by those who are not introspective, or fear being so.But if he is dense, this is one of the densest!Hard work bears fruit here, however.

Too Confusing and Obscure Even for Kierkegaard
The opinions of several reader reviewers that this is basically straight forward and clear book strikes me as spectacularly unbelievable and show a lack of comprehension of this book. This is considered by most who are familiar with Kierkegaard ("K") to be his most difficult book. Most of K. is difficult for most readers, but this book is difficult even for readers who claim to have read all or most of his works.

First off, psychology in this work does not coincide with today's concept of psychology. Also, anxiety does not equate with today's common definition. The work is full of dense formulations and repititions and not a few contradictions (or at least great muddles).I have read all of K's works and think him the second most profound writer in all of history (Dante, being first).But this book is not easy. I believe K. himself was unsure of what he actually believed about sin, anxiety, eternal/temporal, infinite/finite etc.

Fortunately this book can be skipped. The essential insights of the book are contained in Postcript, Fragments and Sickness unto death. That is not to say that this book should be skipped, but I would advise readers not to expect clarity on significant points. Unlike Pound's Cantos, where Pound did expect everyone to understand a great deal of the poetry, K. would have wanted readers to gain certain, clear knowledge from The Concept of Anxiety. I believe he has failed and will only confuse not only the amateur K. reader, but also those who purport to understand ( or try to understand)in K's works in their entirety. The reader reviews of this book support my thesis since virtually everyone misreads this book.

I am anxious but I do not know why'
I am anxious but I do not know why , perhaps it is because I am writing a review of a book I do not understand. I understand that 'anxiety' is vague and has no necessary object, that it is 'free- floating'. ' Fear ' on the other hand has a specific object.
Anthony Storn on his Website defines Kierkegaards 'Anxiety concept' as follows:
"Kierkegaard asserts that anxiety preceded Adam's sin. Anxiety is not itself sin, but is the natural reaction of the soul when faced with the yawning abyss of freedom. When God commanded Adam not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the terms "good" and "evil", so says Kierkegaard, would have had no significance for him. His ignorance was indeed bliss. But the awful predicament of freedom, before and apart from sin, yielded anxiety. There is also an anxiety that is a manifestation of sinfulness, and Kierkegaard addresses that later. But first his concern is that all individual persons are born with the same freedom and anxiety as a result of that freedom that Adam possessed, and thus we sin not because we are sinners, but we become sinners because of our qualitative leap out of freedom into sin, and hence sinfulness. It is then that the expression of anxiety is sin."
As I understand it Kierkegaard seems to be pointing out the value of 'anxiety' as preliminary to the 'leap of faith' which will bring us to God. 'Anxiety' is the necessary prelude to the free decision which enables us to overcome it.
I do not mean to dispute this. I only wonder whether the 'leap' made once remains the 'leap ' forever. For in my own experience 'Anxiety' always returns , no matter what decision we make.

Essential Kierkegaard
_The Concept of Anxiety_ is one of Kierkegaard's most straightforward, honest, and personal works.Primarily, it deals with the typical human understanding of sin, why we designate certain acts as sinful, and how our perception or experience of these acts is altered by the fact that they are labled as "sinful".This book approaches the question of sin in a very enlightening and insightful manner, questioning certain aspects of sinfulness that we may have taken for granted.Kierkegaard reminds us that our experience of the sensual is greatly altered when the idea of "sinfulness" is attached to it, while paradoxically our understanding the definition of "sin"is contingent upon our sensual experiences.In other words, sin is simultaneously a necessary force in establishing what we consider to be sensual, while also being somewhat dependent on pure sensuality in order to establish itself as sin.Kierkegaard also examines the linguistic factors that contribute to our understanding of sensuousness and sinfulness.Kierkegaard asks us, to what extent to we depend upon language in order to solidify these primal sensual experiences in our memories?This book deals brilliantly with the entire spectrum of interrelationships among pure sensuality, sin, guilt, langauge, and memory.Kierkegaard weaves a tapestry showing us how all of the afforementioned concepts are inextricably intertwined.In sum, the message Kierkegaard is trying to convey is the fact that sin, language, memory, and the sensual are connected in both the retroactive and premonitory sense.

Overall this book is absolutely fascinating.It is not puritanical or biased in the orthodox religious sense.It deals very fairly with the human experience of sin and guilt, and suggests that these types of feelings are essential to the basic experiences of memory, sentient consciousness, and temporal, existential being.Highly recommended to anyone who is willing to entertain the idea that sin is a basic building block of intelligent subjective experience. ... Read more

Product Description
From identifying your triggers to improving your relationships -- manage your emotional wellbeing

Struggling to cope with anxiety and/or depression? Have no fear -- this hands-on guide focuses on helping you pinpoint the root of your problems and find relief from your symptoms in a detailed, step-by-step manner. With concise, eye-opening exercises, you'll understand how to assess your current situation, remove the roadblocks to change, face your fears, and improve your view of yourself and the world around you. You'll see how to take direct action to alter negative or distorted thinking, lift your moods, and adopt positive habits that will lead you toward a more joyful, meaningful, and connected life!

Discover
* How to improve the way you feel about yourself
* Skills to face and overcome what makes you anxious or depressed
* How to determine whether medication is an option for you
* Practical ways to prepare for and deal with setbacks ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Anxiety & Depression Workbook
Good book.A lot of things in there that I wasn't aware of that has helped.

The Best Way to Overcome Anxiety and Depression


This book is amazing! I would recommend this book to anyone. It is very inclusive and really makes you look at all aspect of your anxiety and depression and their root cause.By analyzing your feelings, thoughts, and history you start a self-awareness process that allows for recovery.

I have personally dealt with anxiety my entire life- 23 years.In that time I have concentrated on "fixing" it for the last 8.I have seen counselors, medications, psychiatrist, and read many self help books.This book is the first that actually has helped considerably. I can not stress enough that it really makes you take a look at yourself, which is where the healing lies.If you are unwilling, or unable to take a hard look at the truth, and get real with yourself- nothing is going to work for you!

I contacted the authors- and they returned my e-mail same day!You don't see that very often, these people know what they are doing, and exactly how to do it!Thank you.

