In her nonfiction debut, the author, a therapist, suggests a variety of approaches to navigating the pitfalls of anxiety and depression to follow a path to “a calmer, more centered existence.” Anxiety, Love asserts, is more like a messenger than an enemy, and the author compares the emotion to a flickering flame: “It can either consume us in its fiery embrace or ignite within us a newfound resilience and strength.” Love breaks down the various characteristics and manifestations of both anxiety (including generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and panic attacks) and depression (indicated by such things as a loss of pleasure, lack of energy, and a drastic change of appetite) and proposes a series of countermeasures that emphasize the holistic and the personal over psychiatric or medical perspectives. Central to all of these approaches is her “ABC model” for “cracking the code” of anxiety by means of understanding “activating events,” “beliefs and interpretations,” and “consequences,” both emotional and behavioral. In beautifully illustrated chapters (the color artwork is by the author), Love puts forward a wide variety of possible wellness fixes, from dietary tips about avoiding excess sugars and processed foods to cultivating new habits like keeping a personal diary; she notes that that “fun-filled activities trigger a symphony of neurochemicals, including dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins.” Although she’s an upbeat and energetic presence on the page, Love walks a fine line with some of her advice, as serious anxiety and depression are medical conditions requiring medical solutions. Nevertheless, the author is consistently on point when urging her readers to treat themselves with more kindness, frequently using the metaphor of the caterpillar that eventually transforms into a butterfly. Her gentle insistence on inward self-care will be a boon to those who suffer from anxiety and depression no matter what other therapeutic measures they take.
English (US) ·