In this newly revised second edition, the author, a professional in her field, teaches readers how to treat and overcome anxiety, phobias, aggressiveness, and stress. Through 15 lessons, readers learn step by step how to control their symptoms, fears, and behaviors. <!--?xml:namespace prefix = "o" ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /-->
Reneau Peurifoy has published books both as an independent publisher and by traditional publishers. His first book, “Anxiety, Phobias & Panic,” published by Hachette, has sold over 300,000 copies and is in multiple languages. He has been invited to speak at eleven national conferences put on by the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA), the nation's primary organization for anxiety-related problems. Peurifoy’s most recent work, “Why You Feel the Way You Do,” explores the seven core emotions identified by affective neuroscience that we share with our pets and the three key things that positive psychology has identified as the most important emotional factors that impact personal happiness. It provides readers with practical approaches for quieting destructive emotional triggers and negative core response patterns and also includes ways to reduce the negative effects of social media and devices. Peurifoy has a wide range of experience in front of groups and has appeared extensively on dozens of television and radio programs. Peurifoy's warmth and comfortable manner generate a strong rapport with audiences. Because he believes so strongly in the material he has developed over his years as a therapist, teacher, and workshop leader, his excitement over sharing it is genuinely contagious. After twenty years of working with anxiety disorders as a marriage and family therapist, he retired to teach at a local College in Sacramento, California. He has now left teaching and spends his time writing, speaking, and conducting occasional classes. He also has a YouTube channel that features videos on practical life skills.
This is great and whatnot, but if you've been in therapy for a couple years like I did it's somewhat of a 101 class. You're not going to learn anything you didn't already know if you catch my drift.
Also, it's one of these books that tries to do too much and to be a one stop shop to cure anxiety. It features fun (and challenging!) exercises to apply its teaching to real life, but sometimes the advice is a little too sweeping for its own good. For example: "Improve your self-esteem" followed by one paragraph explaining out to do it is somewhat of an extremely optimistic outlook on how to solve something. There is eventually a chapter on self-esteem, but it's still circumventing the problem.
The way you should use this book is as a diagnostic tool for your dysfunctions. You should use it to start finding more information on stuff you want to sort out with yourself. It's a start, not a be all, end all tool.
I read this several years ago when I was having panic attacks. This book is very practical, and has useful exercises to practice and use when your anxiety is slipping into panic mode. Peurifoy also addresses anxiety about panic and suggests ways to view your anxiety and panic attacks that are realistic and that also disarm their power. Because of the tools in this book, I was able to talk myself through and out of many panic attacks, and eventually ceased having them altogether. I've had maybe two or three panic attacks in the many years since then, but because of the knowledge and tools I gained through this book, they were less alarming than they could have been.
A little outdated in some parts but overall a really good and helpful book! The workbook format is great. It allows you to read the lesson and then put the skills into practice at your own pace before moving on to the next one. This book is very grounded and practical.
Life changing program if you suffer from any form of anxiety, phobias or panic-major or minor! This book was recommended to me by a doctor. I think everyone should be required to read this book just to learn proper stress management techniques. I never had another panic attach after just reading the first chapter. Amazing what one book can do.
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
This book was a very helpful compendium for dealing with anxiety. I've read several and I would recommend it at the top of the list. For the existential component that accompanies many people anxiety I would recommend Alan Watts, Wisdom of Insecurity.
this book really help me to change my point of view of something that i fear about, and help me to feel calm when facing a situation that can trigger me to feel anxiety. still struggling, but i believe this is a process, i will keep practicing. thank you for writing this book!
Es un buen libro de autoayuda porque resume la evidencia sobre el papel de los pensamientos negativos sobre los problemas emocionales, especialmente los trastornos de ansiedad y la depresión. Es práctico porque propone ejercicios que suponen un entrenamiento a lo largo del tiempo para modificar los malos hábitos cognitivos: ponerse siempre en lo peor, dedicar mucha atención a las amenazas, pensamientos que comienzan por "Y si...", y otras distorsiones cognitivas que generan un exceso de malestar emocional. Es un libro para leerlo y trabajarlo durante meses. Nada que ver con la bazofia de libros de autoayuda en los que un iluminado pretende hacerse famoso y gracioso, ignorando que la psicología es una ciencia.
Wrote at 16 page book review on this for school, so it’s hard to give a short review. Really great read just a lot of repetitive information. Almost every lesson required you to go back to previous lessons when talking about certain concepts which I found rather annoying. Interested to see how these new tips can help me manage my anxiety.