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Your Name is Not Anxious: A very personal guide to putting anxiety in its place
Stephanie Dowrick, PhD, embraces a whole body, whole-self approach to radically reduce stress, quieten anxiety, and return power to each reader through strong, self-supporting solutions you can use in daily life.
Anxiety and stress are wildfire problems. Why is no secret. You live in a crazily stressful world. What you can do right now needs urgent addressing.
With consummate insight and compassion, Stephanie Dowrick offers a new way to look at anxiety (and yourself) that is accessible, supportive and immediately effective. Drawing on decades of professional experience, her own story, plus the latest in mind-body-brain insights, she puts workable knowledge into your hands.
Always inspiring, always practical, this book returns the life-changing power of choice and inner security to you—where they belong.
'Read. This. Book. It's a lifesaver.' - Magda Szubanski AO
'Through her rich experience and diverse training and expertise, Dr Dowrick has made an array of connected insights accessible to us a timely gift in our anxious and troubled world.' - Patrick McGorry AO, Professor of Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne
'One of the most useful books I have read in over 40 years as a psychotherapist.' - Helen Palmer, Director, Psychosynthesis Education & Research, New Zealand
'Stephanie Dowrick has drawn on decades of research, insight and experience to put anxiety in its proper body, mind and soul.' - Tom Tilley, Television and radio presenter, author of Speaking in Tongues
'Wise, insightful and, most importantly, genuinely useful.' - Nigel Marsh, author, host of Five of My Life
'Beautifully written by one of the most authentic teachers of our time ' - Tao de Haas, Clinical Psychotherapist and Coach
'A rousing affirmation for everyone who has felt like they are nothing more than a diagnosis. Stephanie Dowrick gets to the heart of what it means to be anxious.' - Dr Neela Janakiramanan, reconstructive surgeon, author of The Registrar
'Such a comfort of a book, and so very important right now. Stephanie Dowrick's insight, wisdom and generosity shine from every page. I want a copy by my bed!' - Kathryn Heyman, PhD, author of Fury
'As a consummate storyteller, Dr Stephanie Dowrick knows that we all carry the most important healing stories within us, if we learn to open ourselves to their stirring presence and power. ' - Mark S. Burrows, PhD, author of Meister Eckhart's Book of Darkness and Life
'This book is so comforting and JOYFUL It gives us a way out, to learn to tame our dragons rather than going full-bore slaying.' - Jenna Price, PhD, journalist and social commentator
'This is a book I would thoroughly recommend to people who consult me for counselling.' - Dr Josie McSkimming, Clinical Social Worker and Psychotherapist
'Both profound and profoundly helpful.' - Richard Griffiths, PhD, Mental Health Advocate
Anxiety and stress are wildfire problems. Why is no secret. You live in a crazily stressful world. What you can do right now needs urgent addressing.
With consummate insight and compassion, Stephanie Dowrick offers a new way to look at anxiety (and yourself) that is accessible, supportive and immediately effective. Drawing on decades of professional experience, her own story, plus the latest in mind-body-brain insights, she puts workable knowledge into your hands.
Always inspiring, always practical, this book returns the life-changing power of choice and inner security to you—where they belong.
