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Hope and Help for Your Nerves
by
The bestselling step-by-step guide that will show you how to break the cycle of fear and cure your feelings of panic and anxiety.
My heart beats too fast. My hands tremble and sweat. I feel like there's a weight on my chest. My stomach churns. I have terrible headaches. I can't sleep. Sometimes I can't even leave my house...
These common symptoms of anxiety are "minor" only ...more
My heart beats too fast. My hands tremble and sweat. I feel like there's a weight on my chest. My stomach churns. I have terrible headaches. I can't sleep. Sometimes I can't even leave my house...
These common symptoms of anxiety are "minor" only ...more
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Paperback, 224 pages
Published
September 4th 1990
by Berkley Books
(first published 1969)
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Start your review of Hope and Help for Your Nerves
I read from this book daily while recovering from a major panic attack--my first and I pray my last. I was able to sleep only by taking a tranquilizer. I never knew such fear existed nor imagined I would experience it, nor the suicidal ideation that came with it in waves over the following weeks. The first chapter gave me immediate relief, enabling better sleep. I kicked the tranquilizer, a dangerously addictive drug, a couple of months later. Four months later I was sleeping well, taking only S
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Most amazing anxiety book. The only anxiety book you will ever need. Basic, no bells/whistles. AMAZING. My therapist urged me to read this book. I finally bought it ($7.99, most inexpensive anxiety book there is!) and two pages in I already felt relief and hope. Claire Weekes helped me get my life back during a scary time. She knows what she is talking about. Cannot recommend highly enough.
I was having a ton of anxiety for a week or so, so I bought this book. I was feeling really stressed and depressed and had a pit in my stomach all day long for days. I didn't feel like eating and felt dread all day. I lost confidence in my abilities.
I also experienced a few panic attacks. I'd feel really lightheaded like I was going to pass out, it was hard to swallow, my body would feel all tingly, and I felt like I couldn't do anything but lie there. The book says those symptoms are all the r ...more
I also experienced a few panic attacks. I'd feel really lightheaded like I was going to pass out, it was hard to swallow, my body would feel all tingly, and I felt like I couldn't do anything but lie there. The book says those symptoms are all the r ...more
Feb 20, 2008
Lisa
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
People with panic attacks, anxiety, and those who want to stop taking meds.
Recommended to Lisa by:
A therapist I made cry.
Shelves:
spiritual-and-self-help
In no way is this meant to be facetious: It's the only social anxiety disorder book you'll ever need. Her simple coping techniques work wonders.
...more
Jun 05, 2021
Plateresca
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
psychology,
non-fiction
'You need not be bluffed by a thought!'
That's Dr Weekes's slightly angry voice in my head, and I hang on to it every time I feel like I'm slipping into that dreadful state.
I found this book in a list of best anti-anxiety books, 'goodreaded' it, and as a lot of people said it did help, I got it; but only when I started listening to it did I realize it was actually vintage. So there must be books with more recent developments of this theory out there. But, you see, 'Hope and help for your nerv ...more
We are all mad here.
Oh, Claire Weekes,
You had amazing glasses, pearls and knew how to crack anxiety,
And oh, how it was helpful and witty,
Praise to thee, praise to thee
*SadSunday aka me bows to the audience*
Wow. I will preach Claire Weekes till the Apocalypse and recommend this book to absolutely everybody (even soap-opera-fantasy-BDSM-magic-detective-poetry book fans). Amazing book. It doesn't patronise or try to brainwash you into "positivity" or "you can do this" attitude like many nowadays ...more
Oh, Claire Weekes,
You had amazing glasses, pearls and knew how to crack anxiety,
And oh, how it was helpful and witty,
Praise to thee, praise to thee
*SadSunday aka me bows to the audience*
Wow. I will preach Claire Weekes till the Apocalypse and recommend this book to absolutely everybody (even soap-opera-fantasy-BDSM-magic-detective-poetry book fans). Amazing book. It doesn't patronise or try to brainwash you into "positivity" or "you can do this" attitude like many nowadays ...more
I help people with their thinking, emotions, relationships and beliefs every day. This little gem, written back in 1969 by an Australian physician/psychiatrist should be in the hands of every person who has ever suffered with a full-on panic/anxiety disorder. We call that general diagnosis "GAD" or Generalized Anxiety Disorder today. There are a lot of great resources out there to help. This book is quite personal, clear and wonderful. It's not perfect; she suggests leaving the family for up to
...more
I recommend this book to anyone who suffers from Anxiety/Panic disorder. I've been suffering for about 2 years (on and off) and this is a book I can always turn to for comfort. For reassurance. To know that all this anxiety and panic, with their symptons, will all pass and I get certainly go back to being the person I used to be. I felt as if the book was written towards me, knew everything I was going through and even the thoughts in my head. An excellent book!
