Marcia Read QSO, the founder of the Phobic Trust, has written a number of books & produced a video and CD to help individuals suffering from anxiety and related disorders over the years.
The Silent Sufferers - by Marcia Read QSO
Marcia Read and a group of professional people who suffered from severe anxiety disorders met regularly and discussed the lack of services within New Zealand. The Phobic Trust of New Zealand Inc was formerly established in February 1983 by Marcia Read to assist sufferers as there was little available interest in, nor help for sufferers of these disorders.
As director of the clinic, Marcia devoted her time to raising funds, publicising the work of the Trust, counselling patients and employing suitably qualified medical staff. Marcia insisted that the clinic be run on a fully professional basis.
Throughout, Marcia received assistance and support from numerous well-known New Zealanders and overseas consultants What was not so forthcoming was recognition from the mental health bureaucracy that the work being done was important enough to warrant financial help.
The Silent Sufferers describes in detail the frustrations and disappointments Marcia Read faced in the first twelve years of the Phobic Trust. It shows how difficult being a pioneer in a therapeutic field is when faced with a great deal of ignorance and opposition.
Scary Thoughts (Book & Video) - by Marcia Read QSO
Scary Thoughts, book and video, is an educational introduction to anxiety disorders. The video simply and precisely describes four anxiety disorders - Agoraphobia, School/Social Phobia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and Body Dismorphia. Everyone experiences fear and anxieties at different stages in their life. It's when these fears take over that they become an illness. Experiences of people with these disorders clearly illustrates what it feelslike to live with Scary Thoughts. The contributing factors of alcohol and marijuana are also discussed along with where you can go to get help!
Fears, Phobias & Obsessions "Screwed Up" - by Marcia Read QSO
Having worked for 15 years in a hands-on position with sufferers of severe anxiety disorders and their families, Marcia is now offering a practical self-help guide. All those suffering from anxiety disorders, as well as those who are caring for such sufferers, will find this book invaluable.
Phobi Faces Fear (Book & CD) - by Marcia Read QSO
As the work of the Trust has developed, knowledge world-wide indicated a genetic predisposition and that these disorders can and do start in very young children. To ensure children learn to talk about their fears and therfore obtain treatment and support in the early stages as a preventative tool, Marcia has conceptualised 'Phobi' to be the teacher and supporter of children, whatever their ages. She hopes that 'Phobi Faces Fear' will help children and parents to discuss their fears openly, with full appreciation of their symptoms and if help is needed, obtain support and specialist treatment at an early stage.
'Phobi Faces Fear' is a combination of legend, myth and reality.
Click here to view the flyer: Phobi Faces Fear.
Marcia hopes that 'Phobi Faces Fear' will appeal to children of all ages, cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. To aid children understand their fears and ensure that Phobi is attractive to young children, she asked Mark O'Brien of Monsta fame to bring Phobi to life as an image children can understand and relate to. Forwards by Dr Paula Barrett and Dr Sally Merry.
Once again, to ensure that young children relate to 'Phobi', a CD is included. Tommy Ferguson, well known singer and entertainer from the 1960s has written and sung the Phobi song.
If you would like to purchase any of these books, please call our office on (09) 846-9776 or email us at: clinic@phobic.org.nz
