When Panic Attacks by David D. Burns Summary
Overview of When Panic Attacks
Discover why Dr. Burns' drug-free anxiety therapy has transformed millions of lives. With 40+ practical techniques challenging medication dependency, "When Panic Attacks" has become mental health professionals' go-to recommendation. What hidden emotion might actually be fueling your anxiety?
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Key takeaways
Your Heart Is Racing, But the Real Danger Isn't What You Think
Your chest tightens. Your breathing becomes shallow. Catastrophic thoughts flood your mind-you're certain something terrible is about to happen. This is panic, and it feels utterly real. Yet here's the paradox: the very thoughts meant to protect you are creating the danger you fear. What if the enemy isn't out there in the world, but inside your own mind? And what if defeating that enemy doesn't require medication, but simply learning to see through its tricks? This radical idea challenges everything we've been told about anxiety. We're taught that chemical imbalances require pharmaceutical fixes, that our brains are broken and need repair. But decades of research tell a different story. When two-thirds of people recover from depression simply by reading about cognitive techniques, when anxiety vanishes the moment someone addresses a hidden emotion, we're forced to reconsider: maybe the problem isn't biological malfunction but distorted thinking. The thoughts racing through your anxious mind follow predictable patterns-Fortune-Telling that predicts disaster, Mind-Reading that assumes judgment, All-or-Nothing Thinking that sees only extremes. These aren't random mental glitches; they're systematic distortions that can be identified, challenged, and changed. Understanding this simple truth opens the door to genuine freedom.
The Three Pathways Out of the Anxiety Trap
The Uncomfortable Truth About Antidepressants
Why We Choose to Stay Stuck
The Beliefs That Keep Us Trapped
When Anxiety Hides What We're Really Feeling
Breaking Free for Good
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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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