First published 2011
Priscilla Warner has everything that should make her happy. She enjoys a strong marriage with a supportive husband, raised two loving sons, and co-authored the bestselling book The Faith Club. Yet severe anxiety and panic attacks leave her gasping for air and unable to function. For forty years she has tried various forms of self-medication, from sneaking vodka in high school to daily Klonopin with dark chocolate. After one overwhelming panic attack serves as her wake-up call, Warner adopts the mantra "Neurotic, Heal Thyself." She commits to daily meditation, determined to rewire her anxious brain and calm her frayed nerves. Warner explores spiritual chanting, meditative painting, Jewish ritual baths, and Ayurvedic oil treatments. She learns Kabbalistic wisdom from mystical rabbis, attends silent Buddhist retreats, and consults various healers and therapists. Meditating in shopping malls rather than monasteries, she becomes a monk in a minivan. This unconventional spiritual journey allows her to examine her family history with fresh perspective and make peace with her past. A neuroscientist confirms her healing progress through brain scans.
Genres: psychology, self-help, memoir, spirituality
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: personal-journey, self-discovery
288 pages · Hardcover · Atria Books
Content warnings: anxiety, mental-illness