Dr Weeks really understands and helps

Would you consider the audio edition of Hope and Help for Your Nerves to be better than the print version?

I was recently very anxious and depressed. So anxious in fact that i was unable to read a book ,so downloaded this audio version of books i've owned by her in the past.Some years back i owned the cassette version of this, but either way this download is convenient and SO helpful

What other book might you compare Hope and Help for Your Nerves to, and why?

Any of the other titles by Dr Weekes

Which scene did you most enjoy?

She really understood (she has passed away now) the symptoms, often frightening,of nervous illness.She will explain the effect that adrenalin has on your body and unreality and depersonalisation and then the natural progression into depression and finally the journey towards recovery

Any additional comments?

If you are currently suffering through the symptoms of nervous illness and are bewildered by your frightening thoughts and feelings, i promise you that this book will explain to you what you are going through. You will gain lots of understanding about why you feel unwell and will learn that your body is behaving perfectly naturally to the stress it is currently experiencing. I can't praise Claire Weekes enough.

11 people found this helpful

I know the pain is over, at long, long last

I have suffered from horrific anxiety since I was 4 years old. I have reasons for this, which over the years I have dealt with in absolute depth. However, I still could not be happy, or 'normal'. The most normal of thoughts would stress me to the point of panic. I could not live my daily life at all (although have always kept down a good job, NO idea how I've done it). I had CONTINUOUS stomach churning, burning head and face, difficulty breathing, constant sense of dread, constant worry about every move I made, thing I said. Would massively overreact inside my head to things said in relationships and at work. My life was pure hell to be quite honest. I first listened to this 4 days ago, and I cried and cried when I did. This week has been the first week I have felt slightly more able to cope. One morning, as I was driving to work, I even felt so normal I didn't know what to do with myself. I've started listening to music in the car again. I just couldn't have before it was so hard to think every second. I have a way to go, I mean I have had it for 29 years, but I KNOW in my heart this is the answer. If I can experience these amazing times in 4 days, imagine 4 weeks of using her method. She has taken the fear away from me and explained every, single thing that bothered me. I thought I was an absolutely twit, thought I was overly sensitive, couldn't deal with life, got upset, jealous, or whatever at the tiniest thing. Fretted over my evening routine obsessively, would plan and plan and plan to try and make my life feel better to me. I am completely exhausted. But in 4 days, I have already felt improvement, for the first time ever in my life. I was terrified that the things that happened to me to cause the anixety in the first place had had such an impact on my mind, I would be like this forever. I have one health issue that I am convinced is anxiety, and boy if it is and it gets better, I'll be in tears for days with happiness! I cannot recommend this book enough, and if Claire Weekes was still alive, I would ensure I find her, and send her the biggest thank you from the bottom of my heart. Claire, you were an amazing woman and there are no words to thank you enough.

7 people found this helpful

Very Helpful for Generalised Anxiety Disorder

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would 100% recommend this book. It helps me every time I listen to it, and I will need to keep listening to it to really allow the lessons to sink in. I wish she'd read her entire book (hope and helps for your nerves) in this audio book or that someone else would do a reading (although her voice is awesome - old fashioned Australian accent. You might feel a bit silly the first time you hear it, but don't judge an audio book by its reader. If you're anything like me, you'll come to really like her voice).

Anyway, if you struggle with anxiety, agoraphobia, panic attacks, depression (last chapter), then it will help a lot. It's old, but it has elements of things we're only just realising help with these issues (CBT, Mindfulness, relaxation, acceptance, etc.). It's a shame that she didn't become the 'Pin Up' for 'nervous disorders' because she's helped me to get through this without medication. Much more helpful than any doctor has been for me, and as helpful as my very expensive therapist was.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Hope and Help for Your Nerves?

The most memorable thing was that I learned to feel calm in anxious situations. At one point, I was freaking out just going to the shops. Now, I'm not over that, but when I remember her lessons, the anxiety goes right down and I feel much, much better. When I forget the lessons, I can feel bad again. This is why I keep coming back to the book.

What about Claire Weekes’s performance did you like?

Her voice is awesome! At first I was a bit judgemental, but I realised I was being an ass.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

She was a husk of person, turning to dust in her house, until she finally broke out...
(Hollywood Blockbuster, so totally exaggerating. Am neither a husk nor made of dust)

Any additional comments?

Fabulous. Definitely give it a try if you have anxiety or depression. It might not work for you, but it did for me. Mindfulness works for me too. Doctors, SSRIs, SRNIs, Pregabalin, and whatever other medication they throw at me, have not helped me.

6 people found this helpful

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Very helpful for anxiety and panic sufferers. She really knew her stuff! Very relaxing voice too.

3 people found this helpful

Helped me within days

I have had severe anxiety since the beginning of the year, I wasted so much time and money when I should have gotten this from day one! Purchased this this after my first setback which was so close to recovery and after a week I am almost back to normality. Dr Weekes explains anxiety in a simple but effect way and teaches her patients how to fully accept their nervous illness....'loosen and accept.' I listen to the audio books anytime I feel I am too anxious and she quickly reminds me to relax and accept not to fight or avoid. I recommend her work to anyone! Paul David's book 'at last a life' is a great book as well to overcome anxiety, his recovery was based on Dr Weekes work as well and is a little more up to date.

3 people found this helpful

Still relevant today and it works!!

Claire's words of wisdom are as relevant today as when they were written in the 1960s. The central theme of acceptance is hard when you seem to be at the mercy of your nerves, but have courage because this works! The first time you manage to sit through and truly accept your anxiety attack or usual train of terrifying thoughts is so liberating. You get a glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel and can start to believe that you will get through. I prefer this method to CBT - I find the constant analysis in CBT exhausting especially when your poor mind and body is already stretched to its limit. Relaxing and accepting gives you a chance to repair; so much of nervous illness makes no sense, so accepting rather than questioning gives you a break for constant self-analysis.

5 people found this helpful

Claire Weekes was a legend. Buy it if struggling.

Amazing lady. If struggling with anxiety or depression this is all you need. Her way is the only way out of nervous illness.

2 people found this helpful

Ahead of her time.

If you suffer from anxiety give this a try. Dr Claire Weekes explains what anxiety is and how to recover from it. It has helped me so much. She was years ahead of her time. This should be a staple for all anxiety sufferers.

3 people found this helpful

New but rings true and provides great hope

Her voice is so soothing, yet matter of fact. It is like she knows me, knows what I'm going through. Didn't expect an old book to provide such insight. I am very hopeful though early days. Listening to her makes me smile and nod.

1 person found this helpful

old fashioned but helpful

I have found this book to be very helpful and return to it whenever I am struggling to cope with my anxiety.

1 person found this helpful