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Complete Self-Help for Your Nerves: The practical guide to overcoming stress and anxiety
The international bestselling step-by-step guide that will show you how to break the cycle of fear and cure your feelings of panic and anxiety.
'One of the most helpful books in the world. Practical, gentle, an absolute life-saver. I could not recommend this book more highly.' Clare Bowditch
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 Complete Self-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 analyse your own symptoms of anxiety and find the power to conquer your fears for good.
In her two best-selling books, Self-help for your Nerves and More Self-Help for your Nerves, Dr Claire Weekes helped generations of sufferers of nervous tension and panic attacks. In this comprehensive volume, which brings together the best of her advice and self-help techniques, people can learn how to treat themselves through her compassionate and practical advice. Clearly written and empathetic, Complete Self-Help canvasses all manner of nervous illness from simple muscular and emotional fatigue to recurring symptoms, guilt and depression, helping people to recognise signs of illness and to combat it.
'I absolutely adore Dr Claire Weekes, and her solid useful practical advice for dealing with what she calls "Nervous Suffering". An absolute mental-health pioneer who deserves celebration. Long gone now, but her simple techniques offer a great place to start for anyone who wants a cure for their panic attacks.' Clare Bowditch, author and musician
'Page after page offers the reassuring reminder that you can best fight your panic by refusing to fight the panic. And in It works.' The New York Times
'It's the gentle tone and Claire's empathy that makes it really special. She explains very simply how the nervous system works and how to 'float' past the feelings you're experiencing. Life changing stuff.' Good Housekeeping
'It is hard, if not impossible, to think of anyone else who changed so many lives for the better in the field of mental health than Dr Claire Weekes.' Judith Hoare, author of The Woman Who Cracked the Anxiety Code
'After 18 months of near constant anxiety, I was in despair and ready to go on medication. Then I discovered Claire Weekes and slowly I was able to recover and regain myself. This woman saves lives.' Mick LaSalle, author and film critic
'One of the most helpful books in the world. Practical, gentle, an absolute life-saver. I could not recommend this book more highly.' Clare Bowditch
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 Complete Self-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 analyse your own symptoms of anxiety and find the power to conquer your fears for good.
In her two best-selling books, Self-help for your Nerves and More Self-Help for your Nerves, Dr Claire Weekes helped generations of sufferers of nervous tension and panic attacks. In this comprehensive volume, which brings together the best of her advice and self-help techniques, people can learn how to treat themselves through her compassionate and practical advice. Clearly written and empathetic, Complete Self-Help canvasses all manner of nervous illness from simple muscular and emotional fatigue to recurring symptoms, guilt and depression, helping people to recognise signs of illness and to combat it.
'I absolutely adore Dr Claire Weekes, and her solid useful practical advice for dealing with what she calls "Nervous Suffering". An absolute mental-health pioneer who deserves celebration. Long gone now, but her simple techniques offer a great place to start for anyone who wants a cure for their panic attacks.' Clare Bowditch, author and musician
'Page after page offers the reassuring reminder that you can best fight your panic by refusing to fight the panic. And in It works.' The New York Times
'It's the gentle tone and Claire's empathy that makes it really special. She explains very simply how the nervous system works and how to 'float' past the feelings you're experiencing. Life changing stuff.' Good Housekeeping
'It is hard, if not impossible, to think of anyone else who changed so many lives for the better in the field of mental health than Dr Claire Weekes.' Judith Hoare, author of The Woman Who Cracked the Anxiety Code
'After 18 months of near constant anxiety, I was in despair and ready to go on medication. Then I discovered Claire Weekes and slowly I was able to recover and regain myself. This woman saves lives.' Mick LaSalle, author and film critic
238 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 26, 1997
105 people are currently reading
428 people want to read
About the author
Claire Weekes
29 books92 followersDr Hazel Claire Weekes MBE was an Australian general practitioner and health writer. She also had an early career as a research scientist working in the field of comparative reproduction. She is considered by some as the pioneer of modern anxiety treatment via Cognitive Therapy. She continues to be noted for her books on dealing with anxiety disorders. Many of today's anxiety self-help books continue to cite her work.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 11, 2011
Best book I have ever read for those who suffer with the dreaded NERVES! My dad gave it to me when I was going through what I now know was a nervous breakdown. It's an old book but I thought I'd give it a try and I couldn't believe how anyone could describe so accuratley what I was going through. I cried alot whilst reading it, but at the end of the book I definatley felt ALOT better!I don't know whether Claire Weekes herself is a sufferer but she certainly knows the subject inside out.I would recommend this book highly to anyone who is feeling confused and desperate with this illness. Apart from it helping me with coping strategies, it made me realise that I was by no means alone, and certainly not going mad! Thankyou Claire Weekes and God Bless.