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Even though this book was written in the 60's, its knowledge still applies. It helped me save my life.
...more
Jan 13, 2010
Natalie
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
people who are anxious or having panic attacks
Do not underestimate this book because it was originally published 1969. This is an incredibly powerful book in helping deal with anxiety and panic attacks. It's especially potent if you are on the frayed edge feeling like you're having a nervous breakdown. This book is so quick to read and you can usually get it very cheaply (sometimes less than a dollar) or at your library, but it contains the most helpful and clearest advice I ever received for panic attacks. "Let the first wave pass..."
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If you have ever suffered from anxiety or panic attacks, and/or continue to suffer, this book is a MUST read. I struggled terribly with anxiety in my mid-twenties to early thirties and this book really helped me understand the biological effects that were driving and altering my behaviour. It changed my outlook and gave me the confidence to get well.
Can I buy a pocket Claire app? She does this amazing thing. In a compassionate and truly unpatronizing fashion, sort of like a loving Auntie with a Ph.D., she breaks down the physiological structure of panic attacks, anxiety, and all of those bad things that keep those of us who suffer in a cycle we are afraid we can't get out of, and shows us that we can. Claire explains how, and is gently encouraging. I am not done with the book but it is bringing me great comfort and relief from this beast. T
...more
Shockingly ignorant
Let me save you some time. This book gives one piece of good advice, and that is to learn to accept fear and float through it. You can read about the first 40% of the book and get all the info you need to do this. After that, the author goes off the deep end. She recommends medicated sleep for several weeks (with a doctors supervision, of course, otherwise it would just be stupid). She tells mothers to go away for at least two months because it is normal to feel like to want t ...more
Let me save you some time. This book gives one piece of good advice, and that is to learn to accept fear and float through it. You can read about the first 40% of the book and get all the info you need to do this. After that, the author goes off the deep end. She recommends medicated sleep for several weeks (with a doctors supervision, of course, otherwise it would just be stupid). She tells mothers to go away for at least two months because it is normal to feel like to want t ...more
This was delightful and helpful. A very old school vibe, but that made it charming and comfortable. The advice is clear and practical, and always encouraging.
Listened to a 1-hour audio version on Scribd, narrated by the author on "records" at some point. That just made it even more charming.
I got many valuable insights from reading this one, and would easier re-read it to reaffirm the insights yet again. ...more
Listened to a 1-hour audio version on Scribd, narrated by the author on "records" at some point. That just made it even more charming.
I got many valuable insights from reading this one, and would easier re-read it to reaffirm the insights yet again. ...more
The main 4 ideas presented in this book are indeed helpful....but thats all it is. Its just repeated in like 20 different ways over 200 pages.. o.O
Also...i feel like this was written for a 1950s housewife, lol. On the better things, i say!
Also...i feel like this was written for a 1950s housewife, lol. On the better things, i say!
I don't know if this book is still in print, but it's worth scoping around used book stores to find a copy so you can underline passages. And there is much to underline here.
First, Claire Weekes uses the old-fashioned term "nervous illness," which, for some reason, sounds less threatening to me than the word anxiety. She takes the shame out of anxiety by referring to the illness as "severe sensitization" of the nervous system. Nerves become sensitized after a surgery, a major illness, prolonged ...more
First, Claire Weekes uses the old-fashioned term "nervous illness," which, for some reason, sounds less threatening to me than the word anxiety. She takes the shame out of anxiety by referring to the illness as "severe sensitization" of the nervous system. Nerves become sensitized after a surgery, a major illness, prolonged ...more
A great book about overcoming anxiety and panic. I'd recommend it for anyone - not just the "nervously ill," as the author calls them.
She gives important information about the role of the sympathetic nervous system in producing symptoms of anxiety. She recommends "floating past" these physiological responses by realizing that we are in no immediate real danger. This process is quite different from fighting against anxiety; it involves understanding and acceptance, not a struggle. She describes h ...more
She gives important information about the role of the sympathetic nervous system in producing symptoms of anxiety. She recommends "floating past" these physiological responses by realizing that we are in no immediate real danger. This process is quite different from fighting against anxiety; it involves understanding and acceptance, not a struggle. She describes h ...more
I cannot say enough amazing things about this book. Dr. Weekes is brilliant! I picked up this book after hearing her name mentioned a lot. I was suffering horrific anxiety due to a medical diagnosis I received. I have only just finished reading it so I cannot yet claim to be cured. But, applying her strategies has helped me immensely with my anxiety. Yes it is an older book and therefore has language which is "old-fashioned" and dated. But to me it just felt like I had an older trusted, wise adv
...more
Oct 24, 2013
Dena Sanders
added it
I CANNOT reccomend this book enough! This is the penultimate classic for dealing with panic attacks and/or anxiety. I listened to the audio books in order to help me sleep and the advice Ms. Weekes gives is timeless and practical. She was "damed" (she-knighted) by the Queen of England for her contributions and they are still relevant today. Along with "How Top Stop Worrying and Start Living" by Carnegie, it is one of the best books for coping with and overcoming anxiety and panic. It is simply u
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Don't be put off by the dated language. Full of useful methods for managing panic attacks, social anxiety and many other depression-related afflictions.
