Overcoming Anxiety For Dummies
Australian and New Zealand Edition published by
Wiley Publishing Australia Pty Ltd
42 McDougall Street
Milton, Qld 4064
www.dummies.com
Copyright 2014 Wiley Publishing Australia Pty Ltd
Original English language edition text and art Overcoming Anxiety For Dummies, 2nd Edition, Copyright 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
The moral rights of the authors have been asserted.
National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication data:
Author: | Mogan, Christopher. |
Title: | Overcoming Anxiety For Dummies / Christopher Mogan, Charles H. Elliott, Laura L. Smith. |
Edition: | Australian & New Zealand. |
ISBN: | 9780730308768 (pbk.) 9780730308775 (ebook) |
Series: | For Dummies. |
Notes: | Includes index. |
Subjects: | AnxietyPrevention. AnxietyTreatment. Panic attacksTreatment. Stress (Psychology)Prevention. Stress management. |
Other authors/contributors: | Elliott, Charles H., author. Smith, Laura L., author. |
Dewey Number: | 616.85223 |
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Contents at a Glance
Introduction
T his edition of Overcoming Anxiety For Dummies is directed at a new audience in Australia and New Zealand, following the wide acclaim for the earlier editions in the United States and the United Kingdom. These international editions have helped people, some for the first time, live without anxiety dominating their day-to-day existence. We want to bring forward further information and resources to those suffering from anxiety disorders locally, using the For Dummies format of providing practical ideas and skills in an accessible way.
Examples of anxiety and stress are all around us. Some airport security areas now have equipment that takes a virtually naked picture of you as you enter. CCTV cameras operate in shopping centres, on street corners and in ATMs to take a continuous record of possible violent events. Weve suffered through whats currently called the global financial crisis and while, at the time of writing, some signs of recovery are emerging, uncertainty remains about where the world economy is headed. People worry about getting jobs, keeping jobs and their fragile dreams of retirement. The globalisation of economies and travel have made the spread of pandemics faster and potentially more deadly than ever. Environmental worries have escalated; the viciousness of Mother Nature has frequently flashed across our computer and TV screens. The spread of nuclear weapons continues, and worries abound about war, crime and terror. Children are frightened by stories about abuse and violence on the internet and TV, while their worried parents increasingly restrict their lives.
So todays world gives people plenty to worry about, as it always has. But just as we dont want to become victims of terror, we cant let ourselves become victims of anxiety. Anxiety clouds your thinking and weakens your resolve to live life to the fullest. We realise that some anxiety is realistic and inescapable; yet, you can keep it from dominating your life. Even under duress, you can preserve a degree of serenity; you can hold onto your humanity, vigour and zest for life. You can love and laugh.
Because we believe in our collective resilience, we take a humorous and, at times, irreverent approach to conquering anxiety. Although topics like anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and borderline personality disorder are serious, painful subjects, we believe that a chuckle or a smile, like a little sugar, helps the medicine go down and the message come through. We hope you agree.
Our message is based on sound, scientifically proven methods. But we dont bore you with the scientific details. Instead, we present clear and concise strategies for making realistic appraisals about the fears, threats and doubts that underpin anxiety. We help you to keep worry in perspective, countering with step-by-step techniques and exposures that build your capacity to engage in life in an adaptive way.
This book is meant to be a guide to overcoming a mental state or disorder called anxiety. It offers support and information. Everyone alive suffers from anxiety from time to time. However, if your anxiety greatly interferes with your day-to-day life, restricts your activities and robs you of pleasure, we urge you to seek professional mental health care.
About This Book