Book: Panic to Peace – Page 2

PtP Series, Part 2: Living Hidden and Afraid

This is Part 2 of 7 in a series of blog posts about the book Panic to Peace: Living Free from the Grip of Fear (CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE).

I shared with you in the first part of this series that, over a decade ago, intense anxiety and accompanying panic attacks took over my life. I lived in a constant state of fear, sometimes paralyzed by it. There was no escape, as the anxiety weighed me down both day and night.

That was not the true beginning of my story of fear. I thought it was at the time, as I could not remember ever really experiencing anything like it before. However, I was eventually made aware that the feelings I was suffering with were the result of something that had been snowballing for years. Although the root problem had been with me for a very long time, it had remained hidden for the most part, not causing enough trouble to get my attention until I had my first panic attack.

My journey exposed me to some information that surprised me. I had actually been living in fear for as long as I could remember. There were some key events along the way that fed my fears, but I had found ways to cover them up. The problem with covering up fears is the harder you try to suppress them, the bigger bang they make when the damage they do inside of us is finally unleashed.

Many of the events in my life that ignited my fears fueled something else that was very damaging to me: shame. Behind all of my fears, I discovered I believed deep down that there was something inherently wrong with me. I did not like myself very much. That’s actually an understatement. Not only did I dodge my fears, I also hid my face behind a mask. The mixture of shame and fear that I carried with me through life was an internal storm that I did not even know was brewing.

If I was ever going to be set free from the symptoms of panic and anxiety, something would have to be done about the shame. Also, I would have to learn how to deal with my fears in a healthy way, rather than the tricks I had been using to work around them. However, before any of that could take place, I would have to make the very difficult choice to face whatever was behind the horrible symptoms that were controlling my life. I will discuss that part of my story in the next blog post in this series.

In the book, Panic to Peace: Living Free from the Grip of Fear, I share the full story regarding the panic attacks and anxiety that engulfed my life. My hope is that it will find its way into the hands of those of you who can benefit from reading about what God did in my life. Please get your copy here: Panic to Peace: Living Free from the Grip of Fear.

Don’t forget to email me if you purchase two or more copies of the book, so I can send you the Bonus Chapter of Panic to Peace, not included in the book. These will be going out shortly! And subscribe to my email list below:

PtP Series, Part 1: Suffering the Symptoms

About twelve years ago, I realized something was wrong with me. My sleep began being disrupted almost every night by something for which I had no explanation. During these episodes, I awoke to find myself dizzy, sweating, and terrified. I would jump out of the bed and pace around the house trying to relax, but I couldn’t calm down. My heart would beat so hard I thought it would explode. There were bizarre feelings in my head that got worse and worse until I felt like I would lose my mind, pass out, or even have a stroke. Eventually, it would pass. Sometimes it would take an hour, other times even longer, before I could sink back into bed, exhausted and staring at the clock which told me I had less than a few hours to get some rest before I had to be at work.

These experiences continued for a while before they began happening during the day as well. The unexplained attacks took over my life. I could barely go to work, and even when I did, I was not able to perform to the level that I used to. Some days, I could not even go to the mailbox, out of fear that the trip would provoke another attack.

For several years now, I have had a desire to share my journey through fear that began with the panic attacks briefly described above. With the help of several other people, the last year has been spent preparing a book to tell my whole story, from beginning to end. It is now available for purchase here:

Panic to Peace: Living Free from the Grip of Fear (CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE)

In the book I share how it started with panic attacks and extreme daily anxiety. I then go on to tell about the personal experiences that led to freedom from being in bondage to them. My desire is that somehow sharing my own story will be helpful to someone in the midst of their own struggles.

One of the surprising things I learned about my panic attacks and anxiety that helped was that they were merely a symptom of a bigger problem within me. It’s so easy to get caught up in thinking the symptom is the problem of which to rid ourselves. I got caught up in that misconception and doing so prolonged my suffering. Until we get to the root of our problem, it just keeps resurfacing in different ways.

Over the course of the next several weeks, I will continue to share glimpses of my personal struggle with panic attacks and anxiety here on my blog. I will share a few key moments of the battle I found myself in. If you would like to engage the detailed version of my story, along with the insights into how I finally found the peace I wanted so badly, please pick up a copy of “Panic to Peace: Living Free from the Grip of Fear”.

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Don’t forget to email me if you purchase two or more copies of the book, so I can send you the Bonus Chapter of Panic to Peace, not included in the book. These will be going out shortly! And subscribe to my email list below:

Panic to Peace: BONUS CHAPTER!

We have been made aware of a few small typos on the back cover of the book. We apologize for this oversight. However, due to these issues being minor in nature, we did not want them to delay the release of the book any further by pulling it from the sales page. Rest assured, these issues are minor and do not detract from the story inside.

That being said, I have a little idea regarding this. For those of you willing to share a copy of Panic to Peace: Living Free from the Grip of Fear with a friend, I want to give you an bonus chapter that was not included in the book!

