Overcoming the Fear of Fear

Anxiety sensitivity (AS) refers to the fear of anxiety-related bodily sensations (i.e., 'fear of fear'). This fear arises from beliefs that these sensations have harmful physical, psychological, and/or social consequences. Most people who notice they are anxious - they may notice a pounding heart, sweaty palms, or the 'shakes' - expect the anxiety to dissipate when the situation that is worrying them is resolved. A person with low AS would perceive such sensations to be unpleasant, but transient and harmless, consequences of being in an anxious state. But a person with high AS might fear heart palpitations believing they portend a heart attack; fear dizziness believing it to signify imminent mental breakdown; and/or, fear trembling in anticipation of public ridicule.Anxiety symptoms drive people into emergency rooms in fear of non-existent heart attacks or brain tumours, and it results in some people going from doctor to doctor thinking something is physically wrong with them. Hypersensitivity to anxiety can be successfully treated with cognitive-behavioural therapy, which reduces fear by correcting unreasonable ideas about the meaning of body sensations like breathlessness. Cognitive-behavioral treatments for panic disorder aim to reduce anxiety sensitivity in order to prevent recurrence of panic attacks.

ISBN 1572245581   Pages 192 ISBN13 9781572245587 (What's this?)   Volumes 1 Publisher New Harbinger Publications   Weight (grammes) 299 Imprint New Harbinger Publications   Published in Oakland, CA Format Paperback   Height (mm) 229 Publication date 01 Jan 2009   Width (mm) 152 Library of Congress 2008039800   Spine width (mm) 12 DEWEY 616.85223   Academic level General DEWEY edition DC22

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