Product Description
Since its first edition in 1990, The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook has sold more than 600,000 copies. Its engaging exercises and worksheets have helped millions of readers make real progress in overcoming problems with anxiety and phobic disorders. The Authoritative Guide to Self-Help Resources in Mental Health (Norcross, et al., 2003) gave the book its highest rating and praised it as "a highly regarded and widely known resource." Thousands of mental health and medical professionals recommend this book to their clients and patients every year. Simply put, it is the single finest source of self-help information on its topic available anywhere.

The text of this fourth edition has been fully revised and expanded and includes two new chapters: a discussion of physical conditions that can aggravate anxiety and an overview of the use of mindfulness practice in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder and some forms of obsessive-compulsive disorder. As in previous editions, the book offers the most up-to-date information on medications, natural supplements, and complementary strategies that can alleviate anxiety symptoms. The sections on relaxation, nutrition, and exercise have all been updated and broadened. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (170)

Just what I ordered
I ordered this book and it came in a timely manner and was in good condition.
Overall very satisfied.
Rita

anxiety workbook
This workbook is excellent if you are motivated to make lifestyle changes towards less anxiety. It is helpful in identifying where the anxiety is coming from and what to do about it.

Great book
I purchased this book mainly because I wanted to get rid of social anxiety. However, as I was reading the book I realized that I had so many other things that I needed to change in my life (all of them probably contribute to social anxiety as well) such as alleviate perfectionism, remove self-doubt and all bad beliefs, become more relaxed in general and create a balance between play and work.

The book has helped me to put together a program for myself to reduce anxiety. A few of the steps in the program are relaxation (meditating and visualization), exposure (step by step), becoming more assertive, increasing my self-esteem, changing bad beliefs with good ones, taking care of my needs, etc.

I must say that I haven't started with the program yet but I'm going to in a few days and my expectations are very upscale.

Excellent Resource
I got the book for a "used" price but it is pretty much brand new.It is in great condition and it has been an excellent resource.Thanks for a great transaction!

love it
This book seems to be very helpful and i enjoy it. I love the fact that theres questions at the end of each chapter ... Read more

Product Description
Fear of heights, fear of spiders, fear of flying, fear of death--everyone is afraid of something. And these pop-ups place you in the hot seat--whether it's the dentist's chair as the drill comes spinning toward you; looking over the edge of a skyscraper whose sheer face plummets thousands of feet to the sidewalk far below; or the window seat of a plane as the oxygen mask deploys, your drink spills, and the horizon line shifts to an angle that is suddenly, terribly wrong . . .

Brought to life by outrageously macabre artwork and startlingly innovative pop-ups, The Pop-up Book of Phobias is an engineering marvel and cult classic in the making--an offbeat holiday treasure sure to become this season's most talked-about gift book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (61)

Underimpressed
Sure it shows phobias. But phobias we are all well aware of. I was hoping for the little known phobias. The really different phobias. This instead gave me snakes, elevators, and public speaking, so I sent it back. I'll wait around for a better one...

Funny book!
I got this book as a gift for someone in the mental health field, and it was truly enjoyed! In fact, people cannot pass it without some degree of curiosity and they just have to open it. The phobias are common enough to be familiar to the reader. The images themselves are "over the top," so that they are comical as well as informing. The dentist phobia, for instance, has a drill that pops out at you with a terrifying looking dentist and assistant. The death phobia has a grave with people gathered around. It's best displayed on a shelf where it can be truly appreciated!

great gift
My son is 20 & studying Psychology - was facinated and geniunely pleased to recieve this for X-Mas

Cool book
This book is probably one of the most entertaining pop-up books for adults. The art work is beautifully done. If you have phobias are know someone who does, it provides a humorous detailed description of each of the more common phobias. The writing is brilliant and the art work jumps off the page at you. I would recommend this book to anyone who knows a "Mr. Monk" or thinks that they themselves could fall into that category.

Super cool pop-up
The only adjective I can come up with for this book is "super cool." What a great idea! Each page contains the definition of a particular phobia, accompanied by an artistic rendering in pop-up. Each phobia is meant to be experienced in first person perspective.
For example, acrophobia (a fear of heights) has you looking over the edge of a tall sky scraper to a city street far, far below and dentophobia (fear of the dentist) puts you in the hotseat, just inches away from a menacing, quickly approaching drill. My only complaint is that there are not more phobias included. Greenberg and Reinhart did a fantastic job; this is quite the novelty. Expect it to be a great conversation piece wherever it goes.
Other phobias include arachnaphobia (fear of spiders) and necrophobia (fear of being buried alive) among others.
A must-have for pop-up fans! ... Read more

Product Description
Much of anxiety therapy is designed as quick, focused intervention, treating a specific syndrome without looking at the possibility of long- term healing. However, true recovery requires something more: understanding the meaning of anxiety symptoms and going deeper to face their underlying sources in a holistic and life-changing way. Beyond Anxiety and Phobia provides an array of alternative strategies for entering this long-term healing mode; describes alternative therapies such as herbs, yoga, massage, acupuncture, and homeopathy; and addresses the impact of perfectionism and other personality issues. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Good
Nice book that breaks things down well. It is like a school text book and not a self help read. Give you some other good books to read. If you have mild anxiety I would rec it. Also has a lot of good natural ways to help with anxiety.

