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by Paul Dooley

Dr. Claire Weekes – Anxiety Superhero

20 Comments

Many of us spend days, weeks or even years looking for a person that will point us in the right direction. A person that will not only explain our anxiety disorder in clear terms, but also how we can cope with it without going broke. There are so many great ways to cope with anxiety, but unfortunately many of them require a lot of moolah. Dr. Weekes on the other hand provides inexpensive resources that can actually make you feel better.

Now Dr. Claire Weekes ( 1903 – 1990) is not a caped crusader. She was a medical doctor and writer from Australia that spent over 40 years helping people like me and you. Dr. Weekes is an anxiety superhero in that she also suffered from what she called "Nervous Illness" but never allowed it to rule her life. She designed a basic program for recovery that was focused on overcoming what she called the three main pitfalls of nervous illness (anxiety disorder). The pitfalls are sensitization , bewilderment (confusion) and fear. For Dr. Weekes these were the three reasons why you are the way you are and why you stay this way.

She describes sensitization as a persons body being in an elevated state of sensitivity so that almost anything can trigger your sympathetic nervous system leading to things like panic attacks. Dr. Weekes stated that this was the reason why you are jumpy and prone to the over production of adrenaline which ultimately causes all the nasty physical symptoms you encounter.

The second pitfall is bewilderment. She believed that because most people don’t understand the physical basis for a panic attack or other anxiety related symptom, they become confused and "stuck in a maze". It is the confusion that keeps us anxious and may even worsen the condition since it tends to rob people of hope and direction.

The last pitfall is fear. Dr. Weekes argues that after a while you are simply afraid of your constant state of fear. This also contributes to more sensitization and confusion. To Dr. Weeks this is a cycle that she called a set pattern, no mystery of any kind. Her method of recovery is very simple – accept, float, let time pass. She states over and over that if you do this you can get better.

Dr. Weekes wrote five books in total and also made several radio and T.V. appearances. Of all her works however there are two that I have relied on for peace and comfort when things get tough.

1. Hope and Help for Your Nerves . This relatively short book is her first and is packed with useful information and self help tips on how to cope with your anxiety. I read this book on a regular basis to help me understand things more clearly. It is broken up into short chapters which really makes it a great reference. She also talks about many of her patients and how anxiety manifested itself in them and how they figured out creative ways to cope.

2. My all time favorite however is her audio CD called Pass Through Panic: Freeing Yourself from Anxiety and Fear . This CD is a an absolute life safer. To hear Dr. Weekes’s voice in times of need has really been indispensable. She has a way of "cracking the whip" on you and making you realize that you are in fact not crazy and this anxiety disorder of yours will not kill you. It comes in both CD and cassette.

I wanted to introduce Dr. Weekes because I had gone over five years with anxiety disorder without ever hearing her name. She is really is a giant in this field and her contributions to helping people that suffer from anxiety disorder really can’t be overstated. She explains things very simply and clearly and gives you the sense that she really understands not only anxiety disorder or "Nervous Illness" but your personal struggle with it. I keep her audio CD in my car and the book in my home.

I have gained a tremendous amount of support and hope from Dr. Weekes. Much of what I believe to be effective coping strategies I adopted from her work . Although I still incorporate other methods into my personal coping strategy, Dr. Weekes’s views and opinions still guide much of what I do and think with respect to my anxiety disorder. I strongly recommend that you look up her work and see if she can’t help you as well.

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20 Responses to “Dr. Claire Weekes – Anxiety Superhero”

Judy

January 25th, 2009 at 8:50 am

I have read many anxiety self-help books and I agree that Dr. Weekes was the most compassionate and helpful of all of the authors that I read. You don’t hear about her because there are so many more currently engaged in trying to make money from your illness. But, if you want to gain confidence and understanding of your illness, read Dr. Weekes.

Katy

May 27th, 2009 at 5:14 am

Dr. Weekes is the only one of the anxiety doctors (on the web and in the office) to explain exactly what was going on in terms of my full scale nervous breakdown. The feelings of unreality, the disengration of self, suggestability, the messy hair and all the crying. It was the first hope that I was not a “speacial case” and I was not actually crazy.

Paul

May 27th, 2009 at 7:53 pm

That’s what I love most about Dr. Weekes, when you feel “special” her words and audio can snap you back into reality. Love her.

Misty

July 6th, 2009 at 12:39 am

Dr. Weekes’ work was recommended to me as I was attempting to recover from severe postpartum anxiety, depression, and worsening agoraphobia. Her books became my bibles. I knew I wasn’t crazy, and she revealed to me exactly what was going on so I could actually get better. Even now, when I have slip-ups, she’s my first resource.

Wayne

July 14th, 2009 at 11:00 am

dr claire weekes is truiy a good send a true angle she and her tapes help me to much. she is the best

JJJ

August 7th, 2009 at 6:11 pm

I am reading her book and also audio tapes, excellent book and has given me hope to recover. Really great book for anyone suffering from nervous illness (Anxiety…). I keep reading and reading and practice what she says, it has helped me a LOT so far, still practicing.

Andy

August 10th, 2009 at 2:04 pm

In a way I kind of feel ‘lucky’ to be an anxiety sufferer at this time – as opposed to 5o years ago. There are so many resources that you can get your hands on now. It seems to me thouhg that Weekes was kind of out there on her own. A real pioneer. She must have helped so many people over the years, such a great legacy.

Jenny

August 17th, 2009 at 5:25 pm

I’m really enjoying “Hope and Help For Your Nerves” and it is the first book I’ve read by her, upon the suggestion of this blog. I’m getting benefit from it and other books, as well as mindfulness meditation practice, which I think complement what she writes very well. Thanks for the suggestion!

Dr Claire Weekes - - SocialPhobiaWorld.com

September 26th, 2009 at 2:07 pm

[...] is something I think we should all do and anxietyguru has done this in such a way it helps me.. Dr. Claire Weekes – Anxiety Superhero | Anxiety Guru Many of us spend days, weeks or even years looking for a person that will point us in the right [...]

Heidi

November 6th, 2009 at 10:22 pm

Before you spend tons of money on other programs. Order her books, they are inexpensive and worth the weight in gold. Years ago when the panic started they were the only comfort and a life saver to me. I have always kept them. In the past six years my father, husband and mother all passed away, this has brought on my panic again. I am so grateful I have her books to turn to. I am sending a special prayer to her in heaven for helping us. If you are low on funds try finding her books used on the internet or library, but the softcovers are already inexpensive. Maybe one day they will find out why some people are prone to nerves, but until then we can get some confort in Claire Weekes books.

mark

December 2nd, 2009 at 6:45 am

I listen to her audio on my way to work and have her books at home. I find a sense of peace when i listen to her. Just knowing i’m not alone helps me realize its a normal condition that can be lessoned with time and practice. The ‘what ifs’ get to me and its a struggle. I am so glad i found her because she is an important part of my life.

male 38 years old. 2 children.
if anyone would like to discuss or chat about her, email me anytime markdz71@gmail.com

Brian

December 3rd, 2009 at 8:58 pm

I have yet to find an earlier source that truly understood the condition as well as Dr Weekes did. Has anyone found an earlier source on anxiety that makes as nuch sense ?

Marcus

December 22nd, 2009 at 7:31 am

Hello Mark, I tried to contact you but no answer so far. Who else would like to discuss about her and her work? I know about Claire Weekes since three weeks and I’m sure that I found the answer to my problem after 15 years living with anxiety.
hopeandhelp@t-online.de

mark

December 24th, 2009 at 7:21 am

Hey Marcus, i did get your last email and wrote back.

For everyone else, i was able to find more Claire Weekes audio from Australia. Some of it is the same as whats offered in the USA, BUT some are new.

Mark

yolande

December 27th, 2009 at 11:38 pm

Dr Claire Weekes was my life saver 6 years ago and now 6 years later, she is still helping me through her books. I thank my lucky stars the day i bought her book. Without her, I truly cannot say what would have happened to me – no doctors that I have met can even explain anxiety as clearly as she did.

Rich

December 29th, 2009 at 12:04 pm

Which audio is the best for generalized anxiety and panic attacks? I see she has a few of them..

Paul

December 30th, 2009 at 8:29 am

The CD Passing through panic was the best for me.

michelle

February 7th, 2010 at 3:38 am

I have stumbled on your website……can i recommend you look at http://www.panicfree.co.nz….a recovery program based on the work of Claire Weekes. I assure you this is not a spam / sales pitch. I have just joined the program but am getting a lot of inspiration and strength from those who are on it, practising Claire Weekes program and are making progress. They swear its the only permanent way out of anxiety……

Jim

February 16th, 2010 at 1:02 pm

Dr. Weekes was a Godsend to me as seeminglly the only, and ultimately the best, resource when I was going through Panic issues. It’s been over 20 years since I had an anxiety ocurrence, and could care less if I had they started tomorrow as she is that “spot on” with her description of anxiety disorder syptoms and their cure. God bless that woman!

Joyce

February 19th, 2010 at 12:16 pm

As I’m preparing my mind for a long plane trip, I’m listening to Pass Through Panic for the umpteenth time. I’d been an agoraphobic since age 14 (almost 50 years ago). Eventually, I found Dr. Weekes. Wow! Unlike many therapists who didn’t understand my problem and thus left me feeling like a freak, she understood completely. For the first time, I could see a way out, and she gave me the confidence to pursue it. I want to tell everyone to believe her insights and trust her methods. She was a great healer who has left us a legacy of transformative teachings.

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