'Read. This. Book. It's a lifesaver.' - Magda Szubanski AO
'Through her rich experience and diverse training and expertise, Dr Dowrick has made an array of connected insights accessible to us a timely gift in our anxious and troubled world.' - Patrick McGorry AO, Professor of Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne
'One of the most useful books I have read in over 40 years as a psychotherapist.' - Helen Palmer, Director, Psychosynthesis Education & Research, New Zealand
'Stephanie Dowrick has drawn on decades of research, insight and experience to put anxiety in its proper body, mind and soul.' - Tom Tilley, Television and radio presenter, author of Speaking in Tongues
'Wise, insightful and, most importantly, genuinely useful.' - Nigel Marsh, author, host of Five of My Life
'Beautifully written by one of the most authentic teachers of our time ' - Tao de Haas, Clinical Psychotherapist and Coach
'A rousing affirmation for everyone who has felt like they are nothing more than a diagnosis. Stephanie Dowrick gets to the heart of what it means to be anxious.' - Dr Neela Janakiramanan, reconstructive surgeon, author of The Registrar
'Such a comfort of a book, and so very important right now. Stephanie Dowrick's insight, wisdom and generosity shine from every page. I want a copy by my bed!' - Kathryn Heyman, PhD, author of Fury
'As a consummate storyteller, Dr Stephanie Dowrick knows that we all carry the most important healing stories within us, if we learn to open ourselves to their stirring presence and power. ' - Mark S. Burrows, PhD, author of Meister Eckhart's Book of Darkness and Life
'This book is so comforting and JOYFUL It gives us a way out, to learn to tame our dragons rather than going full-bore slaying.' - Jenna Price, PhD, journalist and social commentator
'This is a book I would thoroughly recommend to people who consult me for counselling.' - Dr Josie McSkimming, Clinical Social Worker and Psychotherapist
'Both profound and profoundly helpful.' - Richard Griffiths, PhD, Mental Health Advocate
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Published July 4, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
January 21, 2025
With a background in therapy, creative writing and ministry, as well as her own struggles with anxiety, the author brings a lovely sensitivity to a tough topic. She provides case studies, helpful tips and practical exercises to help readers conquer their anxiety. As someone who has been through therapy for my own OCD, much of the content of this book was not new to me, but it did serve as a helpful reminder. Reading this book felt like getting a pep talk from a wise friend.
The book is made up of dozens of short chapters, not all of which naturally flow into each other, and some of the information is repeated in multiple chapters. Therefore, while I read it in one go, that’s not the way I recommend reading this book. I think reading a chapter a day and seeking to put each chapter’s principles into work that day would be most helpful to other readers.
I think this book will be especially helpful to people who are facing their anxiety for the first time and to those seeking to understand a loved one’s anxiety. I hope it gets into the hands of readers who will benefit from it!
The book is made up of dozens of short chapters, not all of which naturally flow into each other, and some of the information is repeated in multiple chapters. Therefore, while I read it in one go, that’s not the way I recommend reading this book. I think reading a chapter a day and seeking to put each chapter’s principles into work that day would be most helpful to other readers.
I think this book will be especially helpful to people who are facing their anxiety for the first time and to those seeking to understand a loved one’s anxiety. I hope it gets into the hands of readers who will benefit from it!
November 28, 2024
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Jan. 21, 2025
Non-fiction author and therapist Stephanie Dowrick’s new work “Your Name Is Not Anxious: A Very Personal Guide to Putting Anxiety in Its Place” is designed to help those of us who suffer from anxiety separate who we are from what we experience . With anecdotes from fellow sufferers, Dowrick introduces ways to look at yourself as an individual who makes up part of a complex, and very human, world, with the understanding that anxiety will forever be present in our makeup (if we are so inclined), but we can learn how to live because of it, rather than in spite of it.
The chapters in this book are quite short, which makes an easy read. Dowrick covers anxiety disorder in all its components, including sections on OCD and perfectionism, with not only anecdotes from herself and her friends and patients, but also tips and suggestions on how to change your life so that anxiety isn’t all that you are.
In theory, I loved the premise. Understanding a disability, disorder, syndrome or illness are separate from who we are could lead to massive change on a personal and societal level. Connecting with humanity, finding what makes us happy and treating ourselves with kindness are the basic tenets of Dowrick’s book. She encourages those who are suffering to seek professional help, and makes it very clear that those who are in controlling, bullying or aggressive relationships should not hesitate to get professional and legal help, but she considers her book “self-therapy”, for those who are looking for a way out of the anxiety spiral.
There isn’t a whole lot in Dowrick’s “Anxiety” that I hadn’t heard before. Connecting to the world and to other humans. Meditation and mindfulness. Treating yourself kindly. Putting yourself first. Caring self-talk. It’s nothing new but it’s definitely nice to get a refresher once in awhile. Now, if only it were easy enough to do (but then, we wouldn’t need self-help books I guess).
Dowrick’s chapters are labeled, making it easy for readers to find the chapter that speaks to them. As this was for a review, I read the whole book cover-to-cover, but it isn’t necessary if you are looking for specific tips on certain behaviours and attributes.
If this book does nothing else for you, at least Dowrick makes you feel less alone in the world. To know that there is an entire community of sufferers out there, looking for a way to calm their brain and body, is reassuring on its own. Dowrick’s easy-flowing chapters and generalizable language also make this book perfect for anyone who is looking to make a positive change (you don’t need a degree in anything scientific to understand it! Thank goodness).