May 13, 2020
loved it
October 29, 2021
I think this is an essiential read for any sufferers of anxiety, especially complicated by health worries and a constant fear of panic. Really never found an author to put into words the awful feelings of nervous illness and anxiety. The heart worry and the feeling of tension is all explained and in my mind, it has calmed me to know I am just one of many sufferers of a difficult feeling that can indeed be put to rest. I really hope many read this as it is far beyond modern knowledge and gives a perfect calming insight into both the struggle and the remedy in facing these feelings and floating past them as if they are just part of the process of recovery. I hope one day I can be truly free of these feelings but for now, it is good to know there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
My only gripes about this book is the elaboration of floating and the idea of practicing this. I love this concept, however I would love to find more on this theory and how it can be done even in gradual ways. Despite this, I am glad this is my first read in 2019 and again would recommend it in helping shut down the tons and tons of misinformation going around google and other sites.
My only gripes about this book is the elaboration of floating and the idea of practicing this. I love this concept, however I would love to find more on this theory and how it can be done even in gradual ways. Despite this, I am glad this is my first read in 2019 and again would recommend it in helping shut down the tons and tons of misinformation going around google and other sites.
December 5, 2019
When I read At Last A Life, it totally changed my life with its unorthodox (or so I thought) approach to anxiety that actually worked. It didn’t contain the usual exhortations that I just needed to eat right, meditate and be mindful and then my anxiety would be ‘managed’. Instead it just had some very simple advice: stop trying to get better, let the suffering wash over you, stop fearing your own fear, and let your body heal itself.
Little did I know that Dr. Claire Weekes had actually figured all of this out back in the 60s! If I had have read this book first, it would have blown my mind and put my whole world to rights, in much the way that David’s book did, because it contains all the same principles. But this book is actually better, and is what I’d recommend to people from now on, because she is actually a doctor, and it appears she was the pioneer of the ideas that David’s book (and perhaps many others) subsequently built upon.
I had no idea that she is considered a pioneer of anxiety treatment and that her books have actually been runaway bestsellers. How is it that I had never heard of them, and that none of her work ever found me when I was madly casting around for help with anxiety? It’s a real shame. But no matter – I was put onto it by a review of the recently released title The Woman Who Cracked the Anxiety Code: the extraordinary life of Dr Claire Weekes, which I also plan to read. And even though I am doing fine these days, I still enjoyed reading this book.
So: if you have anxiety, read this book! It will change your life.
Little did I know that Dr. Claire Weekes had actually figured all of this out back in the 60s! If I had have read this book first, it would have blown my mind and put my whole world to rights, in much the way that David’s book did, because it contains all the same principles. But this book is actually better, and is what I’d recommend to people from now on, because she is actually a doctor, and it appears she was the pioneer of the ideas that David’s book (and perhaps many others) subsequently built upon.
I had no idea that she is considered a pioneer of anxiety treatment and that her books have actually been runaway bestsellers. How is it that I had never heard of them, and that none of her work ever found me when I was madly casting around for help with anxiety? It’s a real shame. But no matter – I was put onto it by a review of the recently released title The Woman Who Cracked the Anxiety Code: the extraordinary life of Dr Claire Weekes, which I also plan to read. And even though I am doing fine these days, I still enjoyed reading this book.
So: if you have anxiety, read this book! It will change your life.
June 30, 2013
Helpful, encouraging one to face, accept, float or enter into and allow time to pass when dealing with fears, anxieties, nervous disorders and depressions. It seeks to change stinking thinking not by fighting or avoiding but recognizing and facing then dealing with how we perceive what is happening to us. It affirms anxieties and depressions as real yet also recognizes that we can get through them. We can make choices how to think, act and do through nervous and mental disorder often with outside help and support including medication. Though she seems quick to want to get people off meds in some cases meds are needed for long term support to provide or assist the body in utilizing the good chemicals it produces effectively.
January 4, 2020
A chance find that I read with caution - you're vulnerable and you want sound and good advice. Dr Weekes earned trust by understanding and accurately describing what it's like, then offers her advice in a kind but no nonsense tone: face, accept, float, give it time.
Her modality weaves in nicely and is compatible with other, more recent, approaches - most salient for me, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
This theme of acceptance is so wonderful, and has a rich history that reaches back thousands of years in the faith traditions, giving it a depth dimension that makes it all the more efficacious.
Her modality weaves in nicely and is compatible with other, more recent, approaches - most salient for me, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
This theme of acceptance is so wonderful, and has a rich history that reaches back thousands of years in the faith traditions, giving it a depth dimension that makes it all the more efficacious.
