Living Well 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."

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 find Clark'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.

In her introduction, Clark states: Anxiety conditions are the No. 1 mental health problem among American women and are second only to alcohol and drug abuse among men.... Frequency of anxiety is also increasing in children." Wow! That's scary, considering that 10 percent of our population suffers from anxiety--and only a small proportion receive treatment. Living Well With Anxiety is in three parts: 1. Anxiety and Medical Treatment: Included is cause and effect; self-diagnosis; types; and your brain and medication. 2. Holistic Approaches: Includes nutrition, herbs, environmental changes and exercise. 3. Creating Your Anxiety Plan: Includes finding the right practitioner. With many drugs having disturbing side affects, traditional medicine's approach may not be enough. Only the symptoms are treated. You may never learn the source--and fear of the unknown being one of the worst kinds of anxiety. If it has to do with feelings of anxiety, Clark has it in her book. Food that affects your body's chemistry is explained. Antidepressants and their side affects are detailed, including the abuse of anti-anxiety drugs. If you have anxiety or panic attacks or live with someone who does, this book clearly explains so many concerns and what to do about them. Armchair Interviews says: Subtitled, What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You Need to Know--after reading Living Well with Anxiety--you will know!

Dr. (EDD) Clark gives a nice overview for those who want to know a little bit more about living with chronic anxiety. She brings a helpful holistic point of view and advice to those who might be suffering and need information. Some of this is very basic and some more sophisticated with new or different material, such as on unusual herbs or color therapy. This is definitely a useful book and I'd suggest it for those who are unsure what to do about chronic anxiety. Everyone dealing with anxiety will get some ideas here. G. Miki Hayden, author of *Writing the Mystery*