Expected publication date: Jan. 21, 2025
Non-fiction author and therapist Stephanie Dowrick’s new work “Your Name Is Not Anxious: A Very Personal Guide to Putting Anxiety in Its Place” is designed to help those of us who suffer from anxiety separate who we are from what we experience . With anecdotes from fellow sufferers, Dowrick introduces ways to look at yourself as an individual who makes up part of a complex, and very human, world, with the understanding that anxiety will forever be present in our makeup (if we are so inclined), but we can learn how to live because of it, rather than in spite of it.
The chapters in this book are quite short, which makes an easy read. Dowrick covers anxiety disorder in all its components, including sections on OCD and perfectionism, with not only anecdotes from herself and her friends and patients, but also tips and suggestions on how to change your life so that anxiety isn’t all that you are.
In theory, I loved the premise. Understanding a disability, disorder, syndrome or illness are separate from who we are could lead to massive change on a personal and societal level. Connecting with humanity, finding what makes us happy and treating ourselves with kindness are the basic tenets of Dowrick’s book. She encourages those who are suffering to seek professional help, and makes it very clear that those who are in controlling, bullying or aggressive relationships should not hesitate to get professional and legal help, but she considers her book “self-therapy”, for those who are looking for a way out of the anxiety spiral.
There isn’t a whole lot in Dowrick’s “Anxiety” that I hadn’t heard before. Connecting to the world and to other humans. Meditation and mindfulness. Treating yourself kindly. Putting yourself first. Caring self-talk. It’s nothing new but it’s definitely nice to get a refresher once in awhile. Now, if only it were easy enough to do (but then, we wouldn’t need self-help books I guess).
Dowrick’s chapters are labeled, making it easy for readers to find the chapter that speaks to them. As this was for a review, I read the whole book cover-to-cover, but it isn’t necessary if you are looking for specific tips on certain behaviours and attributes.
If this book does nothing else for you, at least Dowrick makes you feel less alone in the world. To know that there is an entire community of sufferers out there, looking for a way to calm their brain and body, is reassuring on its own. Dowrick’s easy-flowing chapters and generalizable language also make this book perfect for anyone who is looking to make a positive change (you don’t need a degree in anything scientific to understand it! Thank goodness).
August 30, 2023
I’m afraid that Stephanie Dowrick doesn’t speak to me. I know that many people love her books but I dont get anything out of them.
August 25, 2023
“‘The world is violent and mercurial-it will have its way with you. We are saved only by love - love for each other and the love that we pour into the art we feel compelled to share…We live in a perpetually burning building and what we must save from it, all the time, is love.’”
This really was a fascinating book. It is the third (or maybe fourth) book that I have read on the subject of anxiety. This one takes a more rigorous and psychology-based approach, compared to some others which are mainly anecdotal, memoire-like, with basic surface level coping mechanisms and analogies. It talks a lot about self-trust and stress, and their links to anxiety.
I wouldn’t really recommend this book to anyone who is new to books about anxiety, or new to anxiety itself. It assumes you already have a fairly decent knowledge and understanding of anxiety and your own experiences.
I dog-eared many pages of this book to come back to in future, but there were also a few chapters that I skimmed. The author comments on self-worth, OCD, depression, childhood trauma, and a few other topics that I don’t necessarily personally relate to.
But overall I really liked this book and found it very easy and quick to read, but with lots of depth and impact.
Some other quotes that stuck with me:
“A pinch of anxiety can also stimulate you, get you better prepared for what’s to come, put you on your toes. What is not helpful is when anxiety runs riot, or stands up like a rabid dictator shouting orders and disrespecting you.”
“In Irish when you talk about emotion…you would say, ‘Sadness is on me.’ There’s an implication of not identifying yourself with the emotion fully. I am not sad, it’s just that sadness is on me for a while. Something else will be on me another time, and that’s a good thing to recognise.”
“Are we spiritual beings on a human journey? It has helped me to believe so.”
This really was a fascinating book. It is the third (or maybe fourth) book that I have read on the subject of anxiety. This one takes a more rigorous and psychology-based approach, compared to some others which are mainly anecdotal, memoire-like, with basic surface level coping mechanisms and analogies. It talks a lot about self-trust and stress, and their links to anxiety.
