Healing the Anxiety Diseases

Millions of people suffer from the mysterious and frightening symptoms that comprise the anxiety diseases. In this groundbreaking book, Dr. Thomas Leaman, founding Chairman of the first Department of Family Medicine at Pennsylvania State University, reveals the truth about the six kinds of anxiety diseases. As Dr. Leaman demonstrates, anxiety disease is not "just your nerves", or "all in your head". This often misdiagnosed, mistreated--or, even worse, untreated--disease cannot simply be controlled by pulling yourself together or improving your attitude. Anxiety is a real disease with identifiable biological and genetic causes as well as contributing social and environmental factors. With the compassion of a country doctor who has had nearly 40 years of practical experience, and the savvy of a keen diagnostician, Dr. Leaman reassures us that bizarre symptoms are not atypical, that they can be accurately diagnosed, and, most important, that they are not your fault. Healing the Anxiety Diseases explores the full range of anxiety diseases and their treatments. Many anxiety diseases can actually be traced to chemical changes in the body, and do respond very well to treatment with the proper medication. Often years of expensive psychotherapy can be avoided by the substitution of a simple medication. Dr. Leaman helps the reader understand the dynamics of these illnesses. He eloquently captures the stark terror of a panic attack, as well as the paralyzing sensations of obsessive compulsive disease and phobias such as fear of heights. He examines the relentless anxiety and worry that are characteristic of adjustment disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, and probes the ongoing nightmare ofvictims suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder. This compelling book offers accessible guidance and support both to those suffering from anxiety disease and to their families. You will learn how to recognize if you have crossed the line from stress to anxiety disease, how to differentiate between anxiety symptoms and those that indicate a more serious illness, and how to forge a healthy working relationship with the right doctor. Dr. Leaman's inspiring and sensible advice creates a caring voice in the dark, promising comfort and enlightenment for the oft-misunderstood victim of anxiety disease.