Great help for GAD
It is a great workbook. It helps a lot and it is easy to follow. Even when you are in the middle of a anxious phase. Great for anxiety, panic attacks and depression.

great self-help for anxiety and depression
I used this book with my therapist and found it to be very helpful. Would recommend to anyone with either anxiety or depression. This book presents the material with compassion and humor.

Dealing with Depression
I got this for my daughter who deals with depression and anxiety. I am glad I did. She said it was a big help to her. So I would definitely suggest it to others. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (5)

simple but great
This is a very easy to read and follow workbook to use with children and adoelscents with Asperger's Syndrome.

Exploring Feelings
This is a fantastic resource for anyone who works with children who struggle to identify their feelings and/or the source of those feelings.I am currently using it with a third grader who demonstrates no concept of "normal" social cues, despite not meeting criteria for an autism spectrum diagnosis.

Exploring Feelings Cognitive Behaviour Therapy To Manage Anger
Great Book.Very practical. Extremely helpful.

Very uninspiring
I was very disappointed in this book and it's brother. The layout of both books is bare and uninspiring with not enough information or help to enable parents to use them easily with their children.

Both books are almost exactly identical too, virtually only differing in substituting the word "anger" for the word "anxiety" in their respective pages, so it would only really be necessary for someone to buy one book if they were considering buying both.

A much better book we found for use with our son, who has Asperger's Syndrome, was Paul Stallard's 'Think Good - Feel Good: a cognitive behaviour therapy workbook for children and young people'.

Bless Tony Attwood!This is a Godsend!
This is another work that deserves a place of honor.Dr. Attwood does a sterling job of helping people with autism/Asperger's (a/A) decode facial expressions and identify and discuss feelings.Asperger's (AS) is a neurobiological condition that affects sensory integration, processing and communication.People on the a/A spectrum lack inuitive knowledge of "being able to adopt viewpoints from another's shoes," so this is something that is cognitively learned.Dr. Attwood does a magnificent job of providing those cognitive teaching tools.

Tony Attwood is one of the leading experts on a/A and his work is one that all people, parents, professionals, educators, people on the spectrum and neurotypical counterparts alike will find useful and invaluable.Hats off to Tony Attwood! ... Read more

Product Description
Nothing can destroy health and quality of life faster than chronic anxiety, that vague feeling of unease and distress that something, somehow is hopelessly wrong. Unfortunately, problems with anxiety, common before, are steadily on the rise. Anxiety disorders have always been the most common psychological problems, but new reports suggest that nearly 25 percent of Americans at any given time suffer from some form of anxiety. In response to this growing problem, the scientists at the Institute of HeartMath have adapted their revolutionary techniques into a fast and simple program that anyone can use to break free from anxiety once and for all.

At the core of the HeartMath method of emotional regulation is the idea that, by focusing on positive feelings such as appreciation, care, or compassion, anyone can create dramatic changes in his or her heart rhythms. These changes precipitate a series of neural, hormonal, and biochemical events that dissipate stress and anger and lead to greater well-being. The benefits from using this system are remarkable and far-reaching: blood pressure drops, stress hormone levels fall, immune system activity increases, and anti-aging hormone levels rise. Through its interactive learning system, this book teaches you how to use the HeartMath method, enabling you to see and experience in real time how thoughts and emotions affect your heart rhythms. It shows you how to engage your heart to bring emotion, body, and mind into balance, and helps you stay in a zone of focused clarity, optimal health, and high performance. Changes brought about through this method are fast-acting and long-lasting—the perfect antidote to our chaotic and anxiety-provoking lives. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

HearthMath techniques work
The timing is perfect as I justreceived a review request from Amazon for the book "Transforming Anxiety." Earlier today, I felt a rush of sadness come over me; it was so deep, I actually couldn't finish drinking a cup of coffee. I decided to try the HeartMath technique of breathing in and out several times while visualizing the breath coming out of my heart, and then I chose to remember an experience that filled me with love and gratitude; the tears rolled down my eyes and then I smiled.The trick is to FEEL a positive emotion, not just remember it. Ikid you not, in 8 minutes my entire mood and energy level shifted!What a relief! The techniques outlined in the book have worked for me over and over again; one can indeed transform anxiety and bring a balance between the mind and the intelligent heart.

I give this book five stars and a big thanks to the authors for for their healing contributions.

Awesome book!
Very Informative.Many life long lessons to learn from these authors.I have had a much more self accepting way of life since I have read it.

Excellent and Truly Helpful
Discovering HeartMath and their materials about a year ago has greatly improved my life. Transforming Anxiety gave me the understanding and tools I needed to nearly eliminate low grade anxiety I have lived in for decades. When I do experience bouts occassionally, I know just what to do and can often stop it in it's tracks. The difference this has made for me is profound. It has allowed me to pursue long held dreams I could not before due to constant anxiety. Remarkable.

must buy!
we all have stress and anxiety and it's killing us slowly whether we know it or not. the heartmath approach to dealing with stress and anxiety is excellent. highly recommended for ALL! :) ... Read more

Product Description
The second edition of this therapist guide is designed to give mental health professionals the necessary tools to assess and treat social anxiety disorder. Although the components of the program remain unchanged, the authors have updated the guide to include clearer instructions for facilitating treatment, specifically for conducting in-session exposures and cognitive restructuring exercises. Also provided is helpful information for structuring treatment including suggested number of sessions for each chapter, session outlines,lists of materials needed, and homework assignments.
Clinicians will find this guide comprehensive and easy to use. It has everything you need to implement a clinically proven and scientifically sound treatment for social anxiety. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (6)

Excpected more
Before buying this book i was hoping to find something new on this field.In general this book follows the same pattern as many others...too much information on the problem but few solutions and coping strategies.Its sure only for beginners that want to learn about their problem,but if you already know about it from other sources, 2/3 of the book are useless.

Great resource!
I just finished Anxiety Free and loved it.Dr. Leahy provides "Anxiety Rule Books" which make understanding both the process and treatment of anxiety disorders remarkably clear.There is so much about facing anxiety that is counterintuitive and frightening- this book provides a clear path towards making changes.Highly recommend.