I wouldn’t really recommend this book to anyone who is new to books about anxiety, or new to anxiety itself. It assumes you already have a fairly decent knowledge and understanding of anxiety and your own experiences.
I dog-eared many pages of this book to come back to in future, but there were also a few chapters that I skimmed. The author comments on self-worth, OCD, depression, childhood trauma, and a few other topics that I don’t necessarily personally relate to.
But overall I really liked this book and found it very easy and quick to read, but with lots of depth and impact.
Some other quotes that stuck with me:
“A pinch of anxiety can also stimulate you, get you better prepared for what’s to come, put you on your toes. What is not helpful is when anxiety runs riot, or stands up like a rabid dictator shouting orders and disrespecting you.”
“In Irish when you talk about emotion…you would say, ‘Sadness is on me.’ There’s an implication of not identifying yourself with the emotion fully. I am not sad, it’s just that sadness is on me for a while. Something else will be on me another time, and that’s a good thing to recognise.”
“Are we spiritual beings on a human journey? It has helped me to believe so.”
September 19, 2023
Didn't really click with me. Definitely felt it could have been more concise and less verbose.
December 3, 2023
I have come across many books about anxiety but Your Name is Not Anxious really stands out. Not only does it give me a much better understanding of anxiety and how I can recognize it in both my physical as well as my mental self, it provides fresh insights and practical, easily accessible suggestions that are supporting me choose how best to respond to it. This is building my self-trust, enabling me to feel more at ease in myself and more able to engage with life. Your Name is Not Anxious is proving to be a life changing companion, one that is helping me, help myself, live well. Thank you Stephanie.
October 22, 2023
It was a very interesting book, the first of its kind I've ever read (listened to, in this case). I found the advice sound and useful for people battling with daily anxiety. Thank you.
January 22, 2025
This book has really good advice on tackling anxiety. I'll be able to use it whenever I feel overwhelmed.
November 7, 2024
I have spent a lot of time thinking about how I want to review this book. I had many different thoughts while reading but I also wanted to make sure that I wasn’t just making complaints, if I was going to give criticism I would hope it would be constructive. I appreciated that the title of the book said, “A very personal guide” because that is indeed what it was. On a positive note it felt like you were having a chat with your good friend and your friend is giving you advice. The repetition throughout mimics like when you talk about the same problem over and over with your buddy. However, my personal opinion for when I am picking up a book like this, I am looking for something with a little more authority and formality. This book only made me feel like I was listening to the authors journey with anxiety, it was hard to insert myself into the picture in an accurate way. I feel like I left the reading knowing a lot more about the author but not so much how the information related to me. Again this is personal preference, I think some would really appeal to the casual like conversation that this book carried, it’s just not my cup of tea.
It seemed like a scrapbook of someone’s journey. Pulling quotes and things that the author appreciated but left little room for my own self discovery. I also didn’t care for the repetition of “Your name is not anxious.” In the whole book. I think the title was sufficient. It made it feel more like they were trying too hard to make it a thing.
This is a formatting issue not so much an actual issue. But I actually like it when you have these really profound statements hidden among other text. You can tell which statements stand out to the author because everything was in bold. But my personal preference is that I highlight it myself. Makes me feel like an explorer, I have to dig deeper. Makes me pay attention more.
Now for the positive… I loved the short chapters, I think that was a really great mood. I also liked the quotes at each chapter that kind of set the mood. I think all of that was a really good choice!
One of my favorite quotes was this one, “In some way, suffering ceases to be suffering at the moment it finds a meaning, such as the meaning of a sacrifice.” That was a chapter that did take me to another place and was enjoyable. I also liked, “Anxiety is a robber when it takes hold of your feelings. It robs you of your natural optimism and much of your vitality. Along with stress, it exhausts you. It is also a liar, telling you what is seldom if ever “true” about the richly complex person each of us is.”
The best chapter in my opinion was 45 on venting. It provided great visuals, great advice, and easy things to remember. That is my takeaway chapter for the whole book.
In conclusion, although I appreciated the realness of the author and her courage to share. I would have thought based on the title that it would be more informational and not the extent of personal that it was. But I know this will be right up someone else’s alley!
