Obsessive Disorder

Intrusive thoughts come up with what seems like a million flashing warning lights, like those coming up all at once on a car's faulty dashboard. None of them make sense, but they all feel so real, so personal, yet so alien to the person's heart, nature and beliefs.

Each and every person has some anxiety at some point in life. Natural anxiety can be beneficial and adaptive in some situations, but for millions of individuals, it can also be a source of tremendous anguish and discomfort. A person's emotional condition impacts their style of thinking, and vice versa. It's not just your thoughts that have an influence on your emotions. A person's thoughts and feelings are inseparable. As a result, it's not a one-way street.

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the US, affecting 40 million adult Americans. This accessible guide provides listeners with an overview of anxiety: what it is, who gets it, how to recognize it, what the major causes are, how a small amount of anxiety can actually help motivate us, and what the dangers of letting more severe anxiety go untreated are. In addition to case studies and patient interviews, Dr. Small also includes side-bars with factoids, lists, and other helpful information.