First published 2012
Daniel Smith opens his life to readers, revealing the daily reality of living with severe anxiety. He maps the territory of panic attacks, obsessive thoughts, and the exhausting mental gymnastics that anxiety demands. Smith travels through what he calls the demonic layers of the disorder, showing how it twists logic and creates its own painful but coherent internal world. He captures the self-destructive absurdities that anxiety produces while maintaining his sense of humor throughout the journey. The book articulates experiences that millions of Americans share but struggle to express. Smith offers both relief and recognition to readers who have felt isolated by their anxiety or watched loved ones struggle with the condition. His memoir provides words for feelings that often seem impossible to communicate.
Genres: psychology, mental-health, memoir, non-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: memoir, personal-journey
212 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster
Content warnings: anxiety, mental-illness