It seemed like a scrapbook of someone’s journey. Pulling quotes and things that the author appreciated but left little room for my own self discovery. I also didn’t care for the repetition of “Your name is not anxious.” In the whole book. I think the title was sufficient. It made it feel more like they were trying too hard to make it a thing.
This is a formatting issue not so much an actual issue. But I actually like it when you have these really profound statements hidden among other text. You can tell which statements stand out to the author because everything was in bold. But my personal preference is that I highlight it myself. Makes me feel like an explorer, I have to dig deeper. Makes me pay attention more.
Now for the positive… I loved the short chapters, I think that was a really great mood. I also liked the quotes at each chapter that kind of set the mood. I think all of that was a really good choice!
One of my favorite quotes was this one, “In some way, suffering ceases to be suffering at the moment it finds a meaning, such as the meaning of a sacrifice.” That was a chapter that did take me to another place and was enjoyable. I also liked, “Anxiety is a robber when it takes hold of your feelings. It robs you of your natural optimism and much of your vitality. Along with stress, it exhausts you. It is also a liar, telling you what is seldom if ever “true” about the richly complex person each of us is.”
The best chapter in my opinion was 45 on venting. It provided great visuals, great advice, and easy things to remember. That is my takeaway chapter for the whole book.
In conclusion, although I appreciated the realness of the author and her courage to share. I would have thought based on the title that it would be more informational and not the extent of personal that it was. But I know this will be right up someone else’s alley!
February 6, 2024
I find that this book sits within the middle of 'actually practical' and 'pop psychology'.
There are a good number of points that I have taken notes on from this book that I find applicable, especially situations where I can reframe my thoughts on how I experience and internalize situations. And there are a number of questions that the book suggested that I could ask myself in times of anxiety, which would help me see things from a different angle than how I have been used to before.
That said, there are a few chapters where they are stories and other examples where I find it being less helpful or applicable. For example the chapter that talks about the book Ikigai (which I don't find helpful personally) and Victor Frankl (I have read his book Man's Search for Meaning). Also partially is that if one has already read other books on the topic, one would find these chapters repetitive of what one might already know.
Despite so, I would say that this is a good book. The chapters where I find less helpful may still be helpful for others who may need it. Overall whether a reader would appreciate this book is also a situational basis. I would say that if a reader has experienced certain degrees of anxiety in life, then this book is helpful. If I were to read this book during an earlier phase of life, I might've appreciated it less then how I would have now. So to each their own, and I am thankful to the author for writing this book.
There are a good number of points that I have taken notes on from this book that I find applicable, especially situations where I can reframe my thoughts on how I experience and internalize situations. And there are a number of questions that the book suggested that I could ask myself in times of anxiety, which would help me see things from a different angle than how I have been used to before.
That said, there are a few chapters where they are stories and other examples where I find it being less helpful or applicable. For example the chapter that talks about the book Ikigai (which I don't find helpful personally) and Victor Frankl (I have read his book Man's Search for Meaning). Also partially is that if one has already read other books on the topic, one would find these chapters repetitive of what one might already know.
Despite so, I would say that this is a good book. The chapters where I find less helpful may still be helpful for others who may need it. Overall whether a reader would appreciate this book is also a situational basis. I would say that if a reader has experienced certain degrees of anxiety in life, then this book is helpful. If I were to read this book during an earlier phase of life, I might've appreciated it less then how I would have now. So to each their own, and I am thankful to the author for writing this book.
February 27, 2025
Not a total bust by any means. It didn't resonate with me. Nothing new or really all that helpful except for a couple takes around resetting the nervous system.
And that's not on the book, so much information about anxiety out there, must be hard to come up with new takes or concepts around this.
It really didn't have anything that creative in regards to leaning into fear, which is what interests me most. It seemed more invested in consoling the afflicted reader or helping them identify broad symptoms.
It felt disjointed as well. Without a throughline to anchor things I think the book struggled to keep me engaged, we'd move from concept to concept with linking sentences but without a sense as to why we're bouncing around in that order.
Dowrick, as sweet as she sounds, can struggle as a pov narrator here. Here comparisons, metaphors, examples and jokes just didn't land for me. An incident which stuck with me throughout is an early comparison between anxiety and colonialism, which just felt silly. The book isn't filled with anything else this bad and I don't want to hold it against Dowrick or anything, but it just turned me off early.
