The Small Book Of Big Nerves

It has been months or even years since you felt normal. Every day is a challenge - getting up from bed, feeling tired and disoriented, worried about yet another repetitive day, in which you have to cope with that omnipresent feeling of anxiety, that horrible energy within you, which prevents you from sitting down calmly, watching a movie with your family, meeting friends or going to the shop. Yes, that dreaded place, where your feet turn into jelly and you fight to stay upright, your vision blurs and everything looks crooked, that damned milk is nowhere to be found, your heart is racing, your palms get wet, your head gets numb and finally that lump in your throat says what you've been fearing all along: "Oh, God, it's happening! It's happening right here, in front of all these people!" You know very well what I am talking about. And you can't stand it. You don't want one more minute of it. You want to feel normal right now. At least for a while, just a quick relief from all these hours, days, months and even years of suffering. Instead you are overwhelmed by a multitude of dreadful symptoms (which I will later address in detail and help you with): high heart rate, shallow breath, sweaty and trembling hands, "jelly" feet, problems with your digestive system, muscle tension, especially in your head, neck and upper shoulders, loss of sex drive, vision and auditory disorders, poor sleep, irritability and aggression - particularly toward your closest ones, withdrawal from social events, fatigue and lack of any desire to engage in physical activities or exercise, obsession and compulsion, claustrophobia and agoraphobia, hypochondria, addiction, feelings of dissociation and unreality, panic attacks and depression. Does it sound familiar? Well, I can promise two things. First, you won't get better now. I know it's hard to tell someone who suffered for many months, even many years, that he needs to set aside even more time. But that's the reality of the situation. If you break your leg, it needs a couple of months to recover. Your overworked nerves are waiting to heal in very much the same way - just give them the time they need! Second, and most important, if you follow the advice in this book, you will recover. Yes, you will be that old carefree fellow that didn't think about himself all the time, but instead enjoyed his life, his friends, his family, going out to the movies and standing calmly in line, at the shop. Not in a hurry to anywhere, content with life. I've tried to make this text as concise as possible - reading long books, when you can't concentrate on anything is hard, I know. I've also made sure to rephrase and repeat the most important parts, so my advice gets through that heavy mental fog you've been experiencing and guides you on the right track. It will be worth it, I promise. And you will also learn how not to fall into the same trap again.

This classic anxiety-relief guide from the author of Hope and Help for your Nerves has brought solace to over a quarter million readers coping with panic attacks and agoraphobia. Dr Claire Weekes offers clear, concise advice to anyone suffering from anxiety: FACE: DO NOT RUN ACCEPT: DO NOT FIGHT FLOAT PAST: DO NOT LISTEN IN LET TIME PASS: DO NOT BE IMPATIENT WITH TIME It may look much too simple, but if you can truly master these four important principles, you are already on your way to rapid recovery. Written in response to great demand from both the medical and psychological communities, as well as from her own devoted readers, Dr. Weekes’s revolutionary approach to treating nervous tension is sympathetic, medically sound, and quite possibly one of the most successful step-by-step guides to mental health available.

The bestselling step-by-step guide that will show you how to break the cycle of fear and cure your feelings of panic and anxiety. My heart beats too fast. My hands tremble and sweat. I feel like there’s a weight on my chest. My stomach churns. I have terrible headaches. I can't sleep. Sometimes I can't even leave my house.... These common symptoms of anxiety are “minor” only to the people who don't suffer from them. But to the millions they affect, these problems make the difference between a happy, healthy life and one of crippling fear and frustration. In Hope and Help for Your Nerves, Dr. Claire Weekes offers the results of years of experience treating real patients—including some who thought they'd never recover. With her simple, step-by-step guidance, you will learn how to understand and analyze your own symptoms of anxiety and find the power to conquer your fears for good.

Stress can make you feel anxious, awful, and afraid. It can leave you jumpy and jittery, upset and uptight. When kids show signs of stress, they need stress management tools that work. With jokes, fun illustrations, and plenty of authentic examples, this book helps kids understand what stress is-and gives tons of tips to cope. Refreshed to address modern stressors like electronic devices and social media, this updated classic helps kids deal with stress like a seasoned panic mechanic.

