Coping with Phobias and Panic (Overcoming Common Problems)

For many people, life is made intolerable by phobias. Common fears may range from crowded places to a fear of spiders or blood, but, the basic underlying mechanism is the same - acute anxiety. This book looks at how to tackle both specific phobias and the anxiety which causes such disproportionate fear, and covers obsessive-compulsive disorder, social phobia, generalized anxiety state, and panic disorder with agoraphobia. Other topics include: Causes of anxiety and phobias; Professional help and how to get it; Planning a self-help programme; Panic disorder and agoraphobia; Dealing with catastrophic thoughts; Lifestyle tools - exercise, relaxation, diet, alcohol, time management

Professor Kevin Gournay is Professor of Mental Health at the Institute of Psychiatry, London. He is the author of more than 130 articles and books. He is based in Cheshunt, Herts.