The Anxiety Cure Paperback – June 11, 2001

Stress causes anxiety so logically we want to get rid of the stress and escape to a more peaceful existence. I remember my first panic attacks in 1995 and they happened shortly before I got married. Obviously planning a wedding for over 200 guests was a bit more stress than I could handle at the time. Not to mention the cost and figuring out how to pay for it all.Anyways, I ended up in the emergency room thinking I was having a heart attack. Nope, they gave me some anti-anxiety medication and sent me home. Little did I know that years later I would deal with depression and more anxiety.I go through stages now where the anxiety is really intense and I've tried various things and take anti-anxiety medication as well. What works best for me now is humor - watching a funny comedy or Christian comedians or anything that makes me laugh and forget real life for a few hours. This book explains how laughter can really help!But this book is also a serious look at the anxiety problems people face every day. Some of the questions this book answers include:Do you have to make major life changes to get rid of the anxiety or is there an easier solution?What can be done about panic attacks?What medications are used for what type of issue?What are the most effective treatments for anxiety?This book alerted me to something I was actually considering seriously. Not drinking coffee made with fresh ground beans because the caffeine seems much more intense and causes me more anxiety than my instant coffees. So I've stopped using ground coffee and that has helped a lot.Also when I'm cleaning around the house I take this authors advice and practice taking more mini breaks throughout the day so my anxiety does not spike. I have also been redecorating and doing deep cleaning which keeps me occupied and not thinking so much about my anxiety.This author discusses Christian meditation which I don't think is controversial at all and will help a lot of people feel better as they deepen their connection with God. God speaks to me occasionally, not in a auditory way, but through messages. I hear a word and see a word and then a sentence or message appears when I write down those words. I normally hear the word when listening to music with lyrics and see the word at the same time when reading a book. One time God said: "But Hope I Am All Everything." I took this to mean that God was saying I'm giving you hope while you are depressed. Don't worry I've got it all covered. God can be your everything!I did not however think the author understands jaw clenching to the extent to which some of us are experiencing it daily. Just saying stop it and relax doesn't work for me. I need actual hypnosis CDs made for stopping jaw clenching to get some relief. And sometimes I suffer for days at a time because I don't have the time to listen to the CD! But when I do the hypnosis I get some relief. I don't think the author realizes the agony and pain that is involved in jaw clenching! The advice on how to stop worrying is however very good.Two things! The author says animals don't laugh but I could swear I saw a video of laughing foxes which had me laughing too. Also I do not suggest you follow the advice to raise your hands above your head...while driving! It says: "Later you'll be able to do it while driving." NOT! Don't believe it. I am shocked this got past an editor!But otherwise this book makes complete sense and I think it will help you. It has made me consider doing more Christian meditation because meditation does work to relieve anxiety and I've tried it many times. Sometimes I just sit and watch ocean waves or listen to train sounds. There is a lot of help out there if you look for it.So maybe you are at the end of your rope and think there is no help for you to reduce your anxiety. It may take rearranging your priorities to make you less anxious. As for me, I'm going to go watch some Christian comedians!~The Rebecca Review

