Panic Disorder 411

Buy The Road To Fort Worth - Second Edition 2019

Kindle E-Book & Paperback Editions → Amazon

The Road To Fort Worth is the story of Jack Wendell's journey through the hinterlands of alcoholism, agoraphobia, and panic disorder into recovery. The narrative begins with Jack's first anxiety attack, continuing with a series of episodes that take him on a walk into an alternate universe of madness. Overwhelmed by terror and the urgency of leaving the tormenting hell that embraced him, he discovers the sedative, calming effects of alcohol.

He was like a sailor lost in the fog, always seeking a safe harbor, but unable to navigate a perilous sea. He lived on his wits to find a roof to shelter him and enough drinks to render him unconscious day after day. He knew that there was no solution to the panic that engulfed him until the day he stumbled into Fort Worth.

If you have a co-existing emotional disorder, you'll understand Jack's dilemma. If you're an alcoholic or one of the five people adversely affected by an alcoholic, you'll gain a new understanding of his plight. You'll never again look at alcoholism in the same light. You'll understand that a few simple principles are the key to recovery. You'll learn that it's easier to get sober than to stay sober, and that it's possible to arrive on the other side of the overwhelming obsession to drink without drinking.

If you're a victim of panic disorder, you'll learn that one's internal dialogue has a large impact on panic attacks, and that a few cognitive restructuring techniques will help to ease and dissipate the episodes with practice. After reading The Road To Fort Worth, you'll have discovered how to avoid some of the pitfalls that enslaved Jack and how to begin to recover from two devastating diseases.

Book Reviews

"Michael Smith's gripping novel takes us on an often times harrowing journey through days lost and days seized. His story is the authentic 'road novel,' but more of a relation to Robert Frost's 'road less traveled' than Kerouac. Smith defies the tragedy so often found in novels of addiction. He offers us recovery without sentimentality, and his words deliver real hope in even the darkest hours." —Geoff Schutt, Novelist

"Mr. Smith's talent lies in how he describes events. The book grabbed my attention from the first sentence so effortlessly. As I read, it was as if I'd been part of the narrative all along. I find the best books I read are like that. They just pull you in without you realizing how." —Martha Garcia

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"There are some books that distract you for an evening and are then forgotten. The Road to Fort Worth does not belong in this class of books. This novel gets inside you because it's the real deal."

"I'm thankful that Mr. Smith had the courage, the fortitude, the heart to write The Road to Fort Worth. This novel is embodied compassion, compassion for self, and compassion for the hurting world. The Road to Fort Worth is like Pandora's box, where, at the very end, we find a subtle, yet all-powerful, force: Hope."

"The Road to Fort Worth is told beautifully, lyrically, with a unique voice and quotation punctuation. The novel is as individual as the brilliant man who wrote it, and you owe it to yourself to investigate. I urge you to dive right in." —Joshua Bigger, Author

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"Michael Smith's book The Road To Fort Worth is an inspirational trip down the author's own road to hell then freedom. As a sufferer of panic disorder myself, I know how hard it is to overcome this. Alcohol can certainly calm the nerves but, as Mr. Smith soon found out, it can lead to problems of its own. Not until he's battling alcoholism and panic disorder does he wake up and realize there has to be help out there for him. Though true help was a long time coming."

"No matter where he was directed, it just seemed to make matters worse or only helped for so long before he started the downward spiral again. Would nobody truly understand what he was going through and help him rather than masking his problems with prescription drugs, shoving him from one form of treatment to another, all with no positive result?"

"In the end this is a book about hope, about never giving up on yourself no matter how bleak the present and future may seem. It's a book that instills the comfort and reality that miracles do happen." —Kelly Wallace, Author

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"A very sobering story! Very well done.. A long slow journey into sobriety. Anyone with an alcohol problem or a family member with a problem should read his book. I laughed, cried and cheered him on!" —Amazon Kindle

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"Outstanding book. This true story gives an accurate description of addictions and recovery! Very well written. Congratulations!" —Amazon Kindle

Twitter Mentions @Road_2_Ft_Worth

"You churn out gold like it's butter!" —Zack Wilson

"Read the excerpt for Chapter 8 - wonderful prose. I congratulate you on this endeavor. I wish you the best with it." —Jennifer Donohoe

"Just bought the book because of the tweet! Ah, the power of twitter!" :) —Diana Fletcher

"We love your book, Michael - great read. God hugs to you." —Speedprayers

"Good read - really hit home." xx —nikita stokes

"Hi Michael. I'm eager to read your book soon. My site follows PTSD from my own POV. Many are happy you wrote this book, I'm sure. Take care." —Terry Gibson, Author

"I just bought: The Road To Fort Worth by Michael Jackson Smith via KindleUK." —Honor Hancock

"I'm so into this chapter that everything disappeared around me for a min. Impressed." —cheeky_dre Andrea

"Read an excerpt of ur book.....WOW! You, Friend. Are VERY talented. God Bless you and keep you!" —IzzyB

"LOVED the excerpt will be getting the book I need to know what happens to Jack. Good work!!! ;-)" —Geovanna Jardine

"Is your book going to be made into a motion picture?" —D.J. Whitfield

"Your excerpt was compelling. Having been in a similar situation, it spoke to me very deeply. Kudos for writing it." —Vanimore_

"Thanks! Love it. The topic of your book has personal meaning for me. Have you turned this into an audio book version?" —Jason Inman

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"It is good I will get myself a copy and you should try to get it translated in Dutch, it could sell, just the kind of book we like."

"Thanks for the info The Sunday painter is no Sunday writer The 2nd novel looks promising as well Dutch translation possible Keep me posted."

"And I'm pleased I can read this book. You have a contagious style. Please keep writing." —Diane Breedveld

The Director's Speech, excerpt from Chapter 8, posted On Band Back Together

"There is an edge to this post that makes it really hard to read. But there is a truth to it so strong that those of us who have faced addiction and kicked it in the taco can also recognize. I am grateful to those who told me the truth when I was trying to find my way through the mess. Step by step, breath by breath, moment to moment. These are all we can do in the act of finding our way. The bigger picture becomes clear once we muscle our way through the hard stuff. Thanks for posting this. It is a great reminder of the road traveled. I hope those who need to, will be able to find the message of strength and hard choices and no excuses too." —Karen

"This is a tough post. Thank you for sharing." —JTook

"This one took my breath away. Great post." —Chibi Jeebs

"Wow. I love the shit outta this - thank you!" —ms.chessnudt

"Sending you peace on your journey. Take care." —amourningmom

"The epitome of tough love. A very raw and real post. Thank you." —I Want Thursdays

"Great post! It brought back a lot of tough memories. Thanks for sharing your journey with us." —still standing

"This post is so much like that hard truth that was spoken to me when I first found my way into the rooms of recovery. The people who told me "work the steps, motherfucker, or die" & "shut the fuck up, you don't know shit" are the ones I HEARD, because somehow my sick ass knew that they told the fucking truth. The ones who told me "oh, baby, it's gonna be all right" are the ones who are still coming back in the rooms picking up their 'desire chips' and white key tags. Thank you for sharing the hard truth about addiction. It is a truth that saves lives." —Cindy

THE ROAD TO FORT WORTH by Michael Jackson Smith: Very little was known about panic disorder when I had my first panic attack. There was no help available to teach me how to assuage the attacks, but I discovered that alcohol would dissolve my fear instantly. My website contains the kind of information that would have been a tremendous help to me in the early days of my illness as I searched for solutions for the panic disorder, agoraphobia, and alcoholism that incapacitated me. My book is the story of my journey into recovery. Read Chapter 8 | Top of Page↑