Anyways, I might recommend it to someone who is maybe like, very much struggling with the idea that they could be dealing with anxiety in their life and need it to be introduced to them gently and carefully. Such people exist and I hope they find some peace in this book.
And that's not on the book, so much information about anxiety out there, must be hard to come up with new takes or concepts around this.
It really didn't have anything that creative in regards to leaning into fear, which is what interests me most. It seemed more invested in consoling the afflicted reader or helping them identify broad symptoms.
It felt disjointed as well. Without a throughline to anchor things I think the book struggled to keep me engaged, we'd move from concept to concept with linking sentences but without a sense as to why we're bouncing around in that order.
Dowrick, as sweet as she sounds, can struggle as a pov narrator here. Here comparisons, metaphors, examples and jokes just didn't land for me. An incident which stuck with me throughout is an early comparison between anxiety and colonialism, which just felt silly. The book isn't filled with anything else this bad and I don't want to hold it against Dowrick or anything, but it just turned me off early.
Anyways, I might recommend it to someone who is maybe like, very much struggling with the idea that they could be dealing with anxiety in their life and need it to be introduced to them gently and carefully. Such people exist and I hope they find some peace in this book.
December 2, 2024
Thanks for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.
3 stars
Self-help books are always hit or miss for me. Some are so detached from the average person and others are too specific and personal for certain people to relate to (though others might think the opposite). I will tell you one thing this book made me feel: Anxious.
The entire time reading it I felt anxious. I got all restless and legitimately started to feel not great. Is that a good or bad thing? I don't know. But I do know it made it hard to read too much at one time for me. Apparently talking about anxiety makes me anxious? Or was it all of the very personal stories? I'm not sure. I'm not bashing for that, that was just my experience.
This book has stuff that worked for me and stuff that didn't really apply. The one thing I will say is it was nice that the chapters were short and had titles. But it still feels like there was a lot of stuff that could be cut out. Sometimes it's quick and consise, and other times it felt like "please get to the point already."
If it works for someone, all the power to you. It had some decent stuff for me but most I either already knew (from therapy and my own personal research) or didn't feel like it applied to my own life and experiences.
3 stars
Self-help books are always hit or miss for me. Some are so detached from the average person and others are too specific and personal for certain people to relate to (though others might think the opposite). I will tell you one thing this book made me feel: Anxious.
The entire time reading it I felt anxious. I got all restless and legitimately started to feel not great. Is that a good or bad thing? I don't know. But I do know it made it hard to read too much at one time for me. Apparently talking about anxiety makes me anxious? Or was it all of the very personal stories? I'm not sure. I'm not bashing for that, that was just my experience.
This book has stuff that worked for me and stuff that didn't really apply. The one thing I will say is it was nice that the chapters were short and had titles. But it still feels like there was a lot of stuff that could be cut out. Sometimes it's quick and consise, and other times it felt like "please get to the point already."
If it works for someone, all the power to you. It had some decent stuff for me but most I either already knew (from therapy and my own personal research) or didn't feel like it applied to my own life and experiences.
June 1, 2025
"You don't have to read this book from beginning to end to 'get it'."
This book was written as a tool kit of sorts. A book you can pick up and put down. It covers everything from the basics of anxiety to emergency measures, to insight and action. It provides pracitcal explanations - breathing, stress, cold therapy, medications and safety nets. It porvides a try this section - often with a variety of options to try. The author clearly states that what works for one might not work for another, that you may not need every chapter, that these are all just tools that can be tried.
I really loved this book for that. The variety of topics, the expanse of options to try, the understanding that you are not alone. The easy contents page allows you to find the chapters quickly and they are short - allowing you to read through quickly - potentially in a time of need.
I took my time with this one, penciling in ideas and marking things to try. This book will be an easy one to recommend and one that I will keep close by to reflect back on.
Thank you St. Martins Press for this gifted copy! It will be well used!
This book was written as a tool kit of sorts. A book you can pick up and put down. It covers everything from the basics of anxiety to emergency measures, to insight and action. It provides pracitcal explanations - breathing, stress, cold therapy, medications and safety nets. It porvides a try this section - often with a variety of options to try. The author clearly states that what works for one might not work for another, that you may not need every chapter, that these are all just tools that can be tried.