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If you want explanation of how anxiety works and why we have certain thoughts, this book will change your life ! I love it!
I haven't previously read any books that discuss a similar topic, so I guess I can only evaluate this having limited knowledge of this field of psychology.
Whatever you can understand better, it helps you (gradually at least) to stop considering it to be an uknown threat. I wanted to understand some aspects of myself better, so I decided to start with this book, since, as far as I know, Claire Weekes was one of the first people (or the first one) to talk about "nervous illness".
Anyways, I start ...more
Whatever you can understand better, it helps you (gradually at least) to stop considering it to be an uknown threat. I wanted to understand some aspects of myself better, so I decided to start with this book, since, as far as I know, Claire Weekes was one of the first people (or the first one) to talk about "nervous illness".
Anyways, I start ...more
I thought I will learn more from that book, but there were things thing when I was like: 'I've never thought about it in that way' and it was so exciting but also there were things when I was like: 'Yeah, easy to say'. Besides, this is a really short book and the author tend to repeat some thoughts and I get this emphasis but I did not like it, because I just wanted more. It wasn't a bad book, don't get me wrong but I just expected more. 3,5/5
...more
Claire Weekes' book and others like it spelled the decline of psychoanalysis in therapy for people suffering from mental illness. Like a good scientist, she had a hypothesis and tested it through years of treating patients, shucking the Freudian or a primal scream approach and forcing theories on her patients.
Weekes says chronic anxiety is a result of sensitization, a sort of self-perpetuating cycle of agony that bewilders otherwise intelligent people. Scientists may not understand the neurology ...more
Weekes says chronic anxiety is a result of sensitization, a sort of self-perpetuating cycle of agony that bewilders otherwise intelligent people. Scientists may not understand the neurology ...more
Yeah, so this is the only book you need to read if you have panic attacks, anxiety, OCD etc..... It's actually the very first book I have ordered from Amazon, back in 2006.
It's been written in the 1960s, so the language might be a bit old-ish.... but yeah... You don't need anything else..... It has helped me...
Long time ago I even created a website in my mother tongue (Serbian language)..... I wrote what I found out in this book, I even then later on translated literally chapters from the book ...more
It's been written in the 1960s, so the language might be a bit old-ish.... but yeah... You don't need anything else..... It has helped me...
Long time ago I even created a website in my mother tongue (Serbian language)..... I wrote what I found out in this book, I even then later on translated literally chapters from the book ...more
Very dated but totally worth reading for the still very good bits of advice that can be applied today. I have tinnitus and this book was recommended by someone (help! I can't remember). While this deals with nerves it can be applied to any form of unwanted body feelings that come on due to stress or other reasons. I found her advice regarding acceptance vs pushing through very helpful and very much inline with neuroplasticity and mindfulness.
...more
I really didn't like this book. My psychologist recommended this to me years ago, and I hated it. For someone new to anxiety, it just made me feel like everything was wrong with me because that's how the book started. It told you why you were acting this way. In a way it made me depressed about being anxious and depressed.
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Simply the best. I've owned it for ten years and recently needed to get it off my bookshelf and re-read it. If you have ever suffered from depression, anxiety, or panic disorders, please buy this book. If Dr. Weekes was still alive, I'd be tempted to travel to Australia and hug her. It's that helpful, and she's that kind.
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This book is very similar to Dr. Weekes' 'Pass Through Panic' audio series, but has more examples. It gives you a firm handle on your anxiety and how to understand it and overcome it. It's really just a small paperback. No bigger than a harlequin. But it's cover to cover full of understanding and illumination.
A timeless classic that helped me immensely. ...more
A timeless classic that helped me immensely. ...more
the best book on managing anxiety i've ever read and i've read them all.
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Dr Hazel Claire Weekes MBE was an Australian general practitioner and health writer. She also had an early career as a research scientist working in the field of comparative reproduction. She is considered by some as the pioneer of modern anxiety treatment via Cognitive Therapy. She continues to be noted for her books on dealing with anxiety disorders. Many of today's anxiety self-help books conti
...more
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