Panic

In addition to this book, I recommend "Don't panic"-R. Reid Wilson/ and also "the anxiety and phobia workbook" those are more technical and extremely complete in every detail.

I especially liked the fact that the book was interactive AND specific. When you're depressed, it can be hard to respond to open-ended prompts like "describe some situations that make you anxious". The prompts in this book are usually "check all that apply", True-False, "rate from 1-5" etc, which is easier to do even if part of you is resistant. Also -- every chapter ended with a checklist of, well, homework. Many books on depression and anxiety left me *knowing* more (or thinking I did) but not changing anything -- just wishing things would change! This book helped me to assume responsibility for my own role in recovering, and gave me the tools (in simple steps!) to do it.

I have given this book to at least five other people suffering from panic attacks, perfectionism, social phobia, and generalized anxiety disorder, and they ALL, also, found it extremely helpful.

The book may not help everyone, but it acknowledges this -- occasionally it points readers in other possible directions (bibliographies at the end of each chapter encourage readers to learn more about anger, co-dependence, depression, etc, if indicated). Definitely a good place to start for anyone with anxiety difficulties of any kind. Also, don't rule it out if you have depression -- your depression might be (like mine) the inevitable result of too much anxiety.

The book contains a wide array of topics: causes of anxiety, coping with attacks, pharmaceutical treatments, holistic treatments, psychological approaches, nutrition, relaxation, where to find support, how to give support... the book would be worth triple its price just for the richness of information Dr. Bourne has compiled.

Add to that the excellent workbook exercises and techniques, and you have a truly indispensable resource.

I was very pleased with the presentation of the material. This book is not overflowing with warm and fuzzy, touchy-feely reassurances like many "self-help" books. Instead, it has proven, practical, self-paced techniques and exercises which you can use in your daily life, presented in a clear and easy-to-digest format. It's not a dry textbook, and it's not a bit of pop-psychology fluff -- this is a powerful tool for anyone whose quality of life has diminished because of anxiety and fear.

Good luck!

I have an anxiety disorder, as do millions of others. Unfortunately, there are few books which do a good job giving self help guidelines for overcoming the disorder. This book does an excellent job at both explaining anxiety as well as giving techniques in how to overcome the symptoms. I recommmend this book to anyone with anxiety problems.

For a while I couldn't figure out what was happening to me. After finally figuring out that I was having panic attacks I bought this book. Following the chapters in the book, it took about four weeks to have complete control over my anxiety. The methods for eliminating the episodes were fantastic and have really saved me in many areas of my life.

I would highly recommend this book. It addresses anxiety as well as OCD and various phobias. It's been several years since I got this book and went through it and I have not had a single panic attack since. While I still do experience everyday stress, and sometimes a lot of it - this book has made me better at recognizing and handling very stressful situations far better than I ever could prior to reading it. I wish I had read this book prior to ever having the panic attacks. It will help you change your perspective and turn stressful events into exciting and enjoyable ones.

I can't say enough good about this book - If you have panic attacks or experience anxiety or even just want to improve your ability to handle pressure, you should _definitely_ buy and read this book!!!

Now, c'mon, Prentice-Hall, help the audience out! This book was written in 1995. It uses Solaris 2.3 and sun4d architecture as its latest and greatest. Solaris (2.)8 has been out for a while and 9 is on the way; sparcv9/64-bit architecture is here; mdb, the modular debugger, is going to replace adb; the book *must* be updated. It would be a crime to let it die now -- there's still no competitive title on the market.

The book is non-technical enough that I couldn't make all the changes needed to get the older examples to work. If I ever do, though, maybe I'll be good enough to write a competitive title myself...

That said, even if the next edition were to out in three months, I'd still buy this one now to get started; it's that good.

Although some of the examples are a little bit out of date (Sparc V9 and Solaris 8 are the industry norm more or less) and a second edition is becoming more and more a necessity, I will still give this book 5+ stars.

The excellent presentation and exemplary technical make Crash! (relatively) very easy to read but several years of strong Solaris experience, a good understanding of computer architecure, OS fundamentals, data structures, and some knowledge of C are still required for full comprehension of the content.

