Conquering Panic and Anxiety Disorders is a book by people who have lived through the agony of an anxiety disorder, for people who are still suffering.

This book shares the success stories of people who have triumphed over anxiety disorders, and it provides inspiration and methods for recovery for those in need.  Readers will find the encouragement and support to create their own success stories, or to help family and friends mend their troubles with anxiety.  An important part of the recovery process is identification with other people who’ve had similar experiences and gotten through them. 

How would I know?

Right after college, I was hit with a whammy of a panic disorder.  Within months, I was completely housebound, and remained that way for three years.

I used to think of agoraphobics as crazy, anti-social people who only existed in the pages of newspapers and writers’ wild imaginations.  But, there I was, a former stage actress, former class vice president and former social butterfly, smack dab in the middle of a debilitating mental illness.

I pored through all the literature I could find.  There were shelves and shelves of books, tapes, even videos to teach me techniques to overcome my panic… but there were no success stories, aside from little blurbs meant to prove that a certain author’s techniques worked.  More than anything, I needed to hear from a real person—not just a doctor with theories and books to sell me—that it was possible to overcome this disorder and lead a normal life.  I was desperate to find out how other people triumphed, and what they went on to accomplish.

One day, on a message board for writers, someone asked this question: “What are your short and long-term goals?”  I answered swiftly, “1. To sell a screenplay, and 2. To become whatever it is that’s the exact opposite of ‘agoraphobic.’”  The next morning, I got an e-mail from a writer: “I had a terrible panic disorder.  If you’d ever like to talk about it, I’d love to hear from you.”

There it was.  The success story.  I had been craving this message so much that I could barely breathe as I wrote back.  We corresponded every day, and she told me about all the wonderful things she had done since beating the panic disorder.  She’d gotten married, flown all over the country, gone to parties… things I could only dream of doing.  I lived vicariously through her, and she gave me the encouragement I needed to get through those difficult years.

Now, I’ve become my own success story.  I never thought I’d be able to move away from the parents who had to take care of all my basic needs for years while I was unable to take care of myself.  Today, I’m a homeowner with a wonderful job, terrific relationship, and no more agoraphobia.

I promised myself that if I ever got better, I would share that message of hope with others.  That time has come, and this book is my fulfillment of that promise.  Instead of just sharing my own story, though, I'm featuring lots of success stories—dozens of inspirational messages and anecdotes from people who have triumphed over any kind of anxiety disorder (panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, simple phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, or agoraphobia).  The 31 contributors include people from the U.S., U.K. Australia, and Canada—both men and women of all ages.  They come from varying backgrounds and occupations; some are singers, teachers, writers, and coaches.  Some are single moms, others are in the military.  They represent the diverse faces of anxiety disorders. 

After each story, Dr. Paul Foxman (author of Dancing With Fear and the director of the Center For Anxiety Disorders) provides short commentaries, giving further advice for people whose symptoms are similar to each contributor.

Forget the little blurbs touting one recovery program over another.  This book includes true stories, from the most horrible, lousiest, ugliest stages of loneliness and anxiety to the happiest, most exciting moments of accomplishment and fear-conquering.  All of us want to show you that full recovery is possible, and we want you to be the next success story.

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problem in America, affecting one of every nine people in their lifetime.  However, they’re still one of the most “secret” villains.  Why is it so difficult to talk about anxiety disorders?  Why is it so embarrassing to admit that we suffer as we do?  The result?  We think we’re alone.  We’re convinced that no one else in the world has unreasonable fears, or inexplicable terror.  We’re humiliated when we have to cancel social engagements, or hide out in the bathroom when attention has shifted to us, and we don’t explain our problem—even to close friends—for fear that they’ll think we’ve “gone crazy.”  What we don’t realize is that the moment we open up and tell others what’s happening, we’ll be met with a chorus of “me too”s.

We need to turn to each other and share these stories.  This book can change your life.  It will provide hope and inspiration to those who can’t see the “light at the end of the tunnel.”  It will provide a guide for those who have suffered silently.  It will show you you're not alone, you’re not overreacting, and you’re not doomed.  Anxiety disorders are highly curable, and this book will provide testament to that fact.