To receive this extra chapter, all you have to do is 1) click here to email me to let me know you purchased two or more copies, and 2) subscribe to my email list at the bottom of this post, if you haven’t already. Then, when the bonus chapter is ready (in the next couple of weeks), I will start sending it out to all of you who participate. There will be no end to this little gift, no deadlines or anything like that. For as long as some of you are sharing the book, I will send out this extra chapter after it’s available. Purchase your copies here: Panic to Peace: Living Free from the Grip of Fear.

Thank you all for your support, even in light of an imperfect cover. Perhaps it is as it should be. This incident ties in well with the subheader in Chapter 2 of the book, entitled “End to Perfection”.

-Neil

The Book, “Panic to Peace,” Available Now!

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE Panic to Peace: Living Free from the Grip of Fear on Amazon.com.

Or visit The Cellar Coffee Shop, located at 108 N Wilson Ave, Dunn, NC, to pick up a copy.

For those of you waiting for the release, it is finally here. I am very excited to be able to share my experience with you in this book. We hope to see this story of God’s love and grace fall into the hands of those who will find it helpful in the midst of their own struggles. As you receive and read your own copy, please consider sharing it with someone you know that could connect with it as well.

Here’s a little more info about the book from the cover:

From the back cover:

DON’T PANIC!

Easy to Say! Only those who struggle with fear and anxiety know the anguish. Many experience a sense of paralysis so intense it stops them in their tracks. Others, racked by guilt, believe such attacks to be the result of God’s anger. Getting to the root of the problem is crucial because unmasking anxiety is the first step to change.

In Panic to Peace, Neil McLamb draws upon his own battle with fear and anxiety–from the first episode during an 8th grade public speaking event to the ensuing panic attacks which began taking over his life. Once Neil began to view himself through the eyes of his heavenly Father, he was on the road to recovery. It is his desire to lead others to the peace that once escaped him.

“Neil McLamb writes in brutally honest terms about the long slide into paralyzing fear and how he found healing in the affectionate embrace of the Father. Panic to Peace is great encouragement to those battling the lies behind fear.” – Wayne Jacobsen, author of He Loves Me: Learning to Live in the Father’s Affection

“Panic to Peace has made me more aware, to connect the dots in my struggles, stop, assess my situation and begin to regroup.” – Jennifer Bell, Educator

“Anyone who has felt their life was out of control should read Panic to Peace–Neil’s very frank account of his journey away from a life restricted by fear.” – Tony Johnson

“Those who battle anxiety know the isolation it can cause. Neil McLamb understands this and with God’s help has been able to reach the other side of panic and fear. His story offers hope and comfort for so many.” – Lizzie T. Branch, PhD

“This book is everyone’s journey from fear and isolation to freedom and acceptance. I highly recommend it!” – Scott Radosevich

Release Date Set: Tuesday, February 23

On Tuesday, February 23, the book Panic to Peace: Living Free from the Grip of Fear will be released and available for purchase on Amazon.com and other online sites. For those of you that might be interested, plans are also in the works for at least two release parties/book signings . Updates will be provided as more details become available for those events.

Soon I will begin a series of blog posts that will give more insight into the content of the book. But, in short, Panic to Peace is my personal story of living in fear and then finding freedom from fear being in control of my life. The layout of the book has been designed to share important segments of my journey, as well as helpful insights for those seeking peace in the midst of their own struggles. We want to get this incredible story of God’s Grace into the hands of those who will benefit from reading it. To do that, we need help from those of you who purchase a copy next week to also spread the word to others.

Thank you all for your love and support. The completion of Panic to Peace came later than I had initially planned, but it is finally here. This project has been a tremendous blessing to me, as our Heavenly Father has used the revisiting of my past to further establish in me just how amazingly loving and trustworthy He is. Perhaps Panic to Peace will be a blessing to you as well.

-Neil

Announcement: Book Release…

Finally, I can let the secret out. After almost a year of work, the goal of completing a book to share a deeply personal part of my own story is nearing completion. There have been a few setbacks, but everything is just about ready for publishing. I do not have a definite date, but I will let you know as soon as I have confirmation on one.

For now, I can tell you a few things about this book. First, it’s been a long time coming. I have wanted to do this for several years. In February 2015, I was given an opportunity to make it happen, and I took it. The story I share in this book covers a span of several years in which I struggled immensely with anxiety and panic attacks. I share the details of several of my experiences with living in constant fear. I go on to explain how I found freedom from the control fear had over my life. While finding that freedom from the grip of fear is a central theme in the book, there’s much more God revealed during the journey. I wrote this book with the hopes that sharing my own journey to peace will help those who are searching for it in the midst of their own battle.

Throughout the process of completing this project, I’ve had a lot of help from some great people. Without them, this book would not have been possible. Thank you Michael, Lizzie, Jennifer, Melissa, Kevin, Ryan, Beth, Scott, Tony, and several others I know I’m leaving out.

When the book is officially released, it will be available online, which should make it convenient to purchase a copy for yourself (and maybe a few more to share with others you know that might find it helpful).

That’s it for now, but I will be back soon with more info, including a release date. Please subscribe below, if you haven’t already, to make sure you catch my next update: