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Charles Linden Biography

Summary:

About Charles

Portrait of Charles Linden; Anxiety and Panic Attacks Expert and author of The Linden Method

Charles Linden
BA (Hons)

My name is Charles Linden. I am 36 years old and have spent a large proportion of my adult life fighting acute anxiety, panic attacks, OCD and agoraphobia... BUT NOT ANY MORE!

Apart from providing support and counselling to anxiety sufferers through 'The Linden Method', I also work in private practice counselling people with anxiety disorders through The Linden Centre. My 'Method' took seven years to develop and is now, not only, becoming recognised as THE drug free solution to anxiety disorders, but is also being pursued by International therapists eager to replicate my method around the world.

I am also a regular contributor to printed publications such as Natural Health, Women, Women's Own, About.com, Top Sante, OK magazine and anxiety disorder websites, I regularly contribute to BBC radio and I am also chair of the International Association of Anxiety Management.

I was diagnosed, about 12 years ago, as having severe anxiety, panic attacks and associated phobias. The doctor made this diagnosis on the strength of the most obvious symptoms that I was displaying at that time. I had experienced anxiety with OCD between the ages of 12 and 14 and was generally an anxious child.

After an anxiety 'breakdown' at the age of 23, my doctor prescribed antidepressants and sedatives and then kept re-prescribing, they just made me feel more ill.

I became progressively more and more ill. Over the next 12 months my condition worsened, I was unable to sleep properly, I became agoraphobic and suffered multiple, full scale, panic attacks, sometimes up to eight or ten per day. In addition, I developed multiple symptoms including respiratory complaints, digestive complaints, distorted thoughts, sight, smell and hearing, muscle spasms, tingling feelings and much, much more. I became obsessive, experiencing many strange and disturbing thoughts and compulsions.

My life was in ruin, at 24 years of age I thought my life was about to end, fear consumed me and worse of all, no one understood how I was feeling, sympathised or helped me in any way.

Over the course of my condition, I visited doctors, psychologists, immunologists, hypnotherapists and hoards of alternative therapists to name but a few, I am sure you have been down similar paths. Some therapies proved useful, some not so. The doctors were at a loss, they prescribed drugs, but were they helping? No, they just masked the symptoms and produced others. It all became so confusing, I didn't know what to do next, I was desperate. This continued for five years!

I suffered from anxiety for many uncomfortable, scary and lonely years before I found the answers I needed and became well again. In 1998, I bumped into my psychologist in town and he told me that he was shocked to see me out of my house and that he had honestly believed that I would never be well again. He also said that he had hardly recognised me as I looked so healthy and happy. I told him what I had done to achieve this and he raised his eyebrows in amazement. This shocked me at the time, but after thinking over what he said, I don't think I ever expected to be well again either.

Don't ever think you are alone with this condition, you are not. Along with millions of other sufferers worldwide, I have the greatest of sympathy with your situation and assure you that I know how you feel and desperately want to help you. I truly believe there is an answer to this, I sometimes call it the 'Holy Grail', but only because it has been so illusive. Life isn't life when you suffer with anxiety, existence is not living... it is compromising on what you could and will have, a full, happy and healthy lifestyle.

When I talk about how I used to be, it is almost as if I am talking about a different person, as if it was all just a horrific blurred dream but my god was it real; when I see photographs of myself back then, it brings it all into focus.

It took my wife and family a long time to convince me that what I did to get better was worth sharing with others and I guess I didn't believe it at first but I now feel that the final step in my recovery came with the good feelings I got when the people I helped thanked me.

During the years that I suffered with anxiety, I discovered a lot about myself and about other people in the same position. The one striking similarity between sufferers, contrary to what they might believe, is that they have a strength that none sufferers just don't have and also, in recovery, a new found level of awareness which makes you feel like a veil has been lifted and everything about life is suddenly clearer than ever before.

If you decide to use my method, promise me one thing... that you will send me your comments so that I can use them to show others that there really is a way through this and encourage them to become well again.

The Linden Method has now helped 99,625 people from all over the world; it boasts proven results better than any other anxiety disorder therapy. It is my hope to make the method available to every sufferer and it is to this end that I continue my research and development.

I promise you that this isn't a gimmick or scam... It really works.

News / Updates

The Times 'Must Read' seal of approval

Charles new book, Stress Free in 30 Days, has been given The Times newspaper 'must read' seal of approval. The book, which includes a mixed media CD, has also reached position two on Amazon.

The book is a paperback version of Charles' 30 Day Stress Away programme and is an ideal first line of defence against work and life stress. Used in conjunction with The Linden Method, Stress Free in 30 Days can have a dramatic affect on those life issues which can cause stress to build up.

Charity Event for 'life limited' children

Charles and Beth were proud to be part of the Acorns Children's Hospice Trust for life limited children's Christmas Candlelight Ball, held at Grafton manor in Worcestershire.

The table of 10 made up of business associates and friends of Charles' raised over £2000 for the charity on the night and the event raised well over £10,000.

Pictured above are: Architect and property developer Andrea and husband Richard Millner, CEO of HFC Bank Ltd and wife, Eve and John Uphoff, Business people Nicky and Chris Bagnall, Beth and Charles, tennis professional Les Davies and his wife Tanya.

Linden Centre Mexico

This month a new Linden Method centre has opened in Mexico, Central America to coordinate programme delivery and support as our client base grows. Our new team there has been put together and will be managed by Mark Walsh who lives there with ex-Linden Method specialist and 5th year medical student Nadia who is finalising her studies. We wish Mark, Nadia and the Latin America team all the best and look forward to a successful future for The Linden Method in this new territory.'

Linden Centre Christmas Party

A great time was had by all at the 2007 Linden Centre Christmas party. This year the staff voted for a meal and dance, but by the end of the meal, everyone was too full and 'tipsy' to take full advantage of the dance floor.

Becky was dance leader (oh to be young again) and did a fine job of making sure everyone strutted their stuff at some point during the evening. Everyone had a great time and we were all in work on time the next day!