Conquering Panic and Anxiety Disorder: Success Stories, Strategies and other Good News

Jenna Glatzer, editor
with Dr. Paul Foxman,
commentary
Hunter House, Alameda,CA
http://www.hunterhouse.com

By Pogo

Fear stalks like a predator in our busy lives. It may not be the pedophile or sex predator lurking in the alleys or in the byways, or the junkie looking for instant cash in the backstreet behind the metro exit; it might be much more intimate, hidden inside.

Panic and anxiety disorders affect nearly 25% of the American population in their rush to work, packed like smashed sardines on the public transportation and in the interviews or PowerPoint presentations in their PowerShoes. It's not just the headlines and the night-time news wrap-up that leaves us shaking in our shoes; but the fear of panicking in the wrong place at the wrong time in front of the wrong person: the Boss, the Interviewer, the Interrogator and the Inquisitor.

Hands sweat, heart pounds, knees shake, nausea overwhelms. Is it real? Is it really "in your head"? New medical research indicates that panic and anxiety disorders do have underlying physiological causes. Some folks are more susceptible than others. There's real hope. Anxiety Neurosis has been declassified to anxiety disorders. There's a pot of gold under that there rainbow because there's real hope. With appropriate medical care and psychological and sociological support, more than 80% do recover, overcome their handicaps and go on to productive, healthy lives. It's not just a spectator sport, so get involved. This book isn't the shrink's handbook on how to manipulate your fried brain; but rather it offers thirty-one stories of personal experience and insights of how real people discarded their fears. From here on, forget Freudian psychology, as many emotionally healthy folks suffer from panic and anxiety disorders as not. Often, the victims suffers double victimization: from the condition and from the doctor who doesn't comprehend.

Jenna Glatzer introduces the collection with her own story of survival and overcoming agoraphobia. She had a cat. A cat is a wonderful thing to have, so is a dog, a goldfish or a plastic Donald Duck if you gain psychological support from it. Jenna's life became restricted to the inner sanctum. She didn't venture outside. Then one day, an email came. She wrote back. They corresponded and ... well, you have to read the ending for yourself. But slowly, blow-by-blow she broke down the fears inside and step-by-step, she found her way back into society. The achievement didn't come overnight. It was a real battle with a paper dragon, but that dragon was real. She regained ground through tenacious persistence and this experience resulted in bringing out this book. No two people panic the same way; no two people recover in the identical manner. Each of us is as different as the thumbprint or big-toe print on blotting paper. Maybe those watching don't identify differences, but you know, and I know that we are different people. You are unique, not cut from a cookie-cutter to wear mass-made clothing made for life-size Barbie Dolls that strut the catwalks.

Each story presents a personal experience and a personal battle, revealing techniques and strategies that the narrators used to overcome the problems within their lives. It's personal, intimate and inspiring—giving insight to those who suffer and those who watch the suffering.

Dr. Paul Foxman suffered himself from panic and anxiety disorders-- a survivor of Hell's Kitchen. He's been there and out. He's not a label-maker for the FDA to put you into a box and stamp you with a misfit name. He comments on the different strategies that the speakers used and identifies coping strategies that work. Each chapter offers insight on a topic related to panic disorders, including emetophobia, depersonalization, low self-esteem, attention deficit disorder, abusive relationships and suicidal feelings. The book offers compassion in a bloodless society steeped in violence and thoughtfulness in a frenetic world that can never get enough headlines where people read the stock-market index for relaxation.

Take a break. Pour a cup of soothing tea. Open the book and dare to look inside the mirror. Learn to dis-conform in a world where pressure squeezes brains like wet sponges. Jenna shares with you her personal battle, but so do thirty others to give you an extra dosage of insight and courage. Step in and listen to them. They'll hold your hand. In addition there are listings for professional organizations, websites and even self-help programs for those so isolated that they are afraid to reach out. So easy to ridicule; so easy to bully someone having a difficult time and problems in life. Easy to belittle someone who suffers from panic and anxiety disorders, be it PTSD, APD, selective mutism or other. Each person reacts differently and each recovers differently. Consider those around you, because fear and anxiety are silent predators that follow successful people to work and back. There are choices. Jenna offers an open window into the lives of others who've successfully recovered or on their way out of the Dark Forest of Fear. There's a choice. Pick a path and follow it through. Take Jenna's hand and listen to the friendly voices who encourage you. Help others who struggle in their daily lives. Read to find out how great a difference you can make on someone's life.

Mary C. Legg aka Pogo can be emailed at pogomcl@catholic.org Mary is a net explorer and reviewer for Midwest Book Review, Compulsive Reader and eBooksnBytes.