Anxiety: Panicking about Panic
4/5
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About this ebook
Anxiety Panicking about Panic is a revolutionary, self-help book for people who suffer from the various symptoms of anxiety. The book acts as an informative guide and draws from the experiences of author and counsellor, Joshua Fletcher, who lived with anxiety disorder for years before successfully overcoming the condition. The book is tailored for people who are: experiencing panic attacks, feeling abnormally anxious, ruminating about health, anticipating further panic attacks and questioning why anxiety is present in the first place. Anxiety Panicking about Panic provides quick, easy to access advice and practical strategies, which aim to educate the reader to simplify their world of anxiety in order to successfully tackle it.
This book is particularly tailored for people who can associate with the conditions of:
- Anxiety
- Anxiety Disorder
- Generalized Anxiety
- Panic Disorder
- Agoraphobia
- Health Anxiety
- Panicking for no reason
- Panic Attacks (and anxiety about them happening again)
Anxiety: Panicking about Panic addresses the confusion, the various feelings, the many symptoms and the negative externalities that an anxiety and panic disorder can cause. It then immediately addresses these issues so the reader can quickly get their life back on track.
This book begins with a comprehensive list of symptoms that relate to anxiety, although it primarily addresses anxiety's main symptoms which consist of unexplainable panic, panic attacks, derealisation, hypochondria, continuous fear and hypersensitivity. Joshua believes that these are the root cause of all of the other physical problems that can arise with anxiety, such as heart palpitations, chest pains, headaches, insomnia, dizziness etc.
This book is then split into four main parts: the first part covers the basics of anxiety, panic and what's happening within our mind and bodies when we find ourselves panicking. It is common, when reading this part of the book, that it imparts a strong form of relief for the reader, as it provides an essential tool needed for the recovery process - an understanding of what's actually going on.
Part two is a detailed list of the symptoms that can occur with anxiety and panic disorder. It is set out using a 'What?' and 'Why?' format to simplify and explain why such symptoms occur.
Part three offers further information and practical advice to keep anxiety and panic at bay and part four is a short 'emergency relief' section written for those who are experiencing a panic attack.
This book has already sold thousands of copies worldwide - receiving really positive feedback and changing lives for the better.
Tags: anxiety relief, panic disorder help, anxiety book, panic and anxiety self help, anxiety education, anxiety books
Joshua Fletcher
Joshua Fletcher, perhaps better known as Anxiety Josh, is a leading UK-based psychotherapist, specializing in anxiety, and the host of the podcasts Disordered and The Panic Pod. After being diagnosed with and overcoming severe anxiety himself, Joshua now uses his profession and platform to educate others about mental health. He currently lives in Manchester, UK.
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Reviews for Anxiety
57 ratings5 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This book is definitely worth a read if you experience anxiety.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I have a generalized anxiety disorder. This book has helped me so much with detaching myself from my anxiety and seeing it for what it is. The Anxiety Umbrella is genius, as this has mentally helped me cope with my biggest fears regarding my anxiety symptoms. I would usually experience very high anxiety before bed but reading this book instead of focusing on my anxiety symptoms has gotten me through so many nights.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone that doesn't understand their anxiety symptoms. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A very nice and helpful read. Specially for someone with anxiety for past 4-5 years
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The good thing about the book from my opinion is the first part that showing anxiety symptoms and how we can put them all under one umbrella and so it will be easy to deal with one thing rather than many pyshical and emotional problems.
however I expected more going in depth and more creative solutions, many be the simplest cure works best but I am kind of know all the writer suggested and I tried it however set backs is severe and sometimes I am so exhausted to help me self if someone can relate what I am saying!4 people found this helpful
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Well, worse than what it looked like. Just another overall "Anxiety" book.
Book preview
Anxiety - Joshua Fletcher
Anxiety: Panicking about Panic
A powerful, self-help guide for those suffering from an Anxiety or Panic Disorder
Copyright 2014 Joshua Fletcher
Published by Joshua Fletcher at Smashwords
Smashwords Edition Licence Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favourite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Dedication
Introduction
Symptoms…
Part One
Do I have an anxiety problem?
The anxiety umbrella
I’m handing out labels…
Why am I panicking…?
Why does an attack start?
Panic attacks
Scenarios
Part Two
Part Three
It’s just anxiety
Lose the ‘what-if’
It really is just anxiety
There’s nothing wrong with you
The power of thought
Anxiety should not be feared
Change the bad habits…
Do what you’d usually do…
Change…
Give yourself something…
…future events
Stop researching…
Advice...
Lose the emotional crutches
Keep fit, eat healthy
Cut down on…
Patience and discipline
Do’s and do not’s
My story
Part Four
Emergency pages
The author
Acknowledgements
I would like to acknowledge the input of many anxiety sufferers from around the world who have shared their stories and experiences through various blogs and forums. These experiences, whether positive or negative, have contributed towards my understanding of the condition and have helped me to write this book.
I would also like to thank Hannah for helping me to edit this book and supporting me through some difficult and challenging times.
Dedication
I dedicate this book to Harry. Thank you for your inspiration during the happiest and darkest of times.
Introduction
HELLO AND THANK YOU for purchasing this book. My name is Josh and for years I suffered with anxiety and unexplainable panic. In
April 2012, after confidently stating that I was free from the clutches of excessive anxiety, I decided to write this self-help book for similar people who are struggling with anxiety, worry, panic attacks and the constant overwhelming feeling of fear and dread. This book is strongly tailored towards those who are suffering from a panic disorder or a debilitating anxiety condition.