Theory Critique: The Work of Dr. A. HartLeslie KrahnLiberty UniversityCounseling 507-B01March 6, 2011'SummaryDr. Archibald Hart has written many books connecting the domain of anxiety and stress and its negative impact on the physical body. He brings the unseen world of hormones and chemical reactions which take place in our body and mind alive in this book called, The Anxiety Cure. He then presents the unseen anxiety and the physical anxiety which is often revealed through panic attacks out for all to see. Dr. Hart reveals a workable plan of implementing not only preventive measures for personal stress reduction but also detailed instructions for applying stress reduction into the Christian counselor practice. Dr. Hawkins (n.d.) from Liberty University suggests that Dr. Hart is one of the main contributors in Christian counseling who examines the impact stress and anxiety have on the physical body.This book will be of great interest for anyone in the Christian therapy profession, including counselors, psychologist or psychiatrist. This book will also be of great service for pastors and lay counselors with in our churches who are tending to the flocks. This book on anxiety cures is a great insight for family and friends into the world of those who struggle with anxiety issues. Most importantly this book will be a shelter in the storm for those who ride the storms that blow with winds of panic, waves of depression, lightning bolts of anxiety, and the deafening roar of thunder of panic attacks.This book can really be great reading for almost everyone who has stress or anxiety in their lives. This book not only is a huge asset for those who are already in the belly of the beast and struggling to be free from panic attack or disorders but actually has donated many of its pages to stress and anxiety prevention. Chapter ten lists in the section stress busting your life is a stress prevention list that everyone living in today's world can implement all or most of these points. 1.) Set and maintain boundaries in your life. 2.) Quick conflict resolution. 3.) Take care of those disagreeable tasks first. 4.) Build up a resistance against stress in your life. 4.) Set and stick to de-stressing recovery periods. 5.) Arrest arousal of your adrenal when not needed. 6.) Develop and maintain healthy, open relationships. 7.) Learn the joy of saying, NO. 8.) Know that stressful time is not the correct time to make major decisions. 9.) Identify and use your spiritual resources to de-stress your life.Dr. Hart takes each sometimes controversial topic associated with Christian counseling, stress and the human body and breaks it down into easily digested bites of information. He explains the scientific research and recently developments made with the hormones and messengers which travel within our body. He identifies the happy messengers as they work and the ability to increase their productivity both naturally and pharmaceutically in chapter 15. He also helps readers to see the bad or sad messengers and how they work and shows step by step instructions based on scientific research and Dr. Harts many years of experience.Two whole chapters (5 & 6) are devoted to explaining the need for anxiety medication at certain times. He is also quick to point out the times when medication is useless, such as with phobias or separation anxiety (p.72). Dr. Hart writes on the proper usage, starting point, discontinuance of medication and the need for cognitive therapy along with medication. He also list several of the popular anxiety medications, the way the work, the reason they work, the possible side effects and suggested dosages.There are many topics covered in this book and Dr. Hart covers each one in a logical sequence always giving suggestions of ways all readers can help elevate stress and anxiety. Some of the topics are the dangers of worrying, the need for rest and relaxation, the importance of changing your thinking habits, meditation, honoring the Sabbath, sleeping habits, anxiety in children and many more. Dr. Hart also has kindly offered many other resources that can work along with this book to combat stress and winning the war with anxiety.Strengths and WeaknessesDr. Hart is a list man, and his list are well organized and very easily understood as they lead your step by step in the direction he wants to take you in. He not only claims to believe in what he is writing but confesses to living it and this truth is revealed in his writing style the freedom he displays through his low stress lifestyle. Dr. Hart does not make this goal of a low stress life style a long shot at the moon, yet an easy to grasp adaption of some very clear biblical principle, such as the story found in Luke ten of Mary and Martha (p. 257).Through no fault of the author, this book deals with a rapidly changing field of anxiety and stress and the results those two states have on human bodies. The is also the almost daily changing pharmaceutical industry, which develops more and more medications to combat the number one emotional problem Americans face of anxiety and the number one mental-health issue for women of panic anxiety ( preface). This book was written in 1999 and thus it needs to be updated as I am sure there have been changes in the field of anxiety and stress.Personal Insight and Application'ReferencesHawkins, R. (n.d.) Presentation: Hart. Lynchburg, VA: Liberty University.

As a successful professional woman who has done well in most aspects of life, I really worried that I was "losing it" when, out of nowhere, I began to have panic attacks. The attacks caused me to feel weak and flawed and afraid. This book reassured me that I'm not going crazy and showed me how my Type A attitude and my stressful lifestyle perfectly set the stage for panic attacks by saturating my body with cortisol and, therefore, diminishing my body's ability to produce its own calming chemicals. The book also reassured me that it is ok, if not advisable, to take medication, at least in the early stage of treatment. Before reading this, I thought it was best to "white knuckle" it through the anxiety, but Dr. Hart carefully explains how medication can provide a necessary break from the anxiety of anticipating the next panic attack so that you can begin to learn cognitive-behavioral tools for changing the underlying stress-inducers and lifestyle factors that are feeding the anxiety disorder. This book is full of useful information. I truly recommend it. Quick note: there is Christianity-based content. While I am a Christian, I think this book is still useful for non-Christians. The information is very helpful.

This was recommended by a friend, and I found it to be very helpful in understanding both the causes and possible cures for anxiety. I was able to pick up some great direction in dealing with anxiety in myself and others.

Wonderful book. Just what I needed to help deal with my anxiety and panic attacks.

Great book

The constant references to Christian ideas and biblical quotes have put me off this book

I am often leery of what I judge to be "self help" books, but bought this book on a recommendation of a lecturer on depression and anxiety. When I received it, I started flipping through it and was surprised and relieved to see that the writing was thoughtful, easy to understand, but very specific about the nature of anxiety, how it affects us physiologically, and when and if medication is helpful. The author (Dr. Archibald Hart is a licensed psychologist, certified biofeedback practitioner, and board certified diplomate fellow in psychopharmacology) discusses both physical habits that can help break the cycle of anxiety, as well as how to change your thinking patterns in order to lower the stress you take on.I have found it to be extremely helpful and realistic. I believe anyone who struggles with anxiety would benefit from reading this book.

No, religion will not help you to cure your anxiety problem.I hated that book and don't even finish reading it.It's all about religion and I know that anxiety and religion have nothing in common!!!Don't buy that book and go with another one who will be better to understand your anxiety and work on it.