It may start with a chance meeting or a casual smile. It could begin at work, on a blind date, or at the end of a relationship or a marriage. Every year, 3.4 million Americans are stalked by former partners, by co-workers, by strangers. Despite these epidemic numbers, all too often victims' complaints continue to be ignored. Meanwhile, both the stalking dynamic and the toll it takes continue to be misunderstood. National journalist, bestselling writer and stalking expert Linden Gross provides all the necessary tools readers need to know to handle inappropriate obsessive attention. Readers will discover how to control their natural reactions (which often put victims at a disadvantage), how to stop feeding the obsessive interaction that perpetuates stalking situations, and how to protect their privacy and safety. Gross explains how these dangerous obsessions begin, the patterns they take, how targets can protect themselves, and what potential victims can do before the nightmare becomes a reality. Knowledge is power. Armed with information and perspective, stalking victims can make the decisions and choose the course of action that makes sense for them. If you're a victim, Surviving a Stalker will teach you: How to recognize and control actions and reactions that put you at risk How to handle inappropriate attention online and off How to protect your privacy and safety as well as the privacy and safety of your loved ones How to break the stalking cycle and regain control of your life If you're a professional who deal with stalking, the multitude of case studies in Surviving a Stalker will provide you with a clearer understanding of the crime and the devastating impact it has on its targets. In addition to profiling stalkers and their victims, Surviving a Stalker delves deeper into the subject, offering critical insights on how best to handle stalking while also covering police and legal issues, behavioral and psychological patterns that lead to an escalation of violence. The author was aided in her research by the prominent Los Angeles security advisor, Gavin de Becker, who wrote the book's foreword. De Becker, author of the national bestseller The Gift of Fear, is widely regarded as our nation's leading expert on stalking. His work has earned him three Presidential appointments, as well as a position on a congressional committee on stalking."