BY BEV AISBETT, AUSTRALIAN AUTHOR

Written by a patient for patients from a patient’s point of view, Bev Aisbett’s little book provides the tools in dealing with panic with the aid of her inimitable cartoons. Her follow-up books – Living It Up and Letting It Go – are presented in the same cartoon style and act as a guide to the life skills required to transform anxiety into a tool for growth and change.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bev Aisbett is a counsellor and recovering depressive.
She has written several books on how to cope with anxiety and depression. The content of all her books is very valuable for depression sufferers, and they make very easy reading.
Bev believes that to beat depression, sufferers have to change their thoughts. Change your thoughts and you’ll change your life. Aisbett says thoughts are extremely powerful.

However, she agrees with other experts that there are three main causes of depression: genetic, physical or personality. Some of us are born with a tendency to depression inherited form a parent. Others have a chemical imbalance in the brain. Another cause is personality. Particularly sensitive and emotional people are more prone to have feelings that upset them. Perfectionists who set themselves high standards can become upset when they don’t achieve them. People who are highly dependent on others can become depressed if they feel let down.

Aisbett believes the genetic argument is over-estimated. “If we look at the list of factors that have triggered a persons current emotional state, and they start owning those, the genes aspect is pretty minimal,” she says. If the cause was totally genetic, Aisbett points out, the sufferer should not improve but people with depression do improve. Which brings Aisbett back to the power of thought and self-opinion. “If your self-esteem is good, then you’re going to perceive the world in a more supported way. You’re not going to be interpreting the blows of life as blows, but as challenges.”

HOW TO BUY

Available from most major bookshops in Australia

ISBN: 0207180407

Publisher HarperCollins

REVIEW

“A book I found to be absolutely fantastic is this one. It’s a slightly comical and very down to earth book written by an Australian sufferer. “

By Judith Bemis and AMR Barrada

Nothing to fear but fear itself? For anyone who has ever suffered from the palm sweating, heart pounding, trembling, panting, exhausting terror of anxiety or panic attacks, that is more than enough. This book, authored by two recovering agoraphobics, offers strategies for managing anxieties and phobias, emphasizing the need to first accept our anxiety and panic, encouraging us to take risks, and giving specific dialogues to counter fearful self-talk. Although they do not address nutritional approaches or relaxation techniques, the cognitive approach they emphasize is a uniquely valuable strategy for understanding and managing fear

ABOUT THE AUTHOR, JUDITH BEMIS

Judith Bemis, a recovered agoraphobic, started experiencing panic attacks in 1965. Thinking that it was a serious medical problem, she continually searched for answers concerning the cause, but to no avail. After a period of being semi-housebound, she managed to white-knuckle it until a major setback in 1981 prompted a renewed search for help. A year of cognitive therapy proved to be a turning point in her life.
Wanting to share her freedom with others, she founded Open Door Outreach, Inc. (a network of support groups for people with agoraphobia and other related anxiety disorders) and has served as director and facilitator for the organization since 1986. In January of 2007, Open Door merged with NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness). Ms. Bemis currently serves on the NAMI Minnesota Board of Directors.

Ms. Bemis holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from the University of Minnesota, and did graduate work at Michigan State University. Before retiring, she taught public school music for thirty-five years and worked as a consultant for two years at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital’s Behavioral Medicine Clinic in Minneapolis. She is committed to helping improve the lives of people who suffer with anxiety and panic attacks.

 

HOW TO BUY?

You can purchase Embracing The Fear ‘ from http://www.fishpond.com.au (It is also available from all major bookshops in Australia.)

Published by: Hazelden Publishing

ISBN:089486971

BOOK REVIEWS

I have read and or purchased over 10 Anxiety books and this one was definiately a book worth reading. I want general advice or a cognitive plan that works. I’ve suffered with my illness for more than 6 months, been on many different meds. (Still taking them) and tried many things. To me this book is as good as any therapy I’ve had so far. This book will not cure you, but it will teach you how to “Cope” with attacks instead of fighting them.

Liz