Very Helpful
I , along with his Doctors, am assisting my Husband in overcoming his Anxiety and Panic Disorders.This book has been a blessing for us both.He is getting a first hand look at how his environment and nutrition play a huge part in his recovery.

Since we began following the guidelines in the book, he has had significantly less episodes.

A compassionate, comprehensive book on anxiety
This is a wonderful book. It doesn't provide a quick fix for anxiety, but if you are willing (and desperate enough) to take the time to think through the issues raised and try some of the technique suggested, it can be life-changing.

The author shares his clients' and his own personal experiences in a compassionate, caring way, and I found that healing in itself.
The assumption is that all of us who are dealing with anxiety have a hard time accepting and loving ourselves just as we are. Dr. Bourne provides some powerful tools to start doing just that.

The chapters I found most useful and/or thought-provoking were those onmeditation and spirituality, but the whole book is great.
Highly recommended!

Truly "Beyond Anxiety and Phobia..."
This book is aptly titled, as it truly goes beyond the typical anxiety management techniques. There are many lifestyle and philosophical approaches offered for consideration. The author freely shares his personal experiences and how he himself was helped by these ways. A very good book, even for anyone without anxiety disorders. Kate

Pefect if you don't want to be medicated!
This book was a dream come true for me. I can't take medication for my anxiety and depression.This book helped me find alternatives that set me on the right path. Now I feel a sense of relief and like there is a light at the end of the tunnel.There is also a section on finding your life purpose. It's wonderful and really helped me set a plan into action so I can fill that empty space causing me so much anxiety. I would recommend this book to anyone who suffers with mild or moderate anxiety who needs reassurance and help. ... 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
Specific Phobia is the most commonly occurring anxiety disorder with approximately 12.5% of the general population reporting at least one specific phobia during their lives.People may fear heights, flying, spiders, blood, water, and any other number of circumscribed objects or situations. Research has shown the most effective treatment for these fears and phobias is an exposure-based, cognitive-behavioral program.

Written by renowned researchers, this Therapist Guide provides you with all the information you need to help your clients ease their anxiety and conquer their fears. Whether they are afraid of dentists, dogs, or driving, you can teach your clients the necessary skills to overcome their phobia in as little as a few weeks. The strategies outlined in this book include exposure exercises and cognitive restructuring techniques. The corresponding Workbook includes blank forms and records for tracking progress and allows the client to extend the therapeutic experience outside of the office. Together, both books form a comprehensive package that has proven to be the most effective and successful treatment available for specific phobia.

TreatmentsThatWorkTM represents the gold standard of behavioral healthcare interventions!



·All programs have been rigorously tested in clinical trials and are backed by years of research


·A prestigious scientific advisory board, led by series Editor-In-Chief David H. Barlow, reviews and evaluates each intervention to ensure that it meets the highest standard of evidence so you can be confident that you are using the most effective treatment available to date


·Our books are reliable and effective and make it easy for you to provide your clients with the best care available


·Our corresponding workbooks contain psychoeducational information, forms and worksheets, and homework assignments to keep clients engaged and motivated


·A companion website (www.oup.com/us/ttw) offers downloadable clinical tools and helpful resources


·Continuing Education (CE) Credits are now available on select titles in collaboration with PsychoEducational Resources, Inc. (PER) ... Read more

Product Description
DESCRIPTION: In this classic guide--newly revised and updated--expert Reneau Peurifoy shows readers how to understand and overcome all types of anxiety-related disorders.Anxiety is an unpleasant, though mostly unavoidable, aspect of modern life--but for many, normal anxiety can become something far more serious and debilitating. Now, in this updated and revised edition of ANXIETY, PHOBIAS & PANIC, readers will learn how their condition developed and how to overcome their anxiety-related problems. Areas covered include: ï uncovering the causes of anxiety ï building stress tolerance ï identifying and correcting harmful modes of thinking ï relaxation techniques ï tools for managing anxiety ï and much more. Plus, this revised edition includes new discoveries about the brain, new information about OCD and social phobias, and a section on relapse prevention. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Can change your life
I have used this book to supplement the work I'm doing with a good therapist.I learn something important about myself every time I read it, and I feel like I am reading a book that is written about me.It has been so valuable in my work towards treatment of generalized anxiety disorder and depression.For me, this is the most valuable book I have read in my entire life.For the first time, I have hope that I can overcome the debilitating anxiety I have lived with for years.I am learning skills that will help me from relapsing into old ineffective behaviors.I will reference this book for years to come.

Top Flight Book on the subject
This is the most complete, easiest to read and comprehensive book I have read on the subject. Chock full of information that will help therapists and clients deal with whatever comes their way via anxiety. A winner.Reading Thomas Merton: A Guide to His Life and Work

For the anxious and frustrated.. a book that understands
I first read this book in New Zealand.. and soon became hooked. Mainly as I suffer from anxiety and depression. I found it insiteful and cathartic. It helped me to understand more fully my idiosyncracies and attitudes, and gave me more peace of mind. It offers good advice on how to help combat these debilitating conditions and gain your life back. I would highly recommend it to anyone who suffers from these conditions, or lives with anyone who has them, to better understand what feelings are involved, and that no one ever chooses to suffer; for many reasons, it is simply how our brain reacts to difficult situations, and no one is to blame. An empathetic, yet highly practical book.

