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If you want the panic program that shaped how the field treats panic, this is it. David Barlow and Michelle Craske are two of the researchers who defined the modern approach, and this workbook puts their protocol in your hands.
What this book is about
This is a structured, evidence-based workbook for panic disorder and agoraphobia, part of the respected Treatments That Work series. It walks you through the cognitive behavioral program that decades of research support, one skill building on the last.
Who this book may help
It’s a strong fit if you:
- Have panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia
- Want the specific protocol clinicians are trained to deliver
- Are motivated to face the physical sensations of panic on purpose
- Plan to use it with a therapist, or want the most rigorous option available
Key tools in the book
You’ll track your panic, learn the cognitive skills to answer catastrophic thoughts, and practice interoceptive exposure, which means deliberately bringing on the feared sensations so they lose their power. The program also guides you back into situations you’ve been avoiding.
Clinical strengths
This is about as close to the clinical gold standard as a workbook gets. The interoceptive exposure work is a defining feature of effective panic treatment, and few self-help books teach it this well. It’s precise, and it earns your trust.
Limitations
It reads more like a treatment program than a casual book, and it’s designed to work best with a therapist guiding it. Bringing on panic sensations on purpose is hard to do alone. If your panic is severe, please use this within professional care rather than solo.
My recommendation
I recommend this most often as a companion to panic disorder treatment, since the interoceptive exposures land better with someone coaching you through them. Work it in order, don’t rush the exposure steps, and treat it as the serious program it is.
View Mastery of Your Anxiety and Panic on Amazon
This review is for general education and isn’t a substitute for professional care. If you’re struggling, a licensed mental health professional can help you find the right next step.
Dr. Joseph S. Weiss is a psychologist in Seattle, WA. He works with people dealing with anxiety, OCD, panic, insomnia, and phobias, drawing on CBT, EMDR, and other approaches with strong research behind them. He’s convinced that almost no one is as stuck as they feel, and that the right tools, used patiently, almost always make a difference.