I really loved this book for that. The variety of topics, the expanse of options to try, the understanding that you are not alone. The easy contents page allows you to find the chapters quickly and they are short - allowing you to read through quickly - potentially in a time of need.
I took my time with this one, penciling in ideas and marking things to try. This book will be an easy one to recommend and one that I will keep close by to reflect back on.
Thank you St. Martins Press for this gifted copy! It will be well used!
November 26, 2025
I enjoyed reading about 2/3 of the book with lots of information and stories that resonate with me. It provided useful guidance on how to support your loved ones who may have such experience in emotional disturbances. However, in the last 1/3 of the book, I gradually lost track and had to flip back to page 1 in order to refresh my mind on the objectives of this book. It's a kind of losing a focus on the key messaging of what the author would want to convey. For instance, a toolbox for someone who might have such experience and how to give itself a little break or space to regain energy. The last bit was a rush to close. The ending is always the highlight for me to understand the entire book. Unfortunately, this has missed the cohesion. Yet I must acknowledge that this entire book is a genuine writing and it has expressed a massive amount of empathy. And there were chapters are full of my notes and reflections. Just the organization of this book could have been presented in a better way. I am looking for a revised edition. Cheers!
November 15, 2023
The title of this book tells a story. Even if anxiety has you in a trap, anxiety is never all that you are and you can reclaim lots or even most of your power. There are strong "Emergency measures" here for people whose anxiety is more like panic. The author reaches out to readers through story-telling as well as many, many strongly researched ideas. Also, you can go directly to the sections most relevant to you and find support, then read other sections more leisurely. This is a book the author says that is self-therapy, not self-help. Excellent for all ages, and for those caring for them. (How to reduce stress, as well as anxiety, and the necessity of that for physical as well as psychological health is a great message I took away.)
January 23, 2025
Look, all I can say is give this one a read—ESPECIALLY if you suffer from any form of anxiety.
Back in 2022 after months of testing, I was diagnosed with panic attacks relating to severe rapid onset anxiety. I had ZERO IDEA anxiety could just come out of nowhere. I hate taking meds for it but that’s where I am right now because I’ll be honest—I need them.
BUT I want to get to the point where meds are only in emergencies…and this book right here?
Yea, it’s honest and raw and insanely helpful…first by showing it’s completely normal to feel the way you do. Second, because it’s not cookie cutter. There’s genuine thoughts and tips and ideas for helping you not only conquer anxiety but SEVER anxiety, which is a whole other beast.
Thanks SO MUCH for this one NetGalley!
Back in 2022 after months of testing, I was diagnosed with panic attacks relating to severe rapid onset anxiety. I had ZERO IDEA anxiety could just come out of nowhere. I hate taking meds for it but that’s where I am right now because I’ll be honest—I need them.
BUT I want to get to the point where meds are only in emergencies…and this book right here?
Yea, it’s honest and raw and insanely helpful…first by showing it’s completely normal to feel the way you do. Second, because it’s not cookie cutter. There’s genuine thoughts and tips and ideas for helping you not only conquer anxiety but SEVER anxiety, which is a whole other beast.
Thanks SO MUCH for this one NetGalley!
November 15, 2023
I absolutely loved this book so much that I sent 2 copies to the UK from Australia.
Stephanie really hit the spot for me and I loved that it wasn’t a one size fits all.
For me personally I was able to look at the index in the front of the book and see what resonated with me in any given moment when I had my anxiety attacks.
It’s like having a best friend sitting next to me, validating my feelings and also giving me a perspective on how I can manage it in the moment.
For anyone who suffers anxiety I invite you to open this book and open your heart. You are not alone with this challenging affliction and thank you Stephanie for putting it so succinctly in to words.
Stephanie really hit the spot for me and I loved that it wasn’t a one size fits all.
For me personally I was able to look at the index in the front of the book and see what resonated with me in any given moment when I had my anxiety attacks.
It’s like having a best friend sitting next to me, validating my feelings and also giving me a perspective on how I can manage it in the moment.
For anyone who suffers anxiety I invite you to open this book and open your heart. You are not alone with this challenging affliction and thank you Stephanie for putting it so succinctly in to words.
