Anxiety Information
The information on this page is provided by Freedom From Fear, www.freedomfromfear.org
Almost everyone has felt anxious at some point in his or her life. In moderate doses, anxiety can be part of a “fight or flight” reaction which helps us cope. For example, if a student is preparing for an exam, a moderate level of anxiety can motivate and energize that person to study for the exam. However, if too much anxiety is present, it can be paralyzing. If this high level of anxiety occurs on a regular basis, as it does in someone with an anxiety disorder, this normally helpful emotion puts excessive stress on the body and mind, keeping one from coping and disrupting daily life.
Do you find yourself worrying all the time, being afraid in social situations, anticipating your next panic attack, feeling sad and blue, have trouble sleeping, difficulty concentrating, or headaches for no apparent reason? If so, you may be suffering from an anxiety and/or depressive disorder. Every year, over 38 million Americans suffer from anxiety and depressive disorders. These illnesses do not discriminate, and affect people of all races, ages and economic backgrounds. Many highly successful professionals and even celebrities can be incapacitated by anxiety and depression. They have also experienced the tremendous benefits of receiving effective treatment.
Why do people continue to suffer alone with anxious and depressed feelings? Sometimes symptoms of anxiety and depression will be mistaken for another illness and go undiagnosed, sometimes people are ashamed or afraid, and sometimes people don't know enough about anxiety and depressive disorders to put a name to the feelings and symptoms they have.
Mary Guardino, Founder of National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day says, "As a person who suffered enormously from anxiety and depression, I want to share with people that life can be better. Treatment works. Isn't it time for you to enjoy life?"
Me, Myself and Stress Video
Anxiety Resources
- Online Anxiety Videos "Life After Anxiety" Video (from www.freedomfromfear.org):
Anxiety Fact Sheets
- General Information on Anxiety
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Test Anxiety
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Panic Disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Reducing Stress
- Relaxation Techniques
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- American Psychological Association Anxiety Fact Sheet
Suggested Reading for Anxiety
Calming Your Anxious Mind, Jeffrey Brantley, M.D., New Harbinger Publications, Inc. www.newharbinger.com or 1-800-748-6273
Mind Over Mood by Dennis Greenberger and Christine Padesky (Guilford, 1995)
The Relaxation & Stress Reduction Workbook, 4th Edition
Martha Davis, Ph.D., Elizabeth Robbins Eshelman, M.S.W., and Matthew McKay, Ph.D.
New Harbinger Publications, Inc. www.newharbinger.com or 1-800-748-6273
The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook, 2nd Edition
Edmund J. Bourne, Ph.D.
New Harbinger Publications, Inc. www.newharbinger.com 1-800-748-6273
The Worry Control Workbook
Mary Ellen Copeland, M.S., M.A.
New Harbinger Publications, Inc. www.newharbinger.com 1-800-748-6273
The OCD Workbook: Your Guide to Breaking Free from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Bruce M Hyman, Ph.D. and Cherry Pedrick, R.N.
New Harbinger Publications, Inc. www.newharbinger.com 1- 800-748-6273
The Depression Workbook; A guide for Living with Depression
by Mary Ellen Copeland, M.S., M.A.
New Harbinger Publications, Inc. www.newharbinger.com 1-800-748-6273
Thoughts and Feelings: Taking Control of Your Moods and Your Life, 2nd Edition
Matthew McKay, Ph.D., Martha Davis, Ph.D. and Patrick Fanning
New Harbinger Publications, Inc. www.newharbinger.com 1-800-748-6273
Overcoming Panic Disorder: A Woman’s Guide
Lorna Weinstock, M.S.W., and Eleanor Gilman,
Contemporary Books, A division of NTC/Contemporary Publishing Group, Inc.
The Headache and Neck Pain Workbook: An Integrated Mind and Body Program
Douglas E. Good, Ph.D.
New Harbinger Publications, Inc. www.newharbinger.com or 1-800-748-6273
Dying of Embarrassment: Help for Social Anxiety and Phobia, Markway, Carmin, Pollard, and Flynn, New Harbinger Publications, Inc. www.newharbinger.com or 1-800-748-6273
The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook by Edmund J. Bourne (New Harbinger, 1995)
The Relaxation & Stress Reduction Workbook by Martha Davis, Elizabeth Eshelman, & Matthew McKay (New Harbinger, 1995)
An End to Panic by Elke Zuercher-White (New Harbinger, 1998)
Talking Back to Automatic Thoughts
Feeling Good by David Burns (Avon, 1980)
The Feeling Good Handbook by David Burns (1989)
Ten Days to Self-Esteem by David Burns (Quill, 1993)
Suggested Reading for Test Anxiety
Taking the Anxiety Out of Taking Tests by Susan Johnson (New Harbinger, 1997)
No More Test Anxiety: Effective Steps for Taking Tests and Achieving Better Grades by Ed Newman ( Learning-Skills-Publications-LLC, 1996)
Reduce Your Test Anxiety!: 128 Strategies to Help You Make the Grade by Robert H. Phillips (Balance-Enterprises-Incorporated, 1996)
Test Anxiety Prevention by Howard Rosenthal (Accelerated-Development, 1994)
Audio CD's:
Relaxation CD's are available from New Harbinger Publishers. You can order them over the phone at 800-748-6273.
Especially relevant: "Acquiring Courage: An Audio Cassette Program for treatment of Phobias" by Zev Wanderer, 1991, $14.95
Disclaimer:The above resources and external links, as well as others found throughout our site, may provide useful information about topics related to counseling and mental health.. Their listing here, however, does not indicate endorsement by the Counseling Center or NDSU. Additionally, although information and self-help resources can be a helpful adjunct to work you are doing in counseling or in a support group, we do not necessarily recommend self-help as a sole course of treatment. If you are interested in speaking with a counselor, please refer to the other pages in this site for more information about our services.