copies to family and friends
I have had a copy for many years and have given copies to a grandchild and one child, since anxiety can be inherited (my father had it, and we also have hypoglycemia). I have also given the order forms in the back to friends. I first became aware of panic attacks as an eight year old, but I wasn't diagnosed until I was in my forties, and only after many counseling sessions for panic which didn't help.I found this book and it meant the end of Xanax for me.One doesn't have to read it all at once.The first things to learn are distraction and breathing exercises.Then move on to magnification and other thought control processes.

easy for laymen
very easy to understand the causes of panic and aniexity, creates easy to understandsolutions for people suffering from long term panic, GAD, etc.. ... 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

Product Description
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Easy-to-use manual providing the basics of practicing short-term dynamic psychotherapy. Demonstrated are procedures for assessing patients, formulating core conflicts, and restructuring defenses, affects, and relationship to the self and others. Offers case examples and write-in exercises to build key skills. For therapists. Softcover. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Clear and Sophisticated
Treating Affect Phobia is a manual for short-term work with relatively high-functioning individuals whose emotional blocks influence their work, relationships, or their quality of life. Novices and senior clinicians alike will find this manual useful. It focuses psychodynamic work by combining the exposure work of CBT, and it elaborates CBT by including exposure to avoided emotions. The writing is clear and direct. There is enough specificity for a novice, and the exercises at the end of the chapters help the reader to absorb and practice the material. Those clinicians with a CBT background will find the book refreshingly present-focused. The explanation of defenses and the careful working with defenses and anxiety-regulation are clear and understandable even without a psychodynamic background. For those unfamiliar with exposure therapy, the book offers a radical way of enhancing comfort with avoided affect.

For the senior clinician, the book offers a unique and efficient approach to short-term dynamic Psychotherapy, but there is enough subtlety for repeated readings.

The book targets high-functioning individuals (those with a GAF score 50 or above), but has chapters on working with those with less stable object relations. I have found that the model can be adapted for those with a lower GAF.

Avery useful manual
The authors have produced a very clear presentation ofhow to identify and treat psychodynamic conflicts using active methods. For the beginning therapist, it offers a step by step detailed approach. For the more advanced therapist, it has a very clear and useful organization that provides a resource for thinking aboutthe stuck places in therapy.Both supervisors and supervisees will find it helpful.

Outstanding Conceptual Clarity
This is the only "manual" I recommend to supervisees or seasoned colleagues. It is a wonderful "how-to" for psychotherapists, and so much more. Integrating elements from both psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral traditions, it offers a simple yet powerful conceptual framework for understanding inner psychological conflict.The model clearly illuminates how maladaptive behavior in a client (or anyone)represents their best effort at avoiding feared emotional states. In creating so much conceptual clarity, it allows the therapist to more readily arrive at a place of compassion and effective intervention. Numerous and creative strategies are suggested for working with inner conflict, often in the context of clinical vignettes illustrating exemplary and inspiring work of mature and compassionate therapists. It never trivializes the depth of human suffering. This is a wonderful book!

A Manual of Great Character
Affect Phobia is a brilliant clinical model, the Triangle of Conflict is a teaching tool of beauty, and this manual is a pleasure to read. The theory is creatively integrative and above all functional. I find my thinking clarified, I know how to stay on track when a client's avoidant behavior takes center stage, and at all times I have guidance in attending to emotion. My recommendation is: buy it, read it, share it with the people you supervise! Your work will be enriched.

Lucid and Illuminating
This is without a doubt the clearest book I have ever read about how to understand and formulate psychodynamic conflict, and how to address it in psychotherapy. Integrating elements of psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and interpersonal models, the manual is at once respectful of clients and a very good "how-to" for therapists at any level. It is deceptively simple, in that appears to be for those new to the field, but in fact it is astute and complex. ... Read more

Product Description
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
Mastery of Your Fears and Phobias, Second Edition, Workbook outlines a cognitive-behavioral treatment program for individuals who suffer from specific fears and phobias, including fear of blood, heights, driving, flying, water, and others.The program described in this workbook has proved to be the most effective treatment available for fears and phobias to date.It has a success rate of up to 90% with as little as one treatment session.Based on the principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), this workbook teaches clients about the nature of their fear and how to overcome it through exposures and changing their negative thoughts.

TreatmentsThatWorkTM represents the gold standard of behavioral healthcare interventions!



·All programs have been rigorously tested in clinical trials and are backed by years of research


·A prestigious scientific advisory board, led by series Editor-In-Chief David H. Barlow, reviews and evaluates each intervention to ensure that it meets the highest standard of evidence so you can be confident that you are using the most effective treatment available to date


·Our books are reliable and effective and make it easy for you to provide your clients with the best care available


·Our corresponding workbooks contain psychoeducational information, forms and worksheets, and homework assignments to keep clients engaged and motivated


·A companion website (www.oup.com/us/ttw) offers downloadable clinical tools and helpful resources


·Continuing Education (CE) Credits are now available on select titles in collaboration with PsychoEducational Resources, Inc. (PER) ... Read more

Product Description
For an individual with a medical phobia, receiving the care that can relieve pain and cure illness can be a daunting task.Fear of receiving an injection, visiting a doctor, or seeing blood may put any of these some 30 million Americans at great risk—especially if they avoid receiving necessary medical care because of it.

