I've just purchased this book after reading this article. Thank you so much for creating something like this India. I've been suffering with insomnia and anxiety so I'm looking forward to reading and hopefully findings some better coping mechanisms. x
This is such a powerful article, thank you. It's helped me better understand my anxiety and has instil some confidence in me going forward. I believe this is an important book. Go raibh maith agat š
Really great post. I think my mum would identify with everything that has been described here. I am a speaking coach and often get nervous speakers to write down their inner criticās thoughts and then fact check them. And I like the simplicity of āa thought is not a factā as a shortcut to remind them. I will def be buying this book.
Thatās so brilliant to hear - and what a fascinating job! Weirdly, public speaking is the one time I DONT get anxious. Possibly the solid boundaries around it!? Onto stage, speak, off stage š
Thatās a great Pandora- and not surprising as youāre very eloquent in that realm and have had lots of
Practice. Publicā speaking (which is just speaking) is up there with spiders and death on most common fears. There are solid boundaries to some events but thereās a lot to be left to presence and going with the flow/connecting with an audience. So if youāre comfortable with it then you can tick that box of an area where youāre very relaxed and thatās a big win!
This is such a fantastic and illuminating post! I wonder if hormonal changes have an impact as well on anxiety levels? Sometimes anxiety attacks can seem to come out of nowhere, and have no trigger that I can identifyā¦ Anyway, a very useful and potentially life-saving book. Iām already recommending it to friends. Thank you for this š
Such a good question! It must do. When you think about how awful PMS is for many women (and the menopause - I donāt know the stats but I bet they are sobering re-mental health). I know that oestregen level massively affects women with adhd/ executive functioning, and also people who are transitioning, the hormones come with enormous mental health challenges.
Me too! There have been constant headlines (and bestselling books) the last 10 years about how everyone is anxious and atomised, which is not NOT the case but isnāt at all helpful for individuals - what IS helpful is compassionate, galvanizing, practical steps, which this book has in spades šŖš¼
Do you think this is a good book for family members of those with anxiety disorders to get some idea of how to help or to understand better? Or can you recommend something that may fit that better?
Hello Deirdre, you are right. Not at overnight fix. But yes! this is definitely for friends and family of those with anxiety too - to better understand how to help, speak to them when really in the throes and offer assistance, if they are able to (often just being physically there is all you can doā¦). Itās such a confusing and individual thing but I have sections aimed at people close to those who are really suffering. Hope that helps x
This post could not have come at a better time, I just plucked up the courage to write about an element of my own experience of anxiety that has plagued my life for as long as I can remember and eventually led to me being signed off work for a time last year.
There is nothing more reassuring than hearing about the experiences of others and knowing youāre not alone. And this book in particular looks as though it is going to offer the most valuable thing to anxiety sufferers: hope and proof that it wonāt be bad forever.
Thank you so much for sharing Pandora and India, I canāt wait to get hold of a copy.
Sending you lots of love Connie. Youāre not alone - nor is anything you feel weird, or shocking. I hope you can access the help you need (please do ask your GP, I know it can be painfully slow but medication can be the first step) and that this book may help you work on how you frame your thinking, and managing your lifestyle to best support your brain.
Thank you so much for your kind words Pandora. Iām lucky enough to have a wonderful support network of family and friends as well a brilliant therapist and lovely GP. But I know the majority of people arenāt as fortunate as me, and for them books like Indiaās can be a brilliant resource to get them started on the road to recovery, so thank you again for sharing.
Thank you for flagging this book up! I also recently wrote about some coping strategies that I have learned from DBT (Dialectical Behavioural Therapy) and nervous system regulation courses that really help me with anxiety and intense emotions. You can read more here:
I saved this post at the time and only just getting to it. So glad I did! This book sounds like such a great read, and thank you both for sharing so generously here š«¶š»
I've just purchased this book after reading this article. Thank you so much for creating something like this India. I've been suffering with insomnia and anxiety so I'm looking forward to reading and hopefully findings some better coping mechanisms. x
This is such a powerful article, thank you. It's helped me better understand my anxiety and has instil some confidence in me going forward. I believe this is an important book. Go raibh maith agat š
This was such an interesting read. Iām off to buy the book. Thank you x
Really great post. I think my mum would identify with everything that has been described here. I am a speaking coach and often get nervous speakers to write down their inner criticās thoughts and then fact check them. And I like the simplicity of āa thought is not a factā as a shortcut to remind them. I will def be buying this book.