December 10, 2020
If you’re reading this book in the 21st century, approach with caution. I read this book after encountering the work of Dr Elaine Aron and should have paid more attention to the context in which Dr Weekes was writing: the 1960s. However, once I got my head around the context and overlooked the gendered assumptions scattered through the book, it was a helpful read with a few gems on how to tackle nervous systems that have been fundamentally disrupted. Dr Weekes clearly empathises with the specific struggles of her patients, which comes through in her writing.
January 8, 2022
This book was a huge driving force in my recovery from intense anxiety, the advice was clear and i loved hearing stories and experiences from the perspective of clients. I really appreciate that i am able to look back on certain sections whenever i need to, if i have a particularly troubling symptom. The only problem i have with the book is that about halfway through it starts getting repetitive with the advice, so i feel like it could have been cut down a bit, but other then that i really enjoyed it and it was very helpful.
September 21, 2021
Practical, accessible and written in plain English.
As someone who has had a burnout in the past, I wish I had this book at the time to help take away the fear of what I was going through.
But now I know better, and thanks to this book I have a better understanding of how I can deal with anxiety and fear better in the future.
A few people have told me about this booking saying it literally ‘saved their life’.
As someone who has had a burnout in the past, I wish I had this book at the time to help take away the fear of what I was going through.
But now I know better, and thanks to this book I have a better understanding of how I can deal with anxiety and fear better in the future.
A few people have told me about this booking saying it literally ‘saved their life’.
May 28, 2021
After reading the biography about Dr Claire Weekes by Judith Hoare I was interested to read one of Dr Weekes books. Though it was written in the 1960s I felt her advice was sensible and would still apply today. Dr Weekes recommended strategy of facing, accepting, floating and letting time pass seems like very good advice and a good way of dealing with life’s problems.
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June 3, 2022Was recommended this book after expressing anxiety at medical issues and I’m so happy I read it! It perfectly describes some of the things that I’ve been feeling and gave ideas on how to deal with them!
October 4, 2022
หนังสือเล่มนี้น่าจะเป็น How to ที่บอกวิธีการรักษาอาการวิตกกังวลที่เป็นรูปธรรมมากที่สุดเล่มหนึ่งเลยล่ะ เป็นรูปธรรมแบบที่อ่านจบแต่บะบทแล้วลองทำตามได้เลย สิ่งที่ชอบคือน้ำเสียงของผู้เขียนทั้งเห็นใจและให้กำลังใจกับผู้ป่วยตลอด ฉบับแปลภาษาไทยที่อ่านอยู่คนแปลเก่ง แปลออกมาได้ดีจริงๆ
April 15, 2023
One of the worst books I have ever read. It has not aged well. The way of thinking in it is so dated, it’s sexist, condescending, contradictory, and probably the worst of all is that it’s set out really poorly, terribly edited. Would not recommend to anyone.
September 24, 2017
This is repetitive and specialist but this is amazing healing support for those who are prone to panic attacks and paranoid worry. That is the point!
October 9, 2020
Practical advice for dealing with anxiety. Although this book was written years ago, the advice is still as current as ever. So helpful!
June 4, 2021
A very helpful book for those suffering from anxiety or related illnesses. Found many easy to follow suggestions
May 1, 2022
Very comforting
September 14, 2022
One of the best books on anxiety I've read. Simple and practical
January 22, 2024
It’s calming
April 10, 2024
2008 edition with a new chapter and 264 pages.
August 28, 2024
Claire Weekes was so ahead of her time in explaining and understanding the complexities and nuances of anxiety and OCD.
The title is very "ye olde worlde" terminology, but dont let that put you off.
This and her other books explain so perfectly how the anxious, tired brain can get caught thinking a certain way, leading to fears, or "frights" as she refers to them.
Such a useful book for anyone trying to understand why they think the way they do.
I would especially recommend it to anyone dealing with OCD, Pure O and generalised anxiety. Its not overwhelming, but rather gives you everything you need to know and some ideas of how you can begin to tackle and confront your thoughts and behaviours in a gentle but effective way.
A must read, in my opinion.
The title is very "ye olde worlde" terminology, but dont let that put you off.
This and her other books explain so perfectly how the anxious, tired brain can get caught thinking a certain way, leading to fears, or "frights" as she refers to them.
Such a useful book for anyone trying to understand why they think the way they do.
I would especially recommend it to anyone dealing with OCD, Pure O and generalised anxiety. Its not overwhelming, but rather gives you everything you need to know and some ideas of how you can begin to tackle and confront your thoughts and behaviours in a gentle but effective way.
A must read, in my opinion.
October 11, 2014
Although written for readers some 40 years ago, it still has a lot of relevance. If you suffer from anxiety and/or panic or know someone who does, it is certainly worth a read.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews