10 Steps to Mastering Stress

David H. Barlow, PhD, is Professor and Founder and Director Emeritus of the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders at Boston University. He has published over 500 articles and chapters and over 60 books, and his research has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health for 40 years. Ronald M. Rapee, PhD, is Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Macquarie University, Sydney and Director of the Centre for Emotional Health. Professor Rapee's primary research focuses on the understanding and management of anxiety and related disorders across the lifespan. He has established a number of internationally used treatment programs and was recently awarded the Order of Australia for his contributions to clinical psychology. Sarah Perini, MA, is Director of the Emotional Health Clinic at Macquarie University in Australia, where she teaches post-graduate psychology students how to conduct effective treatment. She is an experienced clinical psychologist who has treated hundreds of stressed and anxious patients. She has also worked in a range of clinics and hospitals and has published several academic articles.

"The authors, renowned medical specialists in the area of emotional health and psychology, present a systematic approach to help readers learn and integrate relevant tension-reduction techniques into their lives. Their ten-step system involves keeping a daily stress record, practicing deep muscle relaxation, learning to think realistically, and managing time effectively. As readers adopt the methods they can chart their progress and follow along with four casestudies who suffer from an array of stress-related problems. Offering more than a variety of tips for random usage, this book will be appreciated by readers for providing structure within whichtransformation can take place." -Library Journal"This book provides an easy-to-implement, step-by-step approach for managing stress that is backed by years of science. It's an exceptional guide from world-renowned researchers who bring the best available evidence to those in need." -Michelle G. Craske, PhD, Professor and Vice-Chair, Department of Psychology, UCLA"This is an excellent, concise, and right-on-target guide to coping with your daily stress. With clear self-help tools, forms that you can use immediately, and helpful practical tips, readers will find this to be a good guide to dealing with stress. Highly recommended." -Robert L. Leahy, PhD, Director, American Institute for Cognitive Therapy, and Clinical Professor of Psychology, Weill-Cornell University Medical College, New York Presbyterian Hospital"10 Steps to Mastering Stress provides a refreshing and unique approach to helping those who tend to react to unpleasant events with worry, tension, and anxiety. It is head and shoulders above any other self-help book in a number of ways-- it is based on years of research with respect to the techniques it promotes, and it provides guidance on how to integrate and apply the techniques within your lifestyle." -Michelle G. Newman, PhD, Professor ofPsychology and Psychiatry, The Pennsylvania State University"Written by world leaders in the field of anxiety, this is an accessible, engaging, and practical guide for transforming one's lifestyle and increasing one's well-being." -Richard J. McNally, PhD, Professor and Director of Clinical Training, Department of Psychology, Harvard University, and Author, What is Mental Illness?"10 Steps to Mastering Stress offers a systematic, effective, and highly pragmatic program that will dramatically change how you deal with the stresses and pressures of 21st-century living. If you could read only one book on stress management, this would be it!"-David A. Clark, PhD, Professor of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, Canada

• Introduction ; Step 1: Understand your stress ; Step 2: Relax your body ; Step 3: Think realistically ; Step 4: Evaluate consequences ; Step 5: Test predictions ; Step 6: Stay present ; Step 7: Take control ; Step 8: Be assertive ; Step 9: Manage your time ; Step 10: Problem solve