Thatās so brilliant to hear - and what a fascinating job! Weirdly, public speaking is the one time I DONT get anxious. Possibly the solid boundaries around it!? Onto stage, speak, off stage š
Thatās a great Pandora- and not surprising as youāre very eloquent in that realm and have had lots of
Practice. Publicā speaking (which is just speaking) is up there with spiders and death on most common fears. There are solid boundaries to some events but thereās a lot to be left to presence and going with the flow/connecting with an audience. So if youāre comfortable with it then you can tick that box of an area where youāre very relaxed and thatās a big win!
No, small talk I find very hard. I try to minimise that. Iām much better at dinners than drinks parties!
This is such a fantastic and illuminating post! I wonder if hormonal changes have an impact as well on anxiety levels? Sometimes anxiety attacks can seem to come out of nowhere, and have no trigger that I can identifyā¦ Anyway, a very useful and potentially life-saving book. Iām already recommending it to friends. Thank you for this š
Such a good question! It must do. When you think about how awful PMS is for many women (and the menopause - I donāt know the stats but I bet they are sobering re-mental health). I know that oestregen level massively affects women with adhd/ executive functioning, and also people who are transitioning, the hormones come with enormous mental health challenges.
Iām glad these issues are getting more attention!
Me too! There have been constant headlines (and bestselling books) the last 10 years about how everyone is anxious and atomised, which is not NOT the case but isnāt at all helpful for individuals - what IS helpful is compassionate, galvanizing, practical steps, which this book has in spades šŖš¼
Thank you. I am one of the lucky ones who eventually got access to the care I needed to manage my chronic insomnia, anxiety, and depression. I am so glad that this book is coming out and can hopefully help those who are suffering, waiting, and/or unsure of how to start getting help. It is not an overnight fix process but eventually things really can get better ā¤ļøāš©¹
Do you think this is a good book for family members of those with anxiety disorders to get some idea of how to help or to understand better? Or can you recommend something that may fit that better?
Deidre I am so pleased to hear this. I consider myself a lucky one too š
Hello Deirdre, you are right. Not at overnight fix. But yes! this is definitely for friends and family of those with anxiety too - to better understand how to help, speak to them when really in the throes and offer assistance, if they are able to (often just being physically there is all you can doā¦). Itās such a confusing and individual thing but I have sections aimed at people close to those who are really suffering. Hope that helps x
Thank you India! Congratulations on your publication š
Thank you. Some of the best advice Iāve ever read.
Isnāt it. Iām so pleased you felt like that too
This post could not have come at a better time, I just plucked up the courage to write about an element of my own experience of anxiety that has plagued my life for as long as I can remember and eventually led to me being signed off work for a time last year.
There is nothing more reassuring than hearing about the experiences of others and knowing youāre not alone. And this book in particular looks as though it is going to offer the most valuable thing to anxiety sufferers: hope and proof that it wonāt be bad forever.
Thank you so much for sharing Pandora and India, I canāt wait to get hold of a copy.
https://connieevans.substack.com/p/happy-1st-birthday-to-the-conversation?r=9ucvr&utm_medium=ios
Sending you lots of love Connie. Youāre not alone - nor is anything you feel weird, or shocking. I hope you can access the help you need (please do ask your GP, I know it can be painfully slow but medication can be the first step) and that this book may help you work on how you frame your thinking, and managing your lifestyle to best support your brain.
Thank you so much for your kind words Pandora. Iām lucky enough to have a wonderful support network of family and friends as well a brilliant therapist and lovely GP. But I know the majority of people arenāt as fortunate as me, and for them books like Indiaās can be a brilliant resource to get them started on the road to recovery, so thank you again for sharing.
Iām very pleased to hear that. It takes a village and it sounds like you have a brilliant one
Hello Pandora. Such a tender, deeply human pieceāit turns struggle into understanding and light. Thank you so much for sharing.
Excellent advice, thank you.
Edit: will be looking out for the book.
Iām so pleased to hear this Anne - enjoy the book. (One bite at a time.)
Thank you for flagging this book up! I also recently wrote about some coping strategies that I have learned from DBT (Dialectical Behavioural Therapy) and nervous system regulation courses that really help me with anxiety and intense emotions. You can read more here:
https://torealitywithlove.substack.com/p/11-coping-strategies-for-a-crisis?r=33uf6v&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Thought it might be useful to some readers x
I saved this post at the time and only just getting to it. So glad I did! This book sounds like such a great read, and thank you both for sharing so generously here š«¶š»