WHEN PANIC ATTACKS
The New, Drug-Free Anxiety Therapy That Can Change Your Life
By David D. Burns, M.D.
“Another masterpiece from the author who helped millions help themselves with Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy. Dr. Burns’ elegant writing style, compassion and humor translate powerful psychotherapy methods into accessible, practical, and helpful tools for the vast number of individuals who struggle with anxiety.”
—Henny Westra, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Director of the York University Anxiety Research Clinic
Anxiety is the most common mental health problem of all. Whether it’s as mild as shyness and chronic worrying or as severe as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, most of us suffer from some type of anxiety. Your doctor will probably tell you that these conditions result from a chemical imbalance in the brain, and therefore drugs represent the best—and only—effective treatment.
Not so, says highly regarded psychiatrist and bestselling author David Burns, M.D. in his new book WHEN PANIC ATTACKS (Broadway Books; June 12, 2007; 464 pages; 978-0-7679-2083-4; $14.95). According to Dr. Burns, there’s no convincing evidence that anxiety results from a chemical imbalance in the brain. Furthermore, every type of anxiety—including chronic worrying, phobias, test anxiety, social anxiety, public speaking anxiety, Panic Disorder, hypochondriasis, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and Body Dysmorphic Disorder—can be treated effectively and quickly without medications.
Dr. Burns explains that anxiety, like depression, is never caused by reality, but rather from the negative way we think about things. When we’re feeling anxious or insecure, we’re involved in a gigantic mental con but we don’t realize it. Do any of these thoughts sound familiar?
- “I just know this plane is going to run into turbulence and crash.”
- “What if my mind goes blank when I give my presentation at work? Everyone will see how nervous I am and think that I’m a complete idiot.”
- “Why am I so shy and insecure? Other people don’t feel this way. I’m such a loser.”
- “I feel like I’m about to crack up and have a nervous breakdown.”
In WHEN PANIC ATTACKS, Dr. Burns shows readers how to defeat their fears without having to take pills or delve into the past. He describes 40 powerful anti-anxiety techniques and shows readers how to select the methods that will work best for them. He brings these techniques to life with stories of real people who quickly overcame every conceivable type of anxiety, emphasizing that the goal is not just feeling somewhat better, but complete and lasting recovery.
If you’re worried sick and sick of worrying, if you’ve spent sleepless nights obsessing about your work, family, relationships, or health, and you want to enjoy greater creativity, productivity, and self-confidence, WHEN PANIC ATTACKS is the book for you.
