Overcoming Anxiety: From Short-Time Fixes to Long-Term Recovery

When I started to experience severe panic & anxiety attacks 3 years ago I went and bought myself a dozen of books on this topic (anxiety, panic attacks, PTSD) and through the years they all helped me in one way or another, but two stand out and I honestly think I could not do without them. They are Overcoming Anxiety, by Reneau and The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook, by Edmund J. Bourne. As other reviewer mentioned, this book focuses inclusively on cognitive-behavioral treatment of anxiety disorders, which is a highly effective method for medium- to long- term recovery but it does not address the short- term control of anxiety symptoms in as much depth as Bourne's does. Still, I highly recommend it.

This is the perfect companion volume to Peurifoy's previous book: "Anxiety, Phobias and Panic". This book deals with achieving long term recovery, which does not mean the complete absence of anxiety symptoms but the successful management of them. The concern is not just temporary relief or superficial "band-aid" solutions. It describes anxiety as being a "messenger", telling you that you have a problem or life issue that needs to be resolved. The focus is entirely on cognitive-behavioral therapy, NOT medication. It details three levels of recovery: Level 1: Basic Symptom Control, Level 2: Advanced Symptom Control, Level 3: Long Term Recovery. By examining childhood issues and the "roots" of the highly anxious personality, one develops their answer for "why" they suffer from the disorder. The book then guides you through a program for developing skills to manage distressing bodily symptoms, changing distorted thinking patterns which contribute to anxious feelings, progressive desensitzation for phobic sitautions, and changing and enhancing self-image. Attention is given to the detours and setbacks that are often a part of the road to recovery. This approach to the treatment of anxiety is not new, but the book is very well mapped out and provides a comprehensive program that can be utilized by individuals, therapists or groups. It is one of the best books on the cognitive-behavioral treatment of anxiety disorders that I have encountered.