A great, helpful read!
I can highly recommend this book for anxiety sufferers and for therapists treating anxiety sufferers. One of the most helpful aspects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for anxiety disorders is the way that the therapist helps the patient makes sense of the bewildering and often frightening symptoms. "Anxiety Free" does this without the pricetag of a therapy session.Anxiety Free highlights the common processes underlying all anxiety, and helps the reader understand the often humorous set of rules they are following which maintains their anxiety. Dr. Leahy also pulls together top strategies for dealing with anxiety from a wide range of treatments. The writing is accessible, the tone is humorous yet compassionate. A great, helpful read!

The cutting edge of CBT in a 100% user friendly presentation
This book is a remarkable addition to the self-help literature.I highly recommend it to people suffering with anxiety and therapists alike.Dr. Leahy's "Anxiety Free" is more than a simple outline of popular and possible cognitive behavioral therapy techniques.The book uses innovative methods of presentation, e.g. "rulebooks" for anxiety, to bring the entire area of anxiety disorders into perspective.The cutting edge of cognitive and behavioral therapy is represented in a 100% user friendly manner.This book is beyond worth it, and it is essential reading in the treatment of anxiety problems.I'm recommending it to my patients. - Dennis Tirch PhD, Fellow Academy of Cognitive Therapy

Not very useful
I know that the author a very important name in the CBT world. This fact made me buy this book. Despite the stellar endorsements by such people as Aaron Beck, in my opinion, this book is not an essential reading for someone who suffers from anxiety. It's mainly fails because it lacks a clear step-by-step strategy of dealing with anxiety.

Dr. Leahy tries to cover every possible anxiety variation: panic attack, social anxiety, GAD and so on. Each requires a different approach. However, his goal for writing this book a bit confusing. It looks like he meant it as a self-help book.If so, it's not deep enough. If I, say, suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder, I would much rather preferred a book dedicated to GAD alone, rather than a book that lists a brief introducation to every other anxiety disorders without giving me a clear roadmap on where to start, what's essential with my specific anxiety.Also, I'd require a book that emphasizes how to challenge the distorted thinking, which requires much more than a few pages. I felt lost in all the information without knowing what's essential.

The most helpful books on anxiety, by the way, already exist and it's very hard to top them: Anxiety Workbook by Bourne and Mind over Mood by Padesky. They cover everything you'll ever need: clear, practical andand useful.



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Customer Reviews (5)

Help for anxiety
I read the older version of this book and also this one.The new one is much more thorough.I really loved it.So many times, the automatic answer is medication and this offers a way to combat depression and anxiety through meditation on the word of God, and also through herbals and vitamins and exercise etc.It's a great book and I highly recommend it.

There is only One Bible, and that is The Holy Bible.
This book was quite informative, but little too much of not important information is included. It made me tired, I was trying to figure out what the author really is saying.

very imformative
It was vety informative and helpful. Iam in my third week taking the natural supplementaion suggested and now starting to feel some improvements.Glad I purchased this cd.

A Big Help
The book is an easy read filled with helpful and useable tools from Dr. Colbert.He includes reasons and definitions of anxiety and depression which aids you in understanding what you or a loved one may be going through.In addition he offers many helpful tools that you can use to feel better quickly, including but not limited to various scriptures from the bible. Dr. Colbert's books are all biblically based and I highly recommend them even if you are not a bible believer or reader. The only thing that disappoints me is the cost of natural supplements, which he can't help, but he does recommend them as a tool in coping with unhealthyness. If I were financially able I would try the supplements, unfortunately I am not. To those of you in the same boat as I am in, I suggest sticking with the "free" tools as he suggests, especially reading your Bible daily, and researching it for scriptures that you can confess over yourself as well as encouraging yourself.Again, even if you don't believe in God or the Bible, what have you got to lose.I'd rather do something and get a little, than do nothing and continue with nothing.

Its detailed and specific for those of us who are looking for alternatives in treating depression and anxiety!
Its full of all natural things to try in treating depression and anxiety. Its a quick read, very practical to understand and full of wisdom on treating depression and anxiety without drugs.
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Product Description
What if my baby isn't healthy? What if I can't handle the pain of labor and delivery? What if something goes wrong? What if I'm not a good mother? Along with the excitement and joy of pregnancy and motherhood, most women experience mild anxiety as a natural part of the process. For many women, though, these anxious thoughts become excessive and even debilitating. Many women develop anxiety for the first time or experience an increase in anxiety symptoms during and after pregnancy, yet this is the first trade book to specifically address pregnancy-related anxiety.

Written by two anxiety experts, The Pregnancy and Postpartum Anxiety Workbook addresses topics specific to new mothers, including hormonal changes, how the physical symptoms of pregnancy affect anxiety, and common concerns pregnant women and new mothers have. Readers develop new, empirically validated cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) skills to help them keep anxiety, worry, and irrational thoughts from dominating their experience of pregnancy and postpartum. These skills, taught through a series of exercises and worksheets, include relaxation training, cognitive restructuring, problem-solving, and exposure and response prevention. Throughout the book, the authors guide readers, step by step, to show them how to recognize their anxiety triggers and symptoms and apply these anxiety management techniques when necessary.

The workbook includes a chapter on postpartum depression, a disorder that often co-occurs with postpartum anxiety, and a chapter that offers fathers tips for understanding and supporting their partners.

Customer Reviews (6)

Great Resource
What a wonderful resource!The authors of this book clearly saw a need and the filled it. As a Clinical Psychologist, I can say that there are many books out there about postpartum depression and far fewer resources for postpartum anxiety.It is not easy to write a book that takes current psychological research findings and puts it into a format that the accessible to everyone, but the authors have done this seamlessly.The book is full of easy to use checklists and worksheets and has information on both mild and more intense forms of anxiety.It walks the reader through the basics of relaxation skills and how to identify and challenge anxiety-inducing thoughts.The more specialized chapters, like the ones on post-partum post-traumatic stress, panic, and obsessive compulsive disorder will be particularly useful for those searching for a focused self-help worksheets in these areas.The best thing about this book that it is easy to use, research-based, and brief!What a great resource for busy moms who are experiencing post-partum anxiety!