Fortunately, specific phobias are among the most responsive of anxiety disorders to behavior therapy, the research-proven treatment adapted for self-help readers in this book. If you struggle with a medical phobia, this book will first explain the basics about your phobia: where it comes from, what factors influence it, and how best to prepare for treatment. Then you’ll learn to confront and overcome your medical phobia with safe and gradual exposure exercises. These techniques are effective and fast. The book includes information about avoiding relapse and helping someone else who suffers from a medical phobia. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

medical phobias
I bought this book for my daughter who has been diagnosed with severe medical anxiety by a therapist. My daugheter read the book giving it a great review and stated that it follows the same information given to her by her therapist. Worth exploring.

Not much help at all for many of us!
If you are suffering from a general fear about going to the doctor or dentist, getting vaccinated or giving yourself insulin injections (for example), or can't stand the sight of blood....then this book can be quite helpful to you. This book is for general fears only, so if you have more specific fears, you may find this book to be a total waste of time and money. I certainly did.

I personally was quite disappointed and felt misled by this book. First of all, the authors claim that their technique(s) can help with fears of medical procedures. When I read the book, the "medical procedures" they talked about didn't seem to amount to more than just a blood pressure check, etc. If you are facing surgery, especially major surgery, this book is not at all helpful to you. The authors don't even elaborate on this level of procedure.

The book puts a lot of emphasis on your "exposure" to the source of your fear to help you deal with it. However, some of the suggestions the authors gave on ways to gain exposure were really unrealistic or, as I put it, downright crazy.

First of all, to gain exposure regarding visiting a doctor, one suggestion given by the authors was to "schedule physicals with a number of different doctors" (p.83). An example provided by the authors has one lady getting physical exams 6 times in a two week period--all between different doctors! (p. 95).

Who the heck has the kind of resources to do this, let alone the necessary insurance coverage?

Another suggestion by the authors regarding exposure to injections (needle fears) has me questioning their sanity. In one part of their book, on page 67, the authors describe "good injection scenes" in movies they suggest to rent--one of which is "DEAD MAN WALKING!"(A film about the death penality).

Not only do I find these authors' suggestions grossly unrealistic, some of their suggestions are just plain absurd. If you still feel like you need to check out this book, please check the local library first.

From a "graduate of the program"... If you have and want to overcome a medical phobia, buy this book.
To put the review in context, a bit of background might be helpful: I'm a 35 year old man who's been deathly afraid of having my blood drawn for as long as I can remember. My phobia had become so bad that for some years now, I'd beenskipping the blood work portion of my yearly medical checkups (which is probably the most important part). Every time I needed to go to get my blood drawn, I'd come up with an excuse and not go. I also used to feel intense discomfort and anxiety whenever I saw a needle in someone's arm on TV or in a movie (whether it was real or a special effect); if I could (i.e. If I was at home), I'd curl up into the fetal position (and if I couldn't, I'd cover or close my eyes and want to curl up into the fetal position).

Wanting to overcome my fear, I bought this book. At first I wasn't thrilled with the idea of exposure therapy (and thought "so you mean the way to get over my fear is to look at and otherwise expose myself to the thing/situation I'm afraid of?"). However, since the book states that despite the fact that you'll initially feel uncomfortable, little by little, the discomfort will go away, I decided to push myself and give it a try.

I've been subjecting myself to as intense an exposure regimen as I could take for about a month and a half now (going from short, 5 minute exposures to diagrams and photographs on images.google.com 2 - 4 days per week to longer exposures to photographs and YouTube videos for 15 minutes 4 - 6 days per week)... And today, I graduated. My goal was to be able to go to the lab, sit down in "the chair" without any fuss, stick my arm out and get my blood drawn (without fainting or having to have my blood drawn lying down for fear of fainting). And that's exactly what I did.

Having my blood drawn is still not my favorite thing and I didn't look at the needle in my arm today but if I had to do it again next week, I could.

In short, if you have a medical phobia that you want to overcome, this approach works (and if you have a history of fainting, the skills you learn in the chapter about preventing fainting will do just that).

psychologist with a phobia of medical procedures
After being brutally operated on without anesthetic in a third-world hospital as a teenager, I developed a phobia of medical procedures. Later as an adult I started passing out when given needles, which is both distressing and embarrassing. Even though I've since fixed my phobia, as a recovered medical procedures phobic and a psychologist specializing in the area of anxiety and phobias, I can say that this book is a must read on the topic. It's written in simple terms, is very easy to understand and is based on the latest scientific research. Added to this the author, Martin Antony, is a leading world expert in the area of anxiety.

Anthony Gunn, author of the books:
Fear Is Power: Turn Your Fears Into Success
Fix Your Phobia in 90 Minutes
Walking Tall: Overcoming Life's Little Challenges

Excellent choice
Purchased this book to help a patient understand her previously undiagnosed medical phobia. She felt it to be extremely helpful; explaining the disorder,
the nature of fainting, the course of treatment. She has used it along with our work together to begin to master her fears. ... Read more

Product Description
Aimed at psychologists, psychiatrists and other healthcare practitioners, this reference work provides an alphabetical listing of all fears, anxieties and phobias, detailed under both their medical and common names. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A great resource on fear
As a psychologist specializing in treating fears and phobias, I found this book really interesting. The author is highly acclaimed in psychological circles to do with anxiety. The book is unique in that it could be used both by therapists and the general public. It's easy to read style and also being set out in a simple alphabetical format, would be helpful in diagnosing patients, and also make for great read for the everyday person in understanding more about the amazing world of fears and phobias, a topic that affects us all.

