Anxiety: A Very Short Introduction

Daniel Freeman · Jason Freeman

Aug 2023 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Michael Langan

About this audiobook

Are we born with our fears or do we learn them? Why do our fears persist? What purpose does anxiety serve? How common are anxiety disorders, and which treatments are most effective? What's happening in our brain when we feel fear? And what are Colombian worry dolls? This Very Short Introduction draws on the best scientific research to offer a highly accessible explanation of what anxiety is, why it is such a normal and vital part of our emotional life, and the key factors that cause it. Insights are drawn from psychology, neuroscience, genetics, epidemiology, and clinical trials. Providing a fascinating illustration of the discussion are two interviews conducted specifically for the book, with the actor, writer, director, and television presenter Michael Palin and former England football manager Graham Taylor. The book covers in detail the six major anxiety disorders: phobias; panic disorder and agoraphobia; social anxiety; generalized anxiety disorder; obsessive compulsive disorder; and post-traumatic stress disorder. With a chapter devoted to each disorder, Daniel and Jason Freeman take you through the symptoms, prevalence, and causes of each one. A final chapter describes the treatments available for dealing with anxiety problems.

About the author

Daniel Freeman, one of the UK's leading clinical psychologists, is professor of clinical psychology, Oxford University.

Jason Freeman is a writer and editor specializing in popular psychology and self-help.

As the middle of six children, Michael Langan quickly carved out his space in the group; he was the storyteller. Out in the real world, he would work in office and administration roles until he quit his job in 2020, deciding to become a full-time voice-over artist and a background artist in film and television productions.