When Panic Attacks

The New, Drug-Free Anxiety Therapy That Can Change Your Life

By: David D. Burns MD

Narrated by: Kaleo Griffith

Length: 13 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's Summary

Do you toss and turn at night with a knot in your stomach, worrying about your job, your family, work, your health, or relationships? Do you suffer from crippling shyness, obsessive doubts, or feelings of insecurity? Are you plagued by fears, phobias, or panic attacks? 

What you may not realize is that these fears are almost never based on reality. Anxiety is one of the world's oldest cons. When you're anxious, you're actually fooling yourself. You are telling yourself things that simply aren't true. See if you can recognize yourself in any of these distortions: 

• All-or-Nothing Thinking: "My mind will go blank when I give my presentation at work, and everyone will think I'm an idiot." 
• Fortune Telling: "I just know I'll freeze up and blow it when I take my test." 
• Mind Reading: "Everyone at this party can see how nervous I am." 
• Magnification: "Flying is so dangerous. I think this plane is going to crash!" 
• Should Statements: "I shouldn't be so anxious and insecure. Other people don't feel this way." 
• Emotional Reasoning: "I feel like I'm on the verge of cracking up!"
• Self-Blame: "What's wrong with me? I'm such a loser!"
• Mental Filter: "Why can't I get anything done? My life seems like one long procrastination."

Now imagine what it would be like to live a life that's free of worries and self-doubt; to go to sleep at night feeling peaceful and relaxed; to overcome your shyness and have fun with other people; to give dynamic presentations without worrying yourself sick ahead of time; to enjoy greater creativity, productivity and self-confidence.

Does that sound impossible? The truth is you can defeat your fears.

In When Panic Attacks, Dr. Burns takes you by the hand and shows you how to overcome every conceivable kind of anxiety. In fact you will learn how to use more than 40 simple, effective techniques, and the moment you put the lie to the distorted thoughts that plague you, your fears will immediately disappear. Dr. Burns also shares the latest research on the drugs commonly prescribed for anxiety and depression and explains why they may sometimes do more harm than good.

This is not pop psychology but proven, fast-acting techniques that have been shown to be more effective than medications. When Panic Attacks is an indispensable handbook for anyone who's worried sick and sick of worrying.

Includes a PDF of Supplemental Materials

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2017 David D. Burns (P)2017 Random House Audio

Critic Reviews

"Few truly great books on psychotherapy have been published, and this is one of them. When Panic Attacks tells you how to deal with all kinds of anxiety and with most other emotional problems. It is clearly and charmingly written." (Albert Ellis, PhD, founder of the Albert Ellis Institute and best-selling author of A Guide to Rational Living)

"Another masterpiece from the author who helped millions help themselves with Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy. Dr. Burns's elegant writing style, compassion, and humor translate powerful psychotherapy methods into accessible, practical, and helpful tools for the vast number of individuals who struggle with anxiety." (Henny Westra, PhD, associate professor and director of the York University Anxiety Research Clinic)

I can't imagine why the world hasn't found this Dr.

However I'm 54 and accidentally stumbled upon him looking for something that would truly help me learn how to sleep without medication or pills....Dr. Burns has turned CBT into a workable and friendly easy "how too book" that goes beyond almost every self help book I've ever come across....I want to restate this a little differently .... all three of his books are unbelievably incredible ...I wasn't always happy with the voices reading this book and his other books but by chapters 2 through 5 it didn't matter I ended up liking the readers voice. Audible please please get the rest of Dr. Burns material.... also he has a new book coming out soon don't wait to long before getting it.... I love audible because of books like these.... and no I don't know Dr. Burns but I sure would like too....to ask questions and learn more. Thank you Dr. Burns...

Best audiobook for anxiety and learning about CBT

I'm a graduate student of Counseling psychology who struggles with anxiety. After many therapy sessions, many classes in my program and self-help, I found the best resource for my anxiety. I'm very skeptical about everything and like to read about the current research and evidence based practices. Since CBT is one of the few evidence based therapies, I figured that this audiobook may help, if not, I learned about CBT for my practice. After countless books and audiobooks, I found Dr. Burn's audiobook to be the BEST. The research, the techniques and theory is all here. Everything is in order and the pdf has all the exercises you will need. Also this book gives you HOPE. The holly grail of psychology. Every psychotherapist tries to give the client hope but people with years of problems (anxiety, depression, interpersonal problems etc...) wont easily feel optimistic about their future. If you are struggling with any kind of anxiety, this is the book for you. It's a no nonsense approach but guided by a very inspiring Dr. Burns.

If you study psychology, counseling, social work or any other mental health profession, listen to this book because there are case studies and the theory is explained clearly. Also it has a much needed warning about medication.

P.S. I've read and listened to many other self-help books for anxiety on paperback and audible.Skip them.

Extremely helpful book

For me, it's more helpful than the original, Feeling Good, which was itself incredibly helpful already.

Awesome PDF of Tools and Audio Examples

If you could sum up When Panic Attacks in three words, what would they be?

Tools Helping Anxiety

What did you like best about this story?

The problem solving tools and understanding behind this book is well researched. Tackled anxiety from many angles including information. Useful tools, actions and ideas for in the moment.

The PDF makes it easy to review many of the ideas quickly.

Which scene was your favorite?

Cognitive distortions related to shyness and anxiety are super helpful. Very quickly with a bit of problem solving can work against the untrue and problematic thoughts

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

Anxiety is a result of anxious thoughts. Sometimes our behavior enforces that thoughts

Missing PDF Files

I love this book, but it’s missing the PDF files that should be in my audible library. I can’t do some of the work that I am asked to do in the book.

One Of The Best Books I've Read For Anxiety Help

If you could sum up When Panic Attacks in three words, what would they be?

Tools to use.

What did you like best about this story?

Lots and lots and lots of tactics to use for anxiety help. For example get out of "all or nothing" thinking which really helped me. I guess the same as binary thinking. So helpful and many more examples.

Which scene was your favorite?

The moment where women got over her panic attacks in David's office by doing jumping jacks and exercising while having one. Demonstrating to herself that nothing bad would happen.

What did you learn from When Panic Attacks that you would use in your daily life?

Don't believe everything you think. Also, anxiety relapse is 100% going to happen, just stick with the tools and get past it.

Any additional comments?

This is a book that I will get coming back to. Get it!

Of no value to patients with anxiety

Poor content. The author is a comedian not a physician . Of no benefit to patients with genuine anxiety.

You are buying relief

This book saves you from your present. This book prevents your past from harming you. This book creates the future you were born to live.

Comments from a reader

Absolutely some of the finest quality writing on the treatment of anxiety. This is a must-read for mental health therapists.

Possibly saved my life

Don’t want this review to sound cliche, but the tools learned in this book are definitely useful and helped me understand how my negative thoughts create a lot or all of my negative feelings. It also helped me understand that nice people are plagued with anxiety as a result of not expressing what bothers them. This leads to your body alerting you that something is wrong with something that you’re not dealing with or avoiding and it’s coming out as your anxiety. I’ve found Dr David Burns to be so helpful and I’ve found his podcast on my iPhone and will be listening to those as I’ve already completed his original “Feeling Good” book before reading this one.