Anthony Gunn, psychologist and author of Fear Is Power: Turn Your Fears Into Success

tremendous resource!
i found this book to be immensely helpful, and i find myself returning to it again and again.

A Multi-purpose Referancnce Book
While I am not a professional in this feild I have found this book remarkably help full in in understanding what these human behaviours are, the theories behind them, some of the medications that are/have been usedin some cases and a few of the clinical studies that have been done in thisfeild.

The material is written in laymens terns and is arrangedalphabtically.It would be of assistance to anyone wanting a betterunderstanding of the feild or then student who is just starting theirstudies in college in this feild.

In my case the book has been and stillis used in a most unusal way.I am referee for war gaming and havesuccessfully used this referance with my players to prevent"perfect" characters from existing.The players in turn becomeso drawned to the book they wind up reading it and learning about thiswhole area!

This book would have recieved 5 stars except for the factthat the material is all listed as one listing: clinical, definitions, andPharmacology (sp?).The book would have been better off as one book withseveral distinct sections. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Excellent for Learning How to Face Your Fears
I have social phobia that developed from having a voice disorder. It had held me back professionally until I decided to change careers and go to graduate school. The idea of giving presentations in school was terrifying, but I was tired of the fear holding me back. I learned biofeedback and read this book before starting graduate school. I am now in my last semester and credit this book with getting me there.

This book will help you understand social phobia and how your mind and body respond to the fear. This understanding combined with the activities will help you face social challenges that you set for yourself. This is a very comprehensive book that helps you set goals, identify how your body responds to fear, identify your unrealistic beliefs, learn how to handle exposure to your fears, communication and social skills, stress reduction, how to handle set backs, and medications.

These skills will also transfer to handling other fears as well. Yesterday, despite my fear of heights, I was able to participate in a high ropes course activity where I climbed a pole and walked across a log that was high in the air. I was able to identify unrealistic thoughts that were keeping me from participating and knew that I could continue after the initial fear. It was fantastic! I wish the same for everyone who has experienced fear that limits their lives. Bottom line - get the book and start living your life again!

Wonderful resource for social anxiety sufferers
I was given this book to read years ago while I was a patient at an anxiety treatment center in Chicago.As I was suffering from daily panic attacks and social anxiety, I immediately identified with the very specific and well documented subject matter in this book.

What I like most about this book is that it is interactive and provides questionnaires for the reader to fill out to help identify what your anxiety problems are and to plan the most effective treatment course.Additionally, there are many coping skills that are easy to apply, as well as a thorough breakdown of cognitive-behavioral techniques.

A tremendous part of my recovery from extreme social anxiety were many of the techniques and education that I gained from reading this book.As an anxiety sufferer, this book is a valuable resource that is helpful to reference over and over as you begin your recovery.I highly recommend it!

Steve Pavilanis, Author
A Life Less Anxious: Freedom from panic attacks and social anxiety without drugs or therapy (Volume 1)

Informative
This book is a suggested by the doctor I work with. Awesome information for people who suffer with, and are seeking to oversome, social anxiety.

Interesting
Book has useful information.A lot relates to me.Easy to understand, but not sure it will solve my problem.It's very difficult to put into practice as it suggests.

Reader
I have read several other books that offered hope but no real help.
This book gave me my life back. It worked for me. I judged this book by its cover and it sat on my shelf for a month while I read other books that did nothing.
I am so glad I bought, and finally read this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Math is a phobia right up there with snakes, public speaking, and heights. But according to Marilyn Burns, it doesn t have to be that way.
Challenging negative attitudes and delivering a positive message about what math can and should mean to all of us, this resource is both an entertaining and invaluable read. From Talking Turkey About Arithmetic to Making Math Make Sense, the 13 chapters get everyone on board in solving the math phobia problem. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

practical & easy to read
I just finished up the coursework for my teaching certification and found this book to be the most useful, user-friendly text I was assigned during the program.I hesitate to call it a textbook, because it's a thin, easy-to-read, conversational book, but it gets the point across clearly:math is all around us.Children need to learn basic math skills, but teaching them to think, value their thinking and problem solve in real-world situations is equally valuable.She gets the point across using examples most of us can relate to.I hope to use this book as a reference and reminder throughout my teaching

I love this book!
It is very easy to read this book, even if it's for a class.It makes understanding math easy, and really makes readers aware of why people are afraid of math.I highly recomend it!!

cogent and misguided
Burns is both right and wrong.She is right that a really good math teacher can teach ideas and make children like math without all of the drilling.I am sure that she herself has experienced this and perhaps taught other math teachers to do the same.But the approach assumes math teachers are more talented than most are.With less talented teachers her approach is a disaster.Students learn neither the ideas nor the basics, like the multiplication tables, that the less talented teachers could have taught.The result is high schoolers who need to count on their fingers to multiply six times seven.

What's right (and Wrong) in Educational Research: A Case Study
[...]this book deserves more extended treatment.There are a number of good, positive suggestions in this book for improving math instruction.On the other hand, several of the author's suggestions actually go against the weight of the research in mathematics learning.But the main problem with this book is that it lacks the solid "quantitative" research needed to defend any of its positions.Instead, like many other piecesof "published educational research" it is anecdotal.That is unfortunate because such "research" does a disservice to students, teachers, and parents alike.

