For many people, life is made intolerable by phobias. Common fears may range from crowded places to a fear of spiders or blood, but, the basic underlying mechanism is the same – acute anxiety. This book looks at how to tackle both specific phobias and the anxiety which causes such disproportionate fear, and covers obsessive-compulsive disorder, social phobia, generalized anxiety state, and panic disorder with agoraphobia. Other topics include: Causes of anxiety and phobias Professional help and how to get it Planning a self-help programme Panic disorder and agoraphobia Dealing with catastrophic thoughts Lifestyle tools – exercise, relaxation, diet, alcohol, time