Anxiety Disorders and Phobias: A Cognitive Perspective

Rating:
Summary: The definitive book on Anxiety
Review: As a lifelong sufferer from various anxiety disorders (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, OCD, Panic states)and a prolific reader of self help books, I can say that this book contains more insight into anxiety disorders than virtually any book I have ever read on the subject. Dr's Beck and Emery touch upon just about every area that an anxiety sufferer might want to know about. They write with eloquence and insight, compassion and understanding. You really feel that all other books are derivative of this one, because this work is the definitive work on anxiety. A word of caution: I truly feel that whereas the layman (that's me and you)can gain much from this book, it seems to be oriented to the professional.A type of manual or bible for the therapist. As such, it's not necessarily the book that you would curl up to at the fireplace.(For a book of that ilk -and this is a compliment- read Claire Weeks: "Hope and Help for your nerves", my other favorite book).Still, if you take it for what it's worth (and that's alot) it's simply replete with strategies and perspectives that simply cannot be found elsewhere.If you can extract these nuggets, you'll find your wall covered with excerpts from this book, that you could use as a daily guide to living through the sometimes tormenting world of anxiety. Buy it. Covet it. But take it in pieces. Like an singular encyclopedia of the mind, rather than a rah-rah pick me up book that feels good, but doesn't leave you off any better than you started. P.S. Beside Beck and Weekes, Reid Wilson is also a terrific self help writer.

Rating:
Summary: Beck's Anxiety Disorders and Phobias - Cognitive Perspective
Review: Every day, veterans of the Vietnam War commit suicide in deep depression. With the United States almost continually cutting its Veterans Administration budget, you would think that the V.A. would give up, but books like those of Beck help it treat and cure depression and anxiety. The Cognitive Therapy uses Socratic questioning, training people to ask why they feel sad or anxious, what their answers mean, to substitute more effective coping thoughts for ineffective thoughts and wrong ideas (illogical ideas, like "everybody is against me," "I'm born to fail," etc.). Patients record in diaries or logs what events trigger these wrong thoughts and learn to instantly respond with other thoughts and actions. This is one of the greatest books in psychology and psychiatry, and should be read by the young people of all ages (many of whom are depressed) as well as the older ones.

Rating:
Summary: Beck's Anxiety Disorders and Phobias - Cognitive Perspective
Review: Every day, veterans of the Vietnam War commit suicide in deep depression. With the United States almost continually cutting its Veterans Administration budget, you would think that the V.A. would give up, but books like those of Beck help it treat and cure depression and anxiety. The Cognitive Therapy uses Socratic questioning, training people to ask why they feel sad or anxious, what their answers mean, to substitute more effective coping thoughts for ineffective thoughts and wrong ideas (illogical ideas, like "everybody is against me," "I'm born to fail," etc.). Patients record in diaries or logs what events trigger these wrong thoughts and learn to instantly respond with other thoughts and actions. This is one of the greatest books in psychology and psychiatry, and should be read by the young people of all ages (many of whom are depressed) as well as the older ones.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting but intense
Review: This book was an interesting book and, undoubtedly, an important book from the professional stand-point. However, from the layman's stand-point, I thought it was a little too intense. There were sections that I had to go back and reread several times in order to understand what the authors were trying to say. I think this was because I am a layman with only General Psych 101 as a background. I can not, however, speak as to its rating for a professional.