In a nutshell, Burns argues that Americans have a math phobia and do poorly in math because they were brought up to believe math was a series of repetitive exercises with no real world applications.Rules for manipulating fractions with various mathematics operations seem almost random to students who, in a desparate attempt to pass classes, try to memorize these rules and then reproduce them in the correct places.But of course, there are only so many "rules" one can memorize and after a while, as all upper grade, high school and college math teachers know, students begin using the "rules" at inappropriate times and then "fail."They conclude that math is just "too hard" for them and, worse yet, they pass their fears and frustrations off on their children.

Burns' solution for this problem is teach math with a genuine real world context.We don't multiply and divide fractions for the sake of solving problems on a worksheet.We do it so we can double 3/4 cups of flour (or water, etc) when baking.And she offers a lot of lessons and ideas for showing children practical math applications for what they are learning.These are at the heart of her book and I would venture to guess that every teacher would find some benefit from chapters 9-11 of this book.

But the book is also fundamentally flawed in several respects.In the first instance, Ms. Burns de-emphasizes the rote learning exercises involving addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, in favor of "higher level" math applications and reasoning.She is hardly alone in this.In my district, the head of elementary math instruction recently told sixth grade teachers to give their students calculators so their lack of computational skills would not hinder their understanding of higher level math concepts. This policy is an absolute disaster for children.Recent research show that "math fluency," the ability to quickly recall such information without having to think (and without having to use a calculator) is an absolute prerequisite to understanding higher level math concepts.[...]
[...].Using calculators while "thinking" about "real world" math problems undermines this fluency and actually hinders children in their ability to make a real world connection. Worse yet, Burns discourages the use of pencil and paper in such basic facts exercises as she includes.Her rationale is that math is a thinking exercise, not a writing one, and that using pencil and paper is "like expecting children to write before they can tell their own stories."(p.10)Again, sheer nonsense.Writing and thinking are not separate acts, and doing one actually helps the other.In particular, writing helps one to commit key concepts and math facts to memory and can help expand our understanding of more advanced concepts.

But there is a far broader problem with this book and indeed much of the educational "research" that I have seen.This is that none of the book involves "research" at all.At no point does Ms. Burns actually do the sort of study that is commonplace for academic publications in other fields.She never takes two groups of children, teaches them by the same methods, but gives (for example) one group a calculator and denies it to the other to see what outcomes, if any, are observed.She doesn't even use published resources to defend fundamental points made in her book.Her central claim is that the old style of math alienated people and made them phobic of math.Her evidence?A conversation with an unnamed engineer on an airplane.(She later disparages this very source since he disagrees with her about calculator usage.)Now, in my opinion, she is correct (as is the engineer) but the fact of the matter is that this sort of thing could not be published in any other academic setting.Private conversations with unnamed sources are not evidence.Nor is a written correspondence with a novelist and third person accounts of what some unnamed parents might think.Burns might have done better by citing SAT scores over time.As of 1998, when this book was published, these scores would not have defended her ideas (from chapter 8, "School Math Then, School Math Now") because student scores in 1998 were lower than in 1967.By 2005, however, they were higher.Is this evidence that Burns is right?Perhaps.Many of her ideas are even more common-place now than they were in 1998.But then again, the new test scores could also reflect the influence of test preparation courses, unheard of in 1967 but common place now.Part of the demand for these courses is that they teach math in the traditional way to make up for the deficits caused by the lack of basic skills our students have after 12 years of modern math education.The new emphasis on math fluency could also be a cause of higher test scores.How do we know?A good start would be to do some actual research into what really works in math using the scientific method and carefully constructed study and control groups.Large scale surveys of teachers at all levels (including college and community college) could also be helpful too.

In the final analysis, I give the book 3 stars because it raises a lot of issues for the thoughtful reader.Many teachers (some of whom share the phobia Burns describes) will applaud it. Even teachers who are critical, like myself, will find something of value in it.But this book is most important because it shows the state of where math research is.For math education to become a serious field of study, we need to move beyond this.We need to apply the same rigorous standards to the study of math education that are typical of other fields of research.

Interesting, but not convincing regarding calculator use in elementary school
I found her book to have some interesting ideas of how to go about solving certain types of math problems, especially if they are presented as alternative explanations for students who don't get it on the first try. Not everyone understands concepts in the same way.

However, she completely fails to convince in her chapter regarding calculator use in the early grades.How do you know if your calculator is malfunctioning if you can't do the math yourself? Shouldn't all students be held to certain minimum standards of mental calculation? She doesn't even mention Trachtenberg math, for example, the mastery of which would be quite useful in day-to-day activities such as making sure you have enough cash when shopping. The main trouble with calculators is that once you start using them, you stop using your brain, and the brain is a like a muscle, when you stop using it, it atrophies.

And, while I agree with her use of "real-life" examples, she proved with her own hand lotion purchase why it is important to have excellent mental computational skills, which would not be affected by being "in a rush" (that was the excuse she used, anyway).

Finally, she also illustrated why so many are "turned off" by math, although it certainly wasn't intentional on her part. One of her examples involved drawing a square, then drawing a square twice the area. Left as it is, it is a boring problem, a definite "so what" type of thing. Most math word problems are of this type, in fact, and if you're at all disinterested, you are not motivated to want to bother with it, especially if you also happen to not like math in the first place.