Great Resource
What a wonderful resource!The authors of this book clearly saw a need and the filled it. As a Clinical Psychologist I can say that there are many books out there about postpartum depression and far fewer resources for postpartum anxiety.It is not easy to write a book that takes current psychological research findings and puts it into a format that the accessible to everyone, but the authors have done this seamlessly.The book is full of easy to use checklists and worksheets and has information on both mild and more intense forms of anxiety.It walks the reader through the basics of relaxation skills and how to identify and challenge anxiety-inducing thoughts.The more specialized chapters, like the ones on post-partum post-traumatic stress, panic, and obsessive compulsive disorder will be particularly useful for those searching for a focused self-help worksheets in these areas.The best thing about this book that it is easy to use, research-based, and brief!What a great resource for busy moms who are experiencing post-partum anxiety!

Good resource
I've just skimmed this, but it looks full of good info for people who are experiencing anxiety...

Disappointing suggestions
I didn't need to spend $25 to read about very basic relaxation techniques like deep breathing, tensing and releasing muscles, and imagining myself on a warm sandy beach.

This book has been very helpful to me so far and I know it will continue to be. Knowledge is power and this book gives me that
So far I am only in the first few chapters but this book has already helped me alot. It has helped me understand what I go through better and helps me understand myself. Which in return I dont feel so alone. Dealing with anxiety can be hard but understanding helps me control it a bit and handle it better when I do have it. I would highly highly recommend this book to any women that is prego or has had a baby even if it was a few years ago, if you still have the anxiety this book will help. I am very grateful. ... Read more

Product Description
The widely acclaimed "father of cognitive psychotherapy" adds a new introduction to the gold-standard book on anxiety disorders and phobias

At the forefront of the cognitive revolution, renowned psychiatrist Aaron T. Beck turned to information processing in order to understand the sources, consequences, and cures of anxiety disorders and phobias. In the first half of this classic text, Beck elaborates on the clinical picture of anxiety disorders and phobias and presents an explanatory model to account for the rich complexity of these phenomena. Cognitive psychologist Gary Emery then details the therapeutic principles, strategies, and tactics developed on the basis of the cognitive model of anxiety disorders and phobias.

This fifteenth anniversary edition of the foundational work on cognitive therapy features a new introduction by Beck, in which he offers an up-to-date appraisal of the current state of cognitive therapy and its application to the treatment of phobias and anxiety. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Fantastic Book
Aaron Beck is fantastic. This is very useful. I have an anxiety problem. There are great ideas here.

Beck keeps moving on
Aaron Beck and his associates keep providing a world of knowledge about the many disorders that affect us humans, and how to deal with them.

Great Overview of the Cognitive Perspective, but has some flaws...
This book offers a great overview of the subject, anxiety disorders and phobias, from a cognitive perspective.The book is divided into two parts, a clinical/theoretical analysis and a practical outline of the application of the theory in therapy, authored by Beck and Emery, respectively.

The book accomplishes its aim of laying down the fundamentals from a cognitive perspective, but does have some flaws.First, much of the anecdotal evidence is just that--anecdotal.Specific studies aren't often mentioned, especially in the second part of the book. Additionally, the book does not address the importance of approaching psychological topics from multiple perspectives.That is, the book does not inform the reader of the other perspectives.So, if you take a more biologically-oriented perspective towards behavior and psychopathology, it is difficult to not take much of the book with a grain of salt.All in all, however, it is a good overview of the cognitive perspective on the issue.

Very insightful - for patients as well as therapists
I picked up this book years ago (before getting therapy for my own anxiety disorder) and quickly gained much insight into the many variants of phobia and anxiety disorders.The explanations are clear, allowing laypersons as well as experts a good level of understanding.

While the book is definitely geared toward therapists interested in learning Beck's cognitive therapy approach, it is certainly useful to any patient or relative who is confronted with such problems -- above all the first half of the book!I really appreciated not being talked down to as in so many patient-oriented books.

Beck opens with an overview of everyday experience of fear and anxiety.Next, he describes the adaptive purpose of anxiety responses ("fight or flight") putting anxiety disorders on a dimension with normal behavior. He continues on to discuss the difference between "normal" and "pathological" forms of anxiety, addressing the major symptoms and thought patterns associated with clinical forms. He then gives an overview of clinical anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder,post-traumatic stress disorder, atypical anxiety disorder, phobic disorders (of which there are many kinds), agoraphobia, social phobia and simple phobias.

He then presents his cognitive model of threat reactions and in-depth chapters focussing on anxiety disorder clusters ("Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder", "Simple Phobias", "The Agoraphobic Syndrome", and "The Evaluation Anxieties" social phobia and social anxiety).The second part of the book is devoted to his principles and strategies/techniques of cognitive-behavioral therapy.

The fact that new editions of this book have been published every few years over the past 2 decades is a tribute to its usefulness.

Beck's Anxiety Disorders and Phobias - Cognitive Perspective
Every day, veterans of the Vietnam War commit suicide in deep depression.With the United States almost continually cutting its Veterans Administration budget, you would think that the V.A. would give up, butbooks like those of Beck help it treat and cure depression and anxiety. The Cognitive Therapy uses Socratic questioning, training people to ask whythey feel sad or anxious, what their answers mean, to substitute moreeffective coping thoughts for ineffective thoughts and wrong ideas(illogical ideas, like "everybody is against me," "I'm bornto fail," etc.).Patients record in diaries or logs what eventstrigger these wrong thoughts and learn to instantly respond with otherthoughts and actions.This is one of the greatest books in psychology andpsychiatry, and should be read by the young people of all ages (many ofwhom are depressed) as well as the older ones. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

Great resource
This is very well written and organized book, written primarily for consumers, rather than professionals (who still will benefit, as I did).They have a knack for distilling things down to what is important to understand, as well as what to do.

Professionals and consumers alike will appreciate the Resource section in the Appendix.Many specific books and websites are recommended and nicely organized.

Recommended.

