About the Book Self-help guide that gives you the tools to take charge and overcome your fears. Written by a leading authority on anxiety and based on the latest research. Provides a practical, step-by-step plan for beating many different kinds of fears--including social anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and phobias-- Book Synopsis Reclaim your life from crippling anxiety with this revolutionary step-by-step approach Nearly a third of all people will suffer from severe or debilitating fears--phobias, panic attacks, obsessions, worries, and more--over the course of a lifetime. Now Dr. David Tolin--a renowned psychologist and scientist at the Institute of Living and Yale featured on such programs as The OCD Project, Hoarders, The Dr. Oz Show , and Oprah --offers help for nearly every type of anxiety disorder. Dr. Tolin explains what fear really is, why you should face--not avoid--your fear, and how to beat your fear using gradual exposure techniques. Practical action steps and exercises help you learn this unique approach to facing fear without crutches or other unhelpful things found in many other programs in order to achieve a life that is free of debilitating anxieties. Self-help guide that gives you the tools to take charge and overcome your fears Written by a leading authority on anxiety and based on the latest research Provides a practical, step-by-step plan for beating many different kinds of fears--including social anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and phobias Face Your Fears will change the way you think about fear and what to do about it. This up-to-date, evidence-based, and user-friendly self-help guide to beating phobias and overcoming anxieties walks you step by step through the process of choosing courage and freedom over fear. From the Back Cover Everyone experiences fear and anxiety, but when fear begins to dominate your life, it can be devastating. You dont have to live that way. Whether you suffer from moderate anxiety or debilitating fear, a specific phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, or any other form of anxiety, Face Your Fears will change the way you think about fear and what to do about it. This up-to-date, evidence-based, user-friendly self-help guide to beating phobias and overcoming anxieties walks you step by step through the process of choosing courage and freedom over fear. In Face Your Fears, celebrated therapist Dr. David Tolin introduces a highly effective and scientifically proven treatment called exposure therapy, in which you gradually confront your fears. Drawing on moving stories from the hundreds of patients he has treated successfully, Dr. Tolin defines the six different types of anxiety and helps you determine which type you need to overcome. He guides you step by step through the gradual exposure process as you learn how to eliminate crutches and safety behaviors, address scary thoughts, and examine the evidence. Youll learn how to track your progress and youll feel yourself taking back control of your life one exposure at a time. With Dr. Tolins gentle, confident guidance, you will learn to face and beat: Fears of specific situations or objects (such as animals, heights, and blood) Fears of body sensations (including panic attacks and health anxieties) Social and performance fears (fears of social interaction, public speaking, and asserting yourself) Obsessive fears (including fears of contamination and imperfection as well as scary thoughts) Excessive worries (such as worrying about everything and intolerance of uncertainty) Post-traumatic fears (fears of trauma-related situations and painful memories) Once you feel better, Dr. Tolin helps you maintain your newfound freedom for years to come. By understanding and preparing for circumstances that might cause your fear to return, you can take practical steps to prevent it from coming back and to overcome it quickly if it does. You know what it feels like to live in fear. Now its time to rediscover what life feels like without it. Face Your Fears delivers the no-nonsense, scientifically proven tools you need to take control of your life and your future. Dr. Tolin walks you step by step through the process of choosing courage and freedom over fear. Review Quotes An expert in anxiety disorders, Dr. Tolin has drawn on his extensive scientific knowledge, clinical wisdom, and experience to make the most effective treatment for fear and anxiety accessible in this terrific user-friendly self-help book. If you suffer from problems with panic, anxiety, or phobias, look no further--this is the book for you. Use it on your own or work through it with a therapist. You can beat anxiety and fear by facing your fears. --Jonathan S. Abramowitz, Ph.D., author of Getting Over OCD; Professor and Associate Chair of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders Exposure therapy really works for people with anxiety. Dr. David Tolin explains why it works but more importantly, he shows how to make it work for you in this clear, step-by-step guide to facing your fears so you can get better from anxiety. --Elizabeth DuPont Spencer, LCSW-C, and Caroline DuPont, M.D., coauthors of The Anxiety Cure and The Anxiety Cure for Kids: A Guide for Parents Filled with powerful, clear, and evidence-based strategies to alleviate fear and enhance life satisfaction, this book will change lives. --Lizabeth Roemer, Ph.D., coauthor of The Mindful Way through Anxiety , Professor of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston Dr. David Tolin is a master at helping people understand why they are afraid and helping them overcome the problem. This easy-to-read guide blends compelling personal stories with up-to-date methods for assessing fears and obsessions, understanding them, and fixing the problem at its source. --Gail Steketee, Ph.D., author of Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things, Dean and Professor, Boston University School of Social Work About the Author Dr. DAVID TOLIN is the founding Director of the Anxiety Disorders Center at the Institute of Living and an Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine. In the last few years, he has been a guest on Good Morning America, the Today show, and The Dr. Oz Show and also appeared on Oprah. Also the coauthor of Buried in Treasures, Dr. Tolin hosted the eight-part VH1 series The OCD Project and was a featured expert on the A&E series Hoarders. He has served as a scientific reviewer and principal investigator for the National Institutes of Health.