For some reason I had hoped for this book to have a magic solution or one important thing that I would need to change in order to reduce the level of anxiety in my life. Had that been true, she certainly would not have needed two hundred and eighty-nine pages to tell me. Sadly, but now seemingly apparent enough, I will have to work for a decrease in the level of anxiety in my life. Imagine that! The first part of the book does a good job of explaining anxiety, going over the symptoms and really getting you clued into yourself and how you show anxiety or what causes anxiety in your life. It also contains some great advice for women and their lowering self-images of today. The second part of the book contains a twenty step method of questioning yourself on one issue that is causing you significant anxiety. Dr. DeRosis has included many examples of using the steps as well as different anxiety producing situations in which people have found themselves. There were a few situations, such as the one with the emotionally impaired student, that seemed a bit far-fetched, but she still made her point in illustrating the steps taken. I have readied my response notebook with the twenty questions for my next anxiety issue. I have no comments on the effectiveness of the program, of yet, but I'm sure it is reflective of one of this books underlying themes. You get what you put into it. You put in nothing, you get nothing!

I found this book very helpful in allowing me me to understand what sorts of beliefs and thought patterns can contribute to overwhelming feelings of anxiety.

I've had to live with anxiety as a big part of my life for the last six years now. In fact, I just passed the sixth anniversary of my first full-blown panic attack. For anyone who's had a panic disorder, you know how frightening it is and how alone it can make you feel. This book gives you some hope, because it helps you to understand at least partly why you're feeling the things you're feeling. You're not crazy, and you're not going to die (even if you're sure you are--I was pretty sure I was going to die almost everday for the last six years, but I'm still here).

This book is written for women, but most of the physchological insights apply just as well to men. I'm a 27 year old man and I found this book extremely helpful. I definitely recommend it to anyone who has experienced debilitating anxiety and panic firsthand. I also think it would be a good read for anyone who just wants to understand human behavior and negative thought tendacies better. In helping us to understand and clearly see the unrealistic expectations that we all carry around in our heads, De Rosis points the way to living an easier, simpler, happier life.

If you have anxiety or panic disorder, this book is definately worthwhile. Written specifically for women, it provides step by step guides on how to get better and back to your life. It stands on it's own. Highly recommended.