Before diving into this book I would strongly encourage the potential reader to at least review "UNIX Internals: The New Frontiers" by Uresh Vahalia, "Design of the Unix Operating System" by Marice J. Bach, Maurice Bach or "Solaris Internals: Core Kernel Architecture" by Jim Mauro, Richard McDougall.

Unlike other books written by therapists, Recovery from Panic Disorder is user-friendly and an easy read. This book speaks to you as a friend, giving you the knowledge and comfort and tools that you need to take the steps to recovery. Through personal stories and real life examples, Eileen McPhillips Portner bridges the clinical distance that is felt between therapist and patient, and her book creates an emotional bond between reader and author by beginning with the author's own experience with panic disorder.

Recovery from Panic Disorder offers the realistic hope of recovery for the many people who suffer from overwhelming, frightening panic disorder. It also offers practical and useful advice for those who suffer from general controversy and stress resulting from everyday life.

This book is written with compassion and humor that comes across through her very personal anecdotes. I especially liked the chapter written by her husband, as it emphasizes how everyone in a family is deeply affected by the family member with Panic Disorder.

I highly recommend that therapists who treat this disease read this book. It will make them better and more empathetic counselers.

This book gives all the aides you need to get through your panic attacks, but does it in such a warm, comforting way, that you know you're not alone and there is help out there.

The well-credentialed Dr. Granoff begins with a thorough, yet understandable, analysis of what occurs chemically in a person's brain when they suffer a panic attack. (The list of symptoms will absolutely surprise you. You may find that panic disorder has been manifesting itself over many years, sometimes worsening in the absence of appropriate treatment.)

An interesting fact that I discovered in this book is that benzodiazepine is a naturally occurring chemical in the brain. Dr. Granoff compassionately, yet analytically, explains how this chemical functions in the brain, and how panic attacks can occur when there are deficient quantities of naturally-occurring benzodiazepine.

Dr. Granoff does not say this, but, it is possible that, after you read this book, you will conclude that the pharmaceutical industry deliberately pushes its new, PATENTED, EXPENSIVE drugs, while at the same time dogging the benzodiazepine family of drugs (Xanax, etc.) because the exclusive patents on the benzodiazepines have expired and they are, thus, a cheap (and perhaps more effective) means of treating your panic disorder.

Of course, only a competent psychiatrist can properly determine your clinical diagnosis, but, Dr. Granoff gives an accessible view of panic disorder and its solutions.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, however, Dr. Granoff gives you lots of hope by sharing his substantial clinical experience in treating this potentially debilitating disorder. If you can stop panic attacks, then that is a victory for you and your loved ones, and Granoff explains how victory is possible.

Many thanks to Dr. Granoff for writing a book that steared me in the right treatment direction. I consider it providence that this plain-looking book would have helped me so much. I was unable to carry on my profession before I sought the appropriate treatment after reading this book. I have a life now, and a hope. And that is more than I can say that I had two years ago.

First, my experience with my own panic attacks occurred in the early 80's. This was a time before the psychiatric community, the general medical community and the public had much knowledge or experience with the symptoms and treatment of panic attacks. The story of my two panic attacks was added to my book as an attempt to reassure people who have these symptoms of how physically real and frightening they are. They do not feel they could be caused by the brain. Even after intellectually knowing that, emotionally connecting this fact can be difficult.

Second, the statement that panic disorder is cured daily by behavioral psychologists shows a lack of understanding the nature of this illness. It is a physical disorder of the brain that has a genetic predisposition. No one is able to fix the genetics yet. The illness usually comes and goes on its own for most people giving the appearance of "cure" for those who don't follow it long term. About 30% of people have one attack or one series of attacks never to have them return regardless of treatment type or lack of it. The claim of "cure" by those who are not MD's, ie: psychologists, social workers, counselors, "therapists," motivators, or sufferers who have found the "right formula," is not based on scientific fact. Tragedy can occur when one goes through the "cure" and has partial remission or another series of attacks. The feelings that accompany that failure may prevent the search for a different, more effective treatment.