Freedom from Panic: Evidence-Based Techniques to End Avoidance and Stop Panic Before It Stops You

Break the cycle of fear and panic, and take back your life!

If you have experienced panic attacks, you may live in constant fear of another episode. You may avoid triggering situations and environments--such as crowded restaurants, busy freeways, or airplanes. And you may become hypervigilant about bodily sensations that signal another attack. Over time, this pattern of fear and avoidance can interfere with your work and relationships, and get in the way of living a full and meaningful life. So, how do you break this destructive cycle and start living again?

Based in proven-effective cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)--the gold standard for treating anxiety disorders--this friendly, go-to guide offers powerful skills to help you identify and dismantle the unhealthy thinking patterns that fuel your anxiety and panic, so you can prevent future episodes and improve your overall well-being. You'll also find strategies grounded in mindfulness and attentional training--a method specifically developed to decrease excessive body monitoring--to help you stay grounded and present in the moment.

Get off the panic-go-round with essential skills to:

• Move past frightening thoughts
• Reduce obsessive body monitoring
• Confront anxiety symptoms with confidence
• Manage anxiety, phobias, and panic triggers

If you're tired of living in constant fear of having another panic attack, pick up this book and discover a more peaceful, mindful, and liberating way of life.

Bonnie Zucker, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and expert in anxiety disorder treatment and prevention. She received her doctorate at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), where she specialized in anxiety disorder research. She has trained thousands of mental health professionals on treating anxiety, has a thriving private practice, and is on the clinical faculty of UCLA.

Foreword writer Michael W. Otto, PhD, is professor in the department of psychological and brain sciences at Boston University. He helps to develop and validate new psychosocial treatments, with a focus on treatment-refractory populations. He is recipient of several awards, including the Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award from the American Psychological Association (APA).