Anxious people share certain types of personality traits, which are responsible for a good deal of their anxiety. Such people are often analytical worriers who dwell on things and obsess about their fears. They want things to be a certain way and have extremely high expectations. As a result, they are often disappointed and anxious. Winning the approval of others is important to them, and at all costs they must appear to be in control.

One of my favorite movies of all time is “What About Bob,” directed by Frank Oz and starring Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss.  It came out in 1991, which means almost twenty years had passed between my first panic attack, and the agoraphobia and many single phobias that developed soon after.  I had had lots of time to practice overcoming my fears.  And, a lot of time to look back and find the whole thing just a little bit funny.