Mike Miller, PhD
[...]

Great service
The item arrived earlier than expected and I was pleased with the condition it was in, for being a used item.

Excellent anxiety self help book. Really helps you cope with the stress.
Got this as a gift for a friend. She found this book to be most excellent self help book for her anxiety and panic attacks. Very staisfied. Highly recommend.Now know this book is used very successfully by local mental health group also. ... Read more

Product Description
We've all felt occasional pangs of shyness and self-consciousness, but for the 15 million Americans with social anxiety disorder, the fear of being scrutinized and criticized can reach disabling proportions. Such was the case for Emily Ford, who shares her firsthand experiences in these pages. Emily's true story of fear, struggle, and ultimate triumph is sure to resonate with other socially anxious teenagers and young adults.
Emily's frank, often witty, sometimes poignant account of how she negotiated all the obstacles of social anxiety--and eventually overcame them with the help of therapy and hard work--makes for compelling reading. Yet this book is more than just a memoir. Emily's story is coupled with the latest medical and scientific information about the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and self-management of social anxiety disorder (or SAD). Readers will find a wealth of solid advice and genuine inspiration here. In engaging, accessible language--and with the help of psychiatrist Michael Liebowitz--she discusses what is known and not known about social anxiety disorder in adolescents. She outlines the various psychotherapies available for those with SAD and explains how to seek professional help, how to talk to family and friends about the illness, and how to handle difficult social situations. The result is both an absorbing story and a useful guide that will help to ease the isolation caused by SAD, encouraging young people to believe that, with commitment and hard work, they can overcome this illness.
Part of the Adolescent Mental Health Initiative series of books written specifically for teens and young adults, What You Must Think of Me will also be a valuable resource for friends and family of those with SAD. It offers much-needed hope to young people, helping them to overcome this illness and lead healthy, productive lives. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Empathy and Advice
A few years ago I ended up dropping out of high school because I became so incredibly overwhelmed after a couple of years of medication and doctors appointments for what was thought to be just depression. Looking back, I remember how I couldn't eat breakfast because my anxiety unsettled my stomach too much. How I use to pretend I was sick rather often so I didn't have to face my teachers after not completing my homework and have my peers think I was stupid. I can still wonder around store too afraid to ask for help or dread making a phone call for hours before I actually do it. I didn't realize until much later my depression was caused by my anxiety.

In this book, I think many young adults are given the few things they absolutely need--understanding and answers. The author bravely shares her difficult journey offering empathy and comfort which can be difficult to find in school and even at home. The small personal exercises and guidance towards the road to better living are very helpful.

I would recommend this book to anyone who felt like they needed a better understanding of social anxiety (whether they are someone suffering from it or someone seeking to learn more,) its been helpful for me.

Adjunct to therapy
As a psychotherapist I treat young clients with social anxiety. I always recommend they get this book for personal use and as a 'tool' for use in their therapy. Each client reports they have found it very helpful indeed and I recently had a parent tell me how much it helped her better understand what her child is going through. I recommend this book as a valuable tool for both professional counselors and for anyone wanting to overcome social anxiety.

A rare glimpse into the tortured world of a young person struggling with social anxiety disorder
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"As a child, Emily was incomparable, unusual, even precocious.At age four she was writing little poems and stories, enjoying music, art, and a myriad of creative pastimes.The breadth of her imagination along with her joie de vivre was a charming combination.Then in her teens, Emily became increasingly self-conscious.Immediate post-college days marked the beginning of her deep depression...During this time she frequently slept by day and was up all night...Emily withdrew socially; personal reactions became rare.Anxiety plagued her to the point of refusing to talk on the phone...Her eating habits became bizarre..."

The above is part of a letter written by the mother of the main author of this fascinating book, Emily Ford (with professor of clinical psychology, Dr. Michael Liebowitz and freelance health & psychology writer Linda Andrews).

This book in a nutshell has Ford sharing her personal struggle with the serious yet treatable disorder called social anxiety disorder (SAD), also called social phobia.She takes the reader along on her incredible and courageous journey of successfully coping with this disorder, while providing useful information, help, and hope to others also suffering from it (about 15 million Americans suffer from SAD), as well as to family members and friends who want to help.It is also an excellent book for those like me (one of my degrees is a psychology degree) who want to understand this disorder from the perspective of a person who has been challenged by it.

What is social anxiety disorder (SAD)?It is an anxiety disorder.Anxiety is a vague, unpleasant, emotional state with qualities of apprehension, dread, distress, and uneasiness.An anxiety disorder is a cover term for a variety of maladaptive syndromes which have severe anxiety as the dominant disturbance.SAD is "an anxiety disorder characterized by marked fear in social situations that involve being around unfamiliar people or the possibility of scrutiny by others."(Note that SAD is "substantially different" from shyness.)

Ford's chronicling of coping with SAD is in a word: superb.She tells her story with insight and warmth.

A major highlight of this book is that key points from the main narrative are isolated (in handwritten script), thus allowing the reader to have important information at his/her fingertips.To give the reader a "feel" for the book, I will give one example of these key points from each section (preface and chapters) of the book:

Preface: "The bravest thing I've ever done was to reach out and actively seek the assistance I desperately wanted and knew I needed."
(1) "I believed everyone around me was exchanging subtle signs and singles, conveying to one another that for any of a number of reasons, I was out of place."
(2) "Unless I knew I was going to be very good at something, I didn't do it at all."
(3) "Allowed to grow freely, untested by real-world experiences, my fears quickly mushroomed out of control."
(4) "Some new outfits and a change of scenery didn't magically transform me into the confident, outgoing person I wanted to be."
(5) "Medication may work faster than [therapy], but therapy may have more durable effects after treatment is stopped."
(6) "It takes great courage to force yourself to face your fears."
(7) "The confidence I gained by facing smaller challenges strengthened my belief that I could succeed."
(8) "Social anxiety disorder is just one of the many characteristics that make me the unique person I am."

