Such anxiety disorders are often dismissed as by-products of old age. But, as acclaimed geriatric psychiatrist Dr. Peter Rabins explains in GETTING OLD WITHOUT GETTING ANXIOUS (Avery/Penguin Group (USA); February 2005; $24.95), experiencing life as an older person does not have to mean living in fear.

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In GETTING OLD WITHOUT GETTING ANXIOUS, Dr. Rabins assists readers in understanding the special ways anxiety syndromes impact their aging parents, describes steps they can take to have these disorders assessed and treated, and discusses ways they can help their parents—and themselves—during these challenging times. Using a 3-pronged approach, Dr. Rabins:

· Informs readers about how late-life anxiety differs from anxiety in younger people

· Identifies the type of disorder a loved one may have and its causes, and

· Guides readers on the best remedy or combination of options available

“Late life presents unique challenges that are bound to create varying degrees of stress. But an anxiety disorder isn’t a natural response,” says Dr. Rabins. “It’s an excessive, persistent feeling of anxiousness, depression, or distress that is not a result of a physical malady. It’s a mother who is suddenly terrified to board a bus or walk to church. It’s a father who has been demonstrating uncontrollable obsessive qualities, such as counting and recounting his money, or repeatedly checking that he’s clean. These symptoms interfere, even take over, a life.” Yet the good news is that once a disorder has been identified and diagnosed, it can be effectively managed and treated, using a variety of proven methods and techniques tailored to an individual’s specific needs.

In GETTING OLD WITHOUT GETTING ANXIOUS Dr. Rabins discusses the best and latest treatment options available, including:

· Psychiatry and psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, group, and talk therapy

· Medications including SSRI’s, benzodiazepines, buspirone, beta blockers, tricyclics, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and herbal alternatives, such as SAM-E, St. John’s wort, and valerian

· Calming therapies such as yoga, relaxation techniques, meditation, and tai chi

· Lifestyle enhancements including exercise, nutrition, volunteering, creative activities, humor, support groups, and social engagement

Written in the same compassionate, easy-to-understand, and comprehensive manner as Dr. Rabins’ bestselling guide to Alzheimer’s disease, The 36-Hour Day—and the only book on the subject with an action plan—GETTING OLD WITHOUT GETTING ANXIOUS will help anxious patients and their caregivers learn how to cope with new challenges and restore former quality of life. More than two decades of success stories from Dr. Rabins’ patients will encourage those with disorders to get back on the path to renewed vitality and love of life.

About the Author:

Dr. Peter V. Rabins is a compassionate, experienced voice in geriatric psychiatry and is an author on at least nine books covering the aging brain. He has been a geriatric psychiatrist for more than twenty-five years and is a professor at Johns Hopkins University and psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Rabins has appeared on national talk shows such as “The Phil Donahue Show,” as well as national and local radio call-in programs. He lives in Baltimore, MD.

Lynn Lauber is a writer whose work has been published in The New York Times and other publications. Her latest book is Listen to Me, Writing Life into Meaning. She lives in Nyack, New York.

GETTING OLD WITHOUT GETTING ANXIOUS

By Peter V. Rabins, M.D. with Lynn Lauber

Avery/Penguin Group (USA)

February 2005

$24.95

ISBN: 1583332103

© 2005 HealthNewsDigest.com