Well, WHY would anyone want to waste time doing that just for its own sake?Now, if you are designing a house, for example, or think you might in the future, this suddenly becomes a useful, interesting problem. However, she just leaves it as it was above, so good luck in trying to get anyone excited about solving it.In a related chapter, she talks about people using tip tables, as opposed to figuring a tip mentally. It probably never occurred to her that people resist figuring a tip because they perhaps resent having to leave one (or at least being pressured to feel as if they do) at all.

She seems to emphasize a lot of group work. Well, in the REAL world (other than in her small classroom world), you need to know how to do your work all by yourself. The SATs don't allow working in a group, and they are timed tests. YOU will need to know how to calculate the rates of return on your retirement portfolio, and how to double-check your end-of-year mortgage statements. You aren't always going to have your friends or math teacher around to call up and ask.

Bottom line: an interesting book, but veers into the "feel good" mode 'way too much. Like other teachers (of all subjects, not just math), she could use more time in the real world, and less time in the world of academe. ... Read more

Product Description
Overcoming Shyness and Social Phobia provides a detailed program for eliminating social anxieties based on the latest cognitive behavioral treatments for social phobia. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

The book is OK
If you want basic cognitive techniques, this is a good little book. But these ways of thinking are difficult to have a big effect unless you complement it with cognitive group therapy for this disorder. My major problem with the book is it's total lack of information conserning the subconscious, since the automatic fear responses arise from that part of us. In my view, results will be better when the person combines cognitive self-help/group therapy with fitting visualization techniques. Willpower is always important, but mental imagery training helps the irrational aspects to be more easily tackled by the rational mind. A lot of intelligent people having this disorder is proof that it can be difficult to just "think it away". The negativeprogramming behind sosial anxiety lies deep in the psyche. But it's not what's going on outside the person that's a problem, it's the filter called perception, the way the person thinks about what's going on outside him, that's causing the fear. Reality and real life is mostly what happens inside of all of us. Social anxiety is a type of filter giving the person overlearned/irrational responses, like it's a push of a button. The person is not the disorder. The person is not this filter. It needs to be reprogrammed. This can be done. Rapee's book gives you part of the recipe. Personally I would recommend "Psycho-Cybernetics" by Maxwell Maltz, "The Power of Your Subconscious Mind: One of the Most Powerful Self-Help Guides Ever Written" by Joseph Murphy, and "Change Your Life in Seven Days" by Paul McKenna (currently available at Amazon.co.uk). These books give a broader understanding of how the mind works and how it can be changed.

Best book to overcome social anxiety
I've never left a review for a book, but after reading this really helpful book I am in debt with Mr. Rapee. This is an easy to read book, short (116 p), that goes straight to the point. I've read 5 books on social anxiety and I can say that this is the most practical one, with tips that you can start applying immediately. There are cognitive suggestions to overcome your fears, issues about exposure (what he calls reality testing), and tips about improving your social skills. But remember that this book alone won't cure you: In my case, medication, group therapy, and aerobic exercise (yoga too) are other weapons I'm using to fight sad and anxiety. Good luck.

A Lifesaver!!
My therapist assigned this book when I sought treatment for SA/SP.It was exactly what I needed to get me off the couch and back out into society.Rapee's book offers a plan that's simple and easy to follow, regardless of your educational background.Other reviewers chide the writing as 'low brow' and 'junior high grade level', but they have to remember that SA/SP isn't limited to College Graduates.This book is MUST whether your in therapy or simply looking for a self-help option for SA/SP.

Enlightening, but unbearably lowbrow.
I am undergoing therapy for social anxiety. My doctor assigned this book.

While it does contain several useful insights and practical techniques, I found its writing style patronizing. Not that the author writes in a condescending way; rather, the vocabulary and examples appear to be aimed at someone with a junior high school education.

The fictional case studies are populated with simplistic patients, whose problems are resolved using very straightforward approaches. Too straightforward for my taste.

In discussing a traumatic social event, a fictional patient tells his doctor that he is afraid to go to bars with his coworkers because his hands will shake when he attempts to drink from his glass. The doctor asks him to recall previous similar situations, and whether his hands shook on those occasions. The patient concedes that sometimes they shook, sometimes they didn't.

Then the doctor points out that his fear of drinking in public places is based on a faulty premise (that his hands always shake in those situations). When the patient suddenly realizes that his hands don't ALWAYS shake, he's suddenly halfway cured.

So the examples were oversimplified. I can understand that. More bothersome was the occasional illogical leap employed to bolster fairly obvious observations.

At one point, the author tells us that if someone inexplicably breaks into laughter in our presence, we should not assume that they are laughing at us. Which is fine and good.

But he goes on to reassure us using statistics: Assume that there are a thousand of possible reasons that someone could start laughing. Therefore, the odds that we're the source of amusement is only one in a thousand.

Um, no. Just because there are n possible explanations, that doesn't mean that the odds of any particular one being true is 1/n. Sloppy explanations like this just erode the credibility.

Add to this the author's complete avoidance of clinical terminology (he spent a page talking about desensitization without ever once using the term), and what you have is a book intended to be read by troubled pre-teens.

Now having declared this book unfit for human consumption, it does deserve some praise. It contains some practical techniques to help you sort out your specific anxiety triggers and ameliorate them. And there are some genuine insights as well.

I simply could not abide the writing style and the occasional deficiency of logic. If there were a Psychology/Self-Help shelf in the Juveniles section of your library, that's where this book would belong.