After the main narrative is completed, there ishelpful material at the end of the book.First, there is a section called "Frequently Asked Questions."It is composed of 14 important questions regarding social anxiety disorder with complete answers given.Second, there is a glossary of terms that are defined for the reader.The definition of social anxiety disorder given above was taken from this glossary.Finally, there is a resource list provided not only for social anxiety disorder but for other disorders as well.

Finally, I only had one problem with this book.Although the author does a good job on informing the reader of the variety of medications (that is, prescribed drugs) available to aid therapy, I feel she does not convey the many problems associated with them.For example, there is a chart given that lists the prescribed drugs for social anxiety disorder.No where on this chart are the dangerous side effects given.

The fact is prescribed drugs are not candies.They have to be treated with caution.Thus, if prescribed drugs must be given, they ideally should be carefully monitored by the therapist prescribing them and given only for the short term (3 to 6 months).

In conclusion, this is a rare book written by a person trying to cope with social anxiety disorder.I leave you with the conclusion of the mother's letter that I began above:

"Remarkably, Emily has abandoned her dark despair and re-emerged into the radiance of self-delight and that of the world around her...Through...therapy and medication Emily has become a `new' person, ironically by becoming her `old' self.Once again, Emily has embraced the validity of her emotions, her uniqueness, and her interest in the lives of others."

(first published 2007;forward;preface;8 chapters;main narrative 120 pages;frequently asked questions;glossary; resources;bibliography;index)

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Product Description
A follow up to the first edition, Information Anxiety 2 teaches critical lessons for functioning in today's Information Age. In this new book, Wurman examines how the Internet, desktop computing, and advances in digital technology have not simply enhanced access to information, but in fact have changed the way we live and work. In examining the sources of information anxiety, Wurman takes an in-depth look at how technological advances can hinder understanding and influence how business is conducted.Amazon.com Review
Information might want to be free; but, why should we free it? We've got enough trouble keeping track of all the petabits that already run around untethered, and risk a computer counterrevolution if we let the situation get much crazier. Information architect Richard Saul Wurman swept the field clear in 1989 with his groundbreaking book that foresaw the problems of data clutter and proposed a radical new means of organizing and presenting knowledge humanistically; for the new century, he has revised it substantially as Information Anxiety 2. This book is sparklingly clear and readable--it'd better be, after all--and offers insight not only to designers, educators, and content developers, but also to anyone who needs to communicate effectively through dense clouds of facts. If Wurman occasionally indulges in New Age-y pop psychology, his analysis is never muddy, and the more hardheaded reader will forgive him soon enough. The discussion alternates between describing the deeply stressful task of absorbing poorly organized data and exploring solutions that require a bit of rethinking, but that reward such an investment with improved understanding and, maybe, a state change from information to wisdom. We could do worse--if we don't pay attention to Wurman and his colleagues, we almost certainly will. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

A sure way to have an anxiety attack
I don't know if I'm being overly sensitive to the poor layout and design but how can Saul Wurman expound on the subject of Information Anxiety when the material is obstructed by the horsey typography (just look at the table of contents is laid out), unclear delineation of passages (everything's bunched up), inexplicable, visually jarring use of black bars over numerous pull quotes, competing, heavily caked fonts in bolds. Excess visual noise is a major cause of Information Anxiety. Its a trait so endemic in websites, tax forms, technical manuals and... now this book from Wurman. Its such an anti-thesis to good information design.

And then there's the material itself. A convoluted, pastiche of personal anecdotes, home remedies for organizational management, random musings and dazed observations on the subject.

If you are genuinely interested in addressing the problem of Information Anxiety, this book will NOT provide with you with meaningful insights and solutions.

IA1 & IA2: Both books have not lost their relevancy even up to today...stimulating to read!
1) Information Anxiety
2) Information Anxiety 2

By Richard Saul Wurman

Ever since the futurist thought leader Alvin Toffler coined the term `information overload' in his ground-breaking book, `Future Shock', in the early seventies, not only I know what it is, but also know how it feels like: overwhelming!

I have since then become more fascinated by the subject & have read widely on it. A few good books come to mind. `Information Anxiety' is just one of them.

I have read `Information Anxiety' in the late eighties, just before the internet era. I went on to read the follow-up edition, `Information Anxiety 2', about a decade later.

The latter edition captured the impact & ramifications of the internet, desktop computing & advances in digital technology. From my personal standpoint, both books have not lost their relevancy even up to today.

Personally, I still think the first book is a comparatively much better book. Although I have also read the author's `Follow the Yellow Brick Road' as well as `Information Architects', I still like his `Information Anxiety' very much.

For me, I reckon `Information Anxiety', although intended as an exposition on information anxiety, covered a relatively broad spectrum particularly in terms of critical lessons: learning, understanding, creativity, problem solving, questioning, information processing, information design, and stress & anxiety management.

As a matter of fact, an adequate understanding of each of these aspects will readily help one to deal with the complexities of life in the information age. Putting them together, they generally reflect the principal message of the book.

The author defined `information anxiety' as a condition "produced by the ever widening gap between what we understand & what we think we should understand. It is the black hole between data & knowledge, & it happens when information doesn't tell us what we want or need to know."

His definition did not emphasise `information overload' as a cause of `information anxiety' but portions of his book did so. He cited several situations likely to induce `information anxiety', including "not understanding information; feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information to be understood; not knowing if certain information exists; & not knowing where to find information."

For me, there had been many vital lessons from the book. I would like to say that two vital lessons, at the time when I had read it, had cast a very strong imprint in my mind, which subsequently became my guiding philosophy in helping kids & teens to succeed in school.

One came from Chapter 8:

"You only learn things relative to something you understand."
(This is sometimes known as Richard Saul Wurman's Law)

The other:

"Learning can be seen as the acquisition of information, but before it can take place, there must be interest; interest permeates all endeavours & precedes learning. In order to acquire & remember new knowledge, it must stimulate your curiosity in some way."

I had also enjoyed reading about the author's approach to problem solving:

"Before any solution to any undertaking can be developed, a movement must begin to discover its beginning. Understanding the vein of the problem is the course to solving it. The best way to accomplish any endeavour is to determine its essential purpose, its most basic mission: What is the endeavour supposed to accomplish? What is the reason for embarking on it? This is where the solution lies."