If you struggle with anxiety and panic, or are perhaps suffering at this very moment, then fear not as this book has been purposely constructed to quickly put your mind at ease. I know that reading or focusing on anything can be difficult when feeling panicky or ‘on edge’ but stick with me on this one and I assure you that this book has the tools to help you alleviate your current fears. No matter how long you’ve been suffering for – weeks, months or even years – an anxiety and panic problem can be fixed.
Anxiety, panic and irrational thoughts are debilitating and scary, leading us into depressive states because we believe that we do not function properly as valued human beings with them seemingly ever present. However, just by opening this book, you have given clear evidence that you’re striving to do something about this ongoing problem, which in itself is an incredibly brave thing to do. It’s also proof that you’re not going ‘insane’ – a common symptom/assumption that many people seem to conclude when battling anxiety – because you’ve acknowledged something isn’t right and by picking up this book you’ve made a rational, conscious choice to do something about it.
I’ve written this book as an ‘easy to access’, self-help guide for those whose lives have been severely affected by panic and the symptoms of anxiety. It has been written from a perspective that takes into regard my own battle with anxiety, as well as using knowledge that has been built up through observations and working with other sufferers.
This book begins with a comprehensive list of symptoms that relate to anxiety, although it primarily addresses anxiety’s main symptoms which consist of unexplainable panic, panic attacks, derealisation, hypochondria, continuous fear and hypersensitivity. I believe that these are the root cause of all of the other physical problems that can arise with anxiety, such as heart palpitations, chest pains, headaches, insomnia, dizziness etc.
This book is then split into four main parts: the first part covers the basics of anxiety, panic and what’s happening within our minds and bodies when we find ourselves panicking. It’s probable you’ll find that reading this part of the book imparts a strong form of relief, as it provides an essential tool needed for the recovery process – an understanding of what’s actually going on.
Part two is a detailed list of the symptoms that can occur with anxiety. It is set out using a ‘What?’ and ‘Why?’ format to simplify and explain why such symptoms occur.
Part three offers further information and practical advice to keep anxiety and panic at bay and part four is a short ‘emergency relief’ section written for those who are experiencing a panic attack.
So, let us begin. Give this book a chance and I’m sure it will help to put your mind at ease.
Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy
Leo Buscaglia
The symptoms of an anxiety and panic problem
Psychological symptoms:
• Excessive Worry
• Panic Attacks
• Derealisation (feeling lucid and detached from surroundings)
• Depersonalisation (feeling detached from persona/personality)
• Feeling apprehensive
• Hypochondria (The fear that you’re seriously ill)
• The fear of a panic attack
• Body checking (Looking for illness) Repetitive & looping thoughts Feeling terrified
• Obsessive thoughts Inability to relax
• Difficulty completing tasks
• Feeling hopeless and depressed Overactive imagination
• Agoraphobia (fear of going outside)
• Fear of other people’s opinions
• Fear of embarrassment
• Fear that you’re developing a psychological illness
• Self-Analysing (checking the body for signs that something is wrong)
• Negative thoughts of isolation
• Deep level of focus about personal ‘identity’
• Loss of appetite
• Big increase in appetite
• Loss of libido
• Loss of interest in work
• Loss of interest doing things that were once enjoyable
• Depressive thoughts
• Dwelling on thoughts
• Constantly trying to work out how to feel ‘normal’ again
• Constantly feeling tired
• Dampened sense of humor Inability to focus
Physical symptoms:
• Heart palpitations (short bursts of a rapid heartbeat)
• Headaches – constant or recurring
• Light headedness
• Exhaustion
• Constant lethargy
• Irregular bowel movements
• Chest pains (ache)
• Chest pains (sharp stabbing)
• Bloating
• Tickling/fluttering sensation in chest and esophagus
• Nausea
• Constant pacing
• Dizziness
• Perspiration (sweating frequently)
• Tinnitus (ringing ears)
• Stomach cramps
• Eye floaters (particle-like objects that ‘float’ in front of vision)
• Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Rib pains
• Rib discomfort (feeling pressure under ribs)
• Stomach grumbling
• Dry mouth
• Feeling tired after eating
• Abdominal pains
• Shooting pains in back and abdomen
• Neck ache and pains
• Ache behind eyes
• Erectile dysfunction
• Jaw ache and tenderness
Part One
Do I have an anxiety problem?
YOU’RE READING THIS BOOK, albeit through probable desperation, because you’ve acknowledged the fact that something isn’t quite right with your mind and body. Perhaps you don’t feel like the way that you ‘used to’, and that your days are often dictated by odd feelings of apprehension and worry. It's also likely that you've often found yourself being struck with bouts of unexplainable panic, which can often trigger a chain of events where you may ultimately begin to panic about the state of panicking itself.
On top of anxious thoughts and panic attacks, maybe you're experiencing the feelings of constant worry, states of derealization (detachment from self and surroundings), an inability to relax, strange bodily changes and depression. Believe it or not, these are all common symptoms of an unbelievably non-complex anxiety condition. Anxiety actually has an overabundance of symptoms, some of which you may have stumbled across at the start of this book. These symptoms, which range from the obvious to the obscure, are all linked to anxiety in some way.
I suggest that you take a look at the comprehensive list and see which of the symptoms can be applied to you and your current state. A lot of these symptoms crop up almost exclusively alongside an ongoing anxiety condition and have direct links to suffering from an anxiety or panic disorder.
Anxiety comes with a lot of baggage and to the uneducated victim it can be a confusing and frightening condition. After my first run-in with anxiety, it didn’t take long for me to start foraging desperately for an answer to explain how and why I felt the way I did – a decision which saw my anxiety worsen before it got better. I will explain this in greater depth later on.
‘Anxiety’ is a word/topic that floats around society and dips in and out of conversation as frequently as talking about the weather. Take these for example: I’m anxious about my upcoming interview
, "My