Based on cutting-edge research
Well known for his research in the area of social anxiety, Dr. Rapee has written a small but powerful book on how to reduce the agony of living with social fears. Very useful. ... Read more

Product Description

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
As the makers of blockbuster movies like The Birds, Jaws and Arachnophobia well know, animal fears are the most commonly reported phobias. Some 6 percent of Americans suffer from diagnosable animal phobia at any given time, and 11 percent will experience an episode at some time in their lives. Nearly three quarters of animal phobia sufferers are women, and most symptoms of animal phobia come on in childhood. Since most people with animal phobias experience panic attacks when they encounter certain animals, these fears can cause victims to lose significant quality of life.

Fortunately, specific phobias are among the most responsive of anxiety disorders to behavior therapy, the research-proven treatment adapted for self-help readers in this book. Readers first learn about their phobia, where it comes from, what factors influence it, and how best to prepare for treatment. Then they learn to confront and overcome their animal and insect phobia. These techniques are effective and fast. The book includes information about avoiding relapse and helping someone else who suffers from an animal phobia. ... Read more

Product Description
Anxiety in children and adolescents is expected and normal at specific times in development.If anxieties become severe and begin to interfere with the daily activities of childhood, such as separating from parents, attending school and making friends, evidence shows that a treatment program based on the principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy can help.

Written by the developers of an empirically supported and effective CBT program for treating adolescents with Social Anxiety Disorder, this therapist guide includes all the information and materials necessary to implement successful treatment with groups.The treatment described is research-based with a proven success-rate when used in a group therapy setting.The renowned authors provide clinicians with step-by-step instructions for teaching their adolescent clients skills that have been scientifically tested and shown to be effective in treating SAD, as well as shyness, lack of assertiveness, or introversion.

Designed to be used with the corresponding workbook, this guide outlines a two-phase program focusing on skill development and exposure exercises.When used together, both books form a complete treatment package that can be successfully used by practicing mental health professionals. ... Read more

Product Description
If you are the parent of one of the millions of children with worry and anxiety: help is on the way. Anxiety is the number one mental health challenge facing our children today.Fortunately, there is good news for these kids and the parents who suffer along with them - anxiety disorders are also the most treatable mental health condition.With the powerful cognitive-behavioral treatments now available, there has never been more hope for anxious children's bright future.

Treatment is not about trying to cajole or talk kids out of their fears; it's about teaching them to see worry as a problem to be solved. Translating cutting-edge techniques into down-to-earth, empathic, user-friendly steps, Freeing Your Child from Anxiety equips parents, teachers and therapists with the information they need to recognize the red flags of anxiety in children and how they can systematically overcome the obstacles that anxiety imposes.

Empowering and insightful, Freeing Your Child from Anxiety, gives children - from preschool to high school - the action plan and the tools to take charge, unplug from anxiety, and plug into sound, realistic thinking. Learning the lessons from parents, children can reduce anxiety and even prevent anxiety disorders from taking hold.

Part One includes a primer on causes and mechanisms of transmission of anxiety messages in the brain - the how, when and where of seeking help for your child - achapter on the worry tricks the brain can play, and finally the five step 'Master Plan' for overcoming anxiety.

Part Two goes in depth, with separate chapters for each anxiety subtype: panic, separation anxiety, social anxiety, generalized worry, phobias, trauma, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Also included is a chapter on habit behaviors and conditions which are typically exacerbated by stress, tics and trichotillomania.

Part Three expands the focus to anxious children at school, and with friends and siblings.Because nighttime can be a very anxious time, a chapter on managing nighttime fears and sleep difficulties is included.

Anxious children are especially sensitive to real life stress such as coping with illness, death, crime, and terrorism. Strategies for how to constructively discuss these difficult topics are included in a separate chapter. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (37)

Good background info but not good as a "how-to" guide for parents
This is a great general book on all types of anxiety, if you want to understand someone's anxiety or your own. As a parent, it didn't really help me to help my 9 year old. In contrast, the workbook called "What to Do When you Worry Too Much" by Dawn Huebner is easily understood by kids and parents, and we were able to start working on anxiety issues right away. It uses the same techniques that are found in this book, but helps you to apply them. I also like Anxiety Free Kids by Zucker, which uses the same techniques but goes into a little more detail. But we started with Huebner's book--easy to understand and apply.

Couldn't recommend it more
As both a psychologist and mom, I cannot say enough about this book.It is written in a way that is very easy to understand, yet the concepts presented are solid as a rock.Dr. Chansky trusts that parents are smart enough to help their own children with their anxiety, and she gives them the tools to do it.You can ABSOLUTELY make a difference in your anxious child's life by reading this book and teaching your child how to manage their "worry brain."

Recomended my my counselor
This book is written for children with severe anxiety. Even so, I was able to learn practical steps to use with my child that is afraid of the dark.Just skim over the parts that don't apply to your situation and I'm sure you will find good advice for you andyour child.Be patient when reading this book, because it is written to help handle soooooooooooooo many different types of fears.Just remember you can skip over parts.

Great resource
A great resource for parents, friends, and educators working with children.A good description of anxiety, its many forms, and how to be proactive in helping our kids live happier lives with anxiety.

Self help book on anxiety in children
I purchased this book so my daughter could get some tips on dealing with my grandson who has been diagnosed with social anxiety disorder. She is still reading so I cannot give an accurate review but even if she gets one tip from the book it would have been worth the purchase ! ... Read more