There are two parts to solving any problem:

- What you want to accomplish;

- How you want to do it;

Even the most creative people attach issues by leaping over what they want to do & going on to how they will do it. They are many HOW's but only one WHAT.

You must always ask the question `WHAT IS...?' before you ask the question `HOW TO...?"

The author's personal comments about asking questions were revealing:

"When you sell your expertise...you have limited repertoire. On the other hand, when you sell your ignorance, when you sell your desire to learn something, to create & explore & navigate paths to knowledge - when you sell your curiosity - you sell from a bucket that is infinitely deep, that represents an unlimited repertoire. My expertise has always been my ignorance - my admission & my acceptance of not knowing. My work comes from questions, not from answers!"

This reminded me of the spiritual insights of Zen Master, Suzuki - Beginner's Mind vs Expert's Mind:

"If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything; it is open to everything. In the beginner's mind, there are many possibilities; in the expert's mind, there are few."

I fully concur with this learning attitude.

Lastly, the author outlined the following tell-tale signs of information anxiety:

- chronically talking about not keeping up with what's going around you;
- feeling guilty about that even higher stack of periodicals waiting to be read;
- nodding your head knowingly when someone mentions a book, an artist, a news story that you have actually never heard of before;
- refusing to buy a new appliance or piece of equipment just because you are afraid you won't be able to operate it;
- giving time & attention to news that has no cultural, economic or scientific impact on your life

The author also warned that `information anxiety' would limit people to being only seekers of knowledge because no time was left for them to be reflectors of knowledge. This is very true.

At the time I had read this book, I had actually distilled & jotted down more than fifty useful & workable insights, some of which have already been revealed in this review. Many of the insights had already been assimilated into my life & my work.

In my end analysis, `Information Anxiety' had been a very stimulating book. The book is very easy to read as you can breeze straight through or peruse in random bites.

Even the many marginal notes in the book are real gems on their own!

Good for business use.
A good writer and always give me new ideas and inspirations. Compare to the first one, this second one is more focus on business aspects.

A very stimulating book!Packed with many workable insights!
Information Anxiety
By Richard Saul Wurman

Information Anxiety 2
By Richard Saul Wurman


Ever since the futurist thought leader Alvin Toffler coined the term `information overload' in his ground-breaking book, `Future Shock', in the early seventies, not only I know what it is, but also know how it feels like: overwhelming! I have since then become more fascinated by the subject & have read widely on it. A few good books come to mind. `Information Anxiety' is just one of them.

I have read `Information Anxiety' in the late eighties, just before the internet era. I went on to read the follow-up edition, `Information Anxiety 2', about a decade later. The latter edition captured the impact & ramifications of the internet, desktop computing & advances in digital technology. Personally, I still think the first book is a comparatively much better book. Although I have also read the author's `Follow the Yellow Brick Road' as well as `Information Architects', I still like his `Information Anxiety' very much.

From my personal perspective, I reckon `Information Anxiety', although intended as an exposition on information anxiety, covered a relatively broad spectrum particularly in terms of critical lessons: learning, understanding, creativity, problem solving, questioning, information processing, information design, and stress & anxiety management. As a matter of fact, an adequate understanding of each of these aspects will readily help one to deal with the complexities of life in the information age. Putting them together, they generally reflect the principal message of the book.

The author defined `information anxiety' as a condition "produced by the ever widening gap between what we understand & what we think we should understand. It is the black hole between data & knowledge, & it happens when information doesn't tell us what we want or need to know."

His definition did not emphasise `information overload' as a cause of `information anxiety' but portions of his book did so. He cited several situations likely to induce `information anxiety', including "not understanding information; feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information to be understood; not knowing if certain information exists; & not knowing where to find information."

For me, there had been many vital lessons from the book. I would like to say that two vital lessons, at the time when I had read it, had cast a very strong imprint in my mind, which subsequently became my guiding philosophy in helping kids & teens to succeed in school.

One came from Chapter 8: "You only learn things relative to something you understand." (This is sometimes known as Richard Saul Wurman's Law)

The other: "Learning can be seen as the acquisition of information, but before it can take place, there must be interest; interest permeates all endeavours & precedes learning. In order to acquire & remember new knowledge, it must stimulate your curiosity in some way."

I had also enjoyed reading about the author's approach to problem solving:

"Before any solution to any undertaking can be developed, a movement must begin to discover its beginning. Understanding the vein of the problem is the course to solving it. The best way to accomplish any endeavour is to determine its essential purpose, its most basic mission: What is the endeavour supposed to accomplish? What is the reason for embarking on it? This is where the solution lies.

There are two parts to solving any problem:

- What you want to accomplish;
- How you want to do it;

Even the most creative people attach issues by leaping over what they want to do & going on to how they will do it. They are many HOW's but only one WHAT.

You must always ask the question `WHAT IS...?' before you ask the question `HOW TO...?"

The author's personal comments about asking questions were revealing:

"When you sell your expertise...you have limited repertoire. On the other hand, when you sell your ignorance, when you sell your desire to learn something, to create & explore & navigate paths to knowledge - when you sell your curiosity - you sell from a bucket that is infinitely deep, that represents an unlimited repertoire. My expertise has always been my ignorance - my admission & my acceptance of not knowing. My work comes from questions, not from answers!" This reminded me of the spiritual insights of Zen Master, Suzuki - Beginner's Mind vs Expert's Mind: "If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything; it is open to everything. In the beginner's mind, there are many possibilities; in the expert's mind, there are few." I fully concur with this learning attitude.

Lastly, the author outlined the following tell-tale signs of information anxiety?

- chronically talking about not keeping up with what's going around you;
- feeling guilty about that even higher stack of periodicals waiting to be read;
- nodding your head knowingly when someone mentions a book, an artist, a news story that you have actually never heard of before;
- refusing to buy a new appliance or piece of equipment just because you are afraid you won't be able to operate it;
- giving time & attention to news that has no cultural, economic or scientific impact on your life

The author also warned that `information anxiety' would limit people to being only seekers of knowledge because no time was left for them to be reflectors of knowledge. This is very true.