“A compelling story of everyday courage” (Elizabeth Gilbert). Patty Chang Anker grew up eager to please and afraid to fail. But after thirty-nine years, she decided it was time to stop being a chicken. Motivated initially to become a better role model for her two kids, she vowed to master the fears that were choking the fun and spontaneity out of life. She learned to dive into a swimming pool, ride a bike, do a handstand, and surf. As she shared her experiences, she discovered that most people suffer from their own secret terrors—of flying, driving, heights, public speaking, and more. It became her mission to help others do what they thought they couldn’t and to experience the joy and aliveness that is the true reward of becoming brave. Inspired and inspiring, this book draws on Anker’s interviews with teachers, therapists, coaches, and clergy to convey both practical advice and profound wisdom. Through her own journey and the stories of others, she conveys with grace and infectious exhilaration the most vital lesson of all: Fear isn’t the end point to life, but the point of entry.

Including numerous views, cross-sections, and other diagrams, this entertaining instruction guide includes careful, scientifically accurate line renderings of the body's organs and major systems: skeletal, muscular, nervous, reproductive, and more. Each remarkably clear and detailed illustration is accompanied by concise, informative text and suggestions for coloring. 43 plates.

Discover your body’s neural pathways to calmness, safety, and connection. An intense conversation, a spat with a partner, or even an obnoxious tweet—these situations aren’t life-or-death, yet we often react as if they are. That’s because our bodies treat most perceived threats the same way. Yet one approach has proven to be incredibly effective in training our nervous system to stop overreacting and start responding to the world with greater safety and ease: Polyvagal Theory. In Anchored, expert teacher Deb Dana shares a down-to-earth presentation of Polyvagal Theory, then brings the science to life with practical, everyday ways to transform your relationship with your body. Using field-tested techniques, Dana helps you master the skills to become more aware of your nervous system moment to moment—and change the way you respond to the great and small challenges of life. Here, you’ll explore: • Polyvagal Theory—get to know the biology and function of your vagus nerve, the highway of the nervous system • Befriending Your Nervous System—attune to what’s going on in your body by developing your “neuroception” • Using Your Vagal Brake—discover key techniques to consciously regulate the intensity of your emotions • Connection and Protection—learn to recognize and influence your internal cues for safety and danger • Your Social Engagement System—find ways to create nourishing relationships with others and the world around you • Practices and guidance to gently shape your nervous system for greater resilience, intuition, safety, and wonder Through guided imagery, meditation, self-inquiry, and more, Anchored offers a practical user’s manual for moving from a place of fear and panic into a grounded space of balance and confidence. “Once we know how our nervous system works, we can work with it,” teaches Deb Dana. “We can learn to access an embodied, biological resource that is always present, available, and there to guide us toward well-being.”

Stress can make you feel anxious, awful, and afraid. It can leave you jumpy and jittery, upset and uptight. When kids show signs of stress, they need stress management tools that work. With jokes, fun illustrations, and plenty of authentic examples, this book helps kids understand what stress is -- and gives tons of tips to cope. Refreshed to address modern stressors like electronic devices and social media, this updated classic helps kids deal with stress like a seasoned panic mechanic.

The brain ... There is no other part of the human anatomy that is so intriguing. How does it develop and function and why does it sometimes, tragically, degenerate? The answers are complex. In Discovering the Brain, science writer Sandra Ackerman cuts through the complexity to bring this vital topic to the public. The 1990s were declared the "Decade of the Brain" by former President Bush, and the neuroscience community responded with a host of new investigations and conferences. Discovering the Brain is based on the Institute of Medicine conference, Decade of the Brain: Frontiers in Neuroscience and Brain Research. Discovering the Brain is a "field guide" to the brainâ€"an easy-to-read discussion of the brain's physical structure and where functions such as language and music appreciation lie. Ackerman examines: How electrical and chemical signals are conveyed in the brain. The mechanisms by which we see, hear, think, and pay attentionâ€"and how a "gut feeling" actually originates in the brain. Learning and memory retention, including parallels to computer memory and what they might tell us about our own mental capacity. Development of the brain throughout the life span, with a look at the aging brain. Ackerman provides an enlightening chapter on the connection between the brain's physical condition and various mental disorders and notes what progress can realistically be made toward the prevention and treatment of stroke and other ailments. Finally, she explores the potential for major advances during the "Decade of the Brain," with a look at medical imaging techniquesâ€"what various technologies can and cannot tell usâ€"and how the public and private sectors can contribute to continued advances in neuroscience. This highly readable volume will provide the public and policymakersâ€"and many scientists as wellâ€"with a helpful guide to understanding the many discoveries that are sure to be announced throughout the "Decade of the Brain."