I believe that facing fear is one of life’s purposes. For, in order to evolve, change, and grow, one must face fear. You can learn a lot by this process. Lessons that can guide you throughout your life. I’m not talking about facing fear from an ego standpoint—that’s something else. And I’m not talking about being an adrenaline junkie/thrill seeker, either. That’s also something else. Though, if you enjoy that, by all means! Facing fear is more about being on the journey to reach your potential and seek the truth.
I remember some years ago watching a reality show depicting climbers on their journey to reach the peak of Mount Everest. Many of them were climbing it for ego, it seemed. Still, a few others seemed to be in it for the journey and to reach their potential. Many were impeded by their physical condition. One person in particular, a firefighter, came very close, but had to stop. The biology of his body would not allow him to continue and struck him with altitude sickness. Though disappointed, his epiphany at that moment was he had reached his own personal Mount Everest. That was his peak. We all have our Everest. There are real struggles and limitations, and then there are those that are self-imposed that we allow to hinder us and our potential.
Anxiety isn’t the enemy you believe it to be. In fact, your anxiety is communicating with you. It’s most likely trying to tell you two things. First, that you’ve got something to learn. And second, that something needs to change.
In this book are the most successful techniques I’ve used over the past twenty-plus years to help hundreds of patients achieve complete reduction in anxious suffering. The techniques I’m referring to fall under the treatment classification of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (also known as CBT), which is different from most, if not all, other forms of anxiety treatment in that it’s been scientifically proven to be effective.
Thankfully, though science-based, these techniques are easy to put into place. Anyone can face fear and extinguish their anxiety symptoms. The hard part is stepping into what scares you. This is no cause for alarm, though. This book provides gradual, easy-to-understand steps to do so, no matter how afraid you are.
In the pages to follow, we’ll specifically be discussing anxiety in the form of phobias, panic attacks and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). I’ve left out post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) because, though common, this falls outside the realm of a typical person’s anxiety struggles. I’ve also refrained from discussing what my field calls generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), given that this diagnosis is a bit of a misnomer. Its symptoms are more stress-based and focused on real-life conflicts (e.g., financial woes, marital conflict, etc.), albeit ones that might be blown out of proportion, resulting in worry. That said, its symptom of worry is rooted in fear. Therefore, those with GAD can still benefit from the lessons in this book, especially those on imaginal exposure, false belief, and “What If” thoughts. So for you, GAD sufferers, feel free to read on. You’ll receive plenty for your efforts, too.
In addition to “fear,” you probably noticed that the subtitle of this book mentions the brain. You’ll soon learn how your brain plays a massive foundational role in the manifestation and continuation of your anxiety symptoms. More importantly, you’ll learn how to outsmart it by using the counterintuitive approach. I should say—so I will—that this book is in no way meant to be a treatise or comprehensive report on the brain’s functions, interactions, and development related to anxiety. That would defeat the purpose of this book and is also better left to neurologists or neuropsychologists. This is a self-help book. My purpose is to teach you how to treat your anxiety on your own. What I’ve included is out of necessity, to inform you of both how you are encouraging your brain to generate anxiety, and more importantly, how you can outfox it!
Chapters 1 through 6 are geared toward providing you with anxiety getaway information, lessons, and techniques for you to start applying. The last three chapters (7, 8, and 9) are where you can pinpoint your own anxiety symptoms diagnostically and put all that you’ve learned together to easily create your personal self-help treatment plan. You might find that, because the last three chapters are focused on specific diagnoses, only one might apply to you. So when you arrive there, feel free to just read what resonates. Though if you’re unsure of your diagnosis, it’s probably best to read each chapter to support your quest. After all, you’ve got to know what you’re dealing with to treat it! You might even find that they all apply, for it’s not uncommon to have an anxiety trifecta! Conversely, you may find tips and info that do directly apply to you, even though the diagnostic label may not.
Once you put the techniques in this book into practice and reap the rewards, you’ll have entered a new stage in handling your anxiety, and perhaps even in handling life’s challenges. Simply put, you’ll be in charge of eliminating the anxious suffering you experienced prior to your anxiety getaway. This book makes you captain of your own cruise ship.
But you must continue to practice your newfound skills! Anxiety resolution is not a one-and-done achievement. Life has its difficulties, its ups and downs. Fear can and will arise. But now you’ll know exactly what to do when it does. And all you’ll have to do is…do what you’ve learned!
In the upcoming pages, you’ll learn more about what your anxiety is and what it isn’t. You’ll also learn how to outsmart your brain’s false fear messages. Most importantly, you’ll learn how to claim your calm and make your anxiety getaway!
Whether you believe it or not, you’ve already taken the first step. Now it’s time to take a few more.
Anxiety vs. Anxiety Bon Voyage
“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.”
—Louisa May Alcott
Have you ever seen footage of a rattlesnake when it strikes? The anticipation is tremendous. And when it does strike, it is vicious in its speed, ferocity, and bite. This is what anxiety feels like for many. Of course, anxiety varies in intensity. But no matter the severity, people’s struggle with anxiety always amounts to some degree of suffering. They suffer with their symptoms, the limitations anxiety places on their lives, the impact it has on their relationships, and because they are simply afraid.
When people call my center for help, they are often at the tipping point of “enough pain” to motivate them to seek the effective, healthy way out—no matter the challenge. This motivation can be the foundation of their breakthrough, and it is this motivation that I often call upon in my sessions with anxiety sufferers. Whether dealing with a phobia, panic attacks, or OCD, motivation is going to be required to overcome your anxiety symptoms. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. No reason to stress, though. This requirement is commonplace throughout life.
Motivation is always a factor in goal achievement. Achieving any goal of great meaning, plus one that offers a great sense of freedom, can be a challenge. And any worthwhile challenge requires time, effort, courage… and an appropriate dose of motivation to achieve it. That, plus maybe a latte or two.
I always notice people’s demeanor when they enter my office for the first time. They are sometimes cautious, lest their high hopes get dashed. But that caution is coupled with excitement. Excitement over the bright and shiny object of what is, to them, a new anxiety treatment. Anything new (and don’t forget scientifically proven!) in our eyes can bring us excitement. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for anxiety is typically something people haven’t