At the time I had read this book, I had actually distilled & jotted down more than fifty useful & workable insights, some of which have already been revealed in this review. Many of the insights had already been assimilated into my life & my work.

In my end analysis, `Information Anxiety' had been a very stimulating book. The book is very easy to read as you can breeze straight through or peruse in random bites. Even the many marginal notes in the book are real gems on their own!

[Recommended readings:For professionals, 'Survive Information Overload: The 7 Best Ways to Manage Your Workload by Seeing the Big Picture', by Kathryn Alesandrini; for everyone, 'Surviving Information Overload: The Clear, Practical Guide to Help You Stay on top of What You Need to Know' by Kevin Miller, are definitely worth exploring!.]

Of all things, a postmodern manifesto
Although this book is officially about design, communication, and business information--for which it probably is only a mediocre, quasi-random collection of personal musings--I unexpectedly found this text to be a fabulous introduction to the postmodern mindset. It is a post-modern manifesto, of sorts, calling us to plunge into the new information age with courage,creativity, and hope. It is "real-world" philosophy set in a business context.
Wurman demonstrates that not only have times in fact changed, but we can change with them and even flourish. Rather than a threat to our old, familiar "modern" way of thinking, the new "Information Age" can be an exciting opportunity for creativity, relationship, and learning.
This book is an example of how we CAN get over our anxieties or doubts about postmodernism and start engaging the world and people around us in a more meaningful way.

And one more thing,... as a person working in Information Technology, I wish more people in IT would read this book. It could save us some grief in our deliverables and methodologies. ... Read more

Product Description
Johnsgard - who's served as an expert commentator for the CBS Winter Olympics - also offers keen insights into how to get yourself motivated to do exercise, how to work exercise into your regular routine, and how to best use weight-loss and fat-reducing techniques. He explains in clear language the basics of exercise physiology and its effect on both your mind and your body, ushering in the results of studies that he and others have conducted. If depression and anxiety have overshadowed your life, or you just want to improve your mental outlook while enhancing your physical fitness, this book is a superb motivator to help you help yourself through the healthiest, least expensive, and simplest method available. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Very insightful
This is one of the best books I have read on depression - and I've read a boatload. Keeping in mind that different people respond to information in different ways, choose this book if you like reading facts, statistics, scientific studies and their application to depression (don't let that description lead you to believe the book is dry or dull, just that this is not a wishy-washy book filled with reader testimonies or inspiring images). I especially enjoyed his meta-analysis of multiple studies which he used to illustrate many different aspects of the relationship between depression and exercise, and also his discussion of diet and weightloss in a depression context. Whilst his tone is factual and serious (with everything referenced and clearly backed up), everything is still well explained for the layperson (such as myself). I highly reccommend this book.

Very Helpful Book
The reviewer below, C Fink, wrote a great review of this book, but I have one comment to add: although the author is a runner and some of the studies he cites are based on runners, the author states clearly that any aerobic exercise is fine.I'm not a runner and as I was reading, I didn't think of it as a running book (I prefer bicycling and hiking/walking).

I've read quite a few books on depression and anxiety.Although many of them helped me to learn and understand, this book was the most practical/pragmatic.Move your body, breathe hard, you'll feel better.(As the author states, one may also need therapy and medication.)

I feel like giving this book to people living with depression and/or anxiety.It could make a huge difference.

Good News from a Runner's World
I came to Johnsgard's book as a recreational runner with none of the psychological disorders he addresses in his book (none diagnosed, anyway). Actually, the title of this delightful book is something of a misnomer; only one of the four sections deals specifically with mental health. In the other three sections, Johnsgard-a psychology professor and a long-time distance runner-takes what I would call an anthropological view of the sport, addressing, as he does, the history of Homo Sapiens and our natural inclination to run. Johnsgard's book is a training manual, a DSM4, and a natural history all in one.

What I appreciated most about the book-and there's plenty here for expert runners as well as beginners-was the author's unique perspective. Using both clinical data and anthropological evidence, Johnsgard shows us how far we've come from Shangri-La, and how running can help us return. The author is a fellow homo-naturalis, so if you're homo-progressus, you're not going to find your techno-manna here. Johnsgard debunks the protein diet fads and gives evidence that elements of the hunter-gatherer existence are necessary for physical and mental well-being.

Johnsgard is foremost a good storyteller, and beginning with book's prologue, he incorporates elements of case study to illuminate his topics. The result is a thoroughly interesting read about the science and history of running. And while the author is always knowledgeable about his subjects-from existential drift to cardiorespiratory fitness-he's humble too; one gets the sense that he's learned all this news the hard way, and at some personal expense. Johnsgard comes across as the kind of runner you'd like to meet on the trail.

Chances are you'll see yourself often in these pages, and that you'll come away with at least a few ideas for self-improvement through exercise.

... Read more

Product Description
Growing up can be stressful for any teenager, but it is considerably harder for the many adolescents who develop an anxiety disorder. This book is an essential guide for parents, teachers, or other adults involved with teenagers who may e affected by these disorders. By bringing together two strands of expertise--that of mental health professionals and of parents who have lived through the experience of their own teenager's mental illness--If Your Adolescent Has an Anxiety Disorder provides adult readers with the clinical information and practical advice they need to understand and help the teen. There are chapters detailing four the different types of anxiety disorders, including social anxiety, generalized anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, and post-traumatic stress disorders. Each includes a clearly written definition, a discussion of factors that can contribute to developing the disorder, treatment information, and case studies based on a real family's own experience with the disease. Tips and quotes from parents are sprinkled liberally throughout the text, and helpful sidebars provide more detailed information. The authors also provide a chapter fully dedicated to discussing treatment options, including what role parents play in treatment, how to juggle treatment and school, and how to handle insurance and managed care issues. Knowing the right information about anxiety disorders is the first step towards helping adolescents who are dealing with them grow to become healthy, happy adults. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Helpful!
Finally information for parents of teens struggling with these issues!This book was helpful to familiarize myself with this new trial in our lives.Was able to skip over the disorders that didn't apply, but the rest seemed in line with everything else we've been reading.Great resource. ... Read more