By Cathleen Henning

Those of us with anxiety disorders know all about the confusion and anguish we feel at times, when our minds and bodies seem to be working against us. In the midst of our pain, we sometimes forget how confusing our situation can be to the people closest to us. Ken Strong did not forget. Experienced both with having an anxiety disorder and helping someone with an anxiety disorder, Ken Strong wrote the first book for the support people of people with anxiety disorders.

Strong's compassion and understanding alone are reasons enough to buy this book. I can only imagine the relief a support person must feel when she reads through the book for the first time. Isolation intensifies any struggle. Those of us with anxiety disorders understand the importance of support groups. Strong's book can be the first step in a support person's realization that she is not alone and, through interaction with other support people, she will help herself and the person she is supporting.

Anxiety, Panic Attacks and Agoraphobia goes beyond compassion and understanding, however. It provides support people with an introduction to anxiety disorders and their treatments. The introduction is much more than a set of clinical definitions of each disorder; Strong provides his unique perspective as someone who has observed and communicated with people who are afflicted with anxiety disorders. How do panic attacks look to the observer? Is every panic attack the same? In answering these questions, Strong alleviates the frustration felt when attempting to match reality to the written word.

Perhaps the most important parts of Strong's book are the numerous coping tips provided throughout the book. You'll find numerical lists of tips; tidbits of advice here and there; and answers to frequently asked questions. A number of these tips are repeated, particularly the advice that the support person must take care of herself, too. Strong's advice is based on personal experience: both his own and that of his readers and website visitors.

Strong's commitment to helping other support people comes through in his determination to keep the book's cost as low as possible. You may order the book through his website for $7.95 (U.S.), a price that includes postage (check the site for other countries' ordering info). ** At 70 pages, the book is a quick read, and the support person will be able to refer to it again and again.

If you're wondering whether or not you are a support person, simply ask yourself if you have a role in helping someone with an anxiety disorder. For some people, such as spouses, the answer is obvious. If you're a co-worker or friend, the answer might not be as clear. Strong's book provides two helpful chapters on anxiety at school and the workplace, demonstrating how anyone and everyone can help the anxious person in both big and small ways (and the small ways are important, believe me). If you want to help and don't know where to start, take a look at Strong's book.

Finally, if you're someone with an anxiety disorder reading this review, I hope you'll consider helping your support people by giving them this book. It's an inexpensive way to bring comfort and relief into their lives. Additionally, it's an excellent way to initiate communication about your relationships with them. Ultimately, by supporting your support people, you will be helping yourself, too.