February 3, 2025
Your Name Is Not Anxious is a thoughtful and compassionate guide to understanding and managing anxiety in a practical, real-world way. Stephanie Dowrick takes a whole-body, whole-self approach, offering tangible tips and real-life advice that feel accessible and actionable. Her writing is easy to digest, making even the heavier topics feel manageable rather than overwhelming.
While some insights felt familiar, I appreciated the way Dowrick framed anxiety in a way that empowers rather than limits. If you're looking for a gentle but effective resource to help put anxiety in its place, this is a solid pick.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the free #gifted copy!
While some insights felt familiar, I appreciated the way Dowrick framed anxiety in a way that empowers rather than limits. If you're looking for a gentle but effective resource to help put anxiety in its place, this is a solid pick.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the free #gifted copy!
February 12, 2024
Ok, you can choose which chapter you want to focus on - for various iterations of anxiety. However in saying that I didn't find the chapters I chose particularly helpful. Yes I've done the breathing, the reflection but when I have that absolute visceral fear, none of that works. It all drops away.
For someone who is starting their journey into dealing with anxiety this book is fine, it gives you some direction and tools you may not have thought of.
The style did annoy me a little. All the different fonts. The exclamation marks!
For someone who is starting their journey into dealing with anxiety this book is fine, it gives you some direction and tools you may not have thought of.
The style did annoy me a little. All the different fonts. The exclamation marks!
February 21, 2025
I had really high hopes for this one, and it wasn't bad, but it wasn't what I was wanting.
This nonfiction piece encompasses many stories about anxiety and many of the things that come along with it. It also has a bit of ideas on how to calm your mind and anxiety.
I wish this was more a toolkit than a story. It was unbelievably long and had way too many antidotes for me. In the end, I don't feel I took much from it. There were a few things, like visualization that was a good reminder. But all in all, this wasn't anything new.
This nonfiction piece encompasses many stories about anxiety and many of the things that come along with it. It also has a bit of ideas on how to calm your mind and anxiety.
I wish this was more a toolkit than a story. It was unbelievably long and had way too many antidotes for me. In the end, I don't feel I took much from it. There were a few things, like visualization that was a good reminder. But all in all, this wasn't anything new.
June 1, 2025
Thank you, Netgalley, the author, and St. Martin's Press for the gifted e-book! ❤️ #gifted. My review is comprised of my honest thoughts.
Read this book if you like: Understanding your anxiety
I really enjoyed this book. I highlighted so much of it. There were so many parts of it that I had never thought of and really made sense to me. The tone and writing are so calming and helpful. I highly recommend it!
Read this book if you like: Understanding your anxiety
I really enjoyed this book. I highlighted so much of it. There were so many parts of it that I had never thought of and really made sense to me. The tone and writing are so calming and helpful. I highly recommend it!
October 20, 2023
I love this read, one of my first discoveries from a knowledgeable Australian psychotherapist with a deep understanding of stress and anxiety today.
Stephanie, thank you! Your guidance and perspectives on alleviating stress, drawing from science, psychology, spirituality, and societal aspects in the context of our modern, late capitalist existence, are incredibly valuable.
Stephanie, thank you! Your guidance and perspectives on alleviating stress, drawing from science, psychology, spirituality, and societal aspects in the context of our modern, late capitalist existence, are incredibly valuable.
November 16, 2024
This guide is excellent for anyone seeking to better understand and manage anxiety symptoms. I found many of the tools provided to be quite helpful. However, it does have a clinical tone that makes it feel more like a therapist's manual than a general self-help book. Despite this, I believe that everyone can benefit from the insights shared in this novel.
July 31, 2023
Took quite a few tips from this book. The most important one being that I HAVe anxiety not that I am. And also a statement resonated with me that our world is difficult and anxiety isn't such a strange response to it. Well worth a read ifyou have anxiety or know someone who does.
November 26, 2023
Really great perspectives on anxiety from a seasoned writer. No one book will have all the answers and this tome slots perfectly well in the centre-esoteric spectrum of reflections and lessons on anxiety.
September 18, 2024
Thank you to the publisher/author for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
This book was different than the other ones I read on Anxiety. This one seemed to cater to different types of people with ideas to help and not to necessarily solve the issue.
This book was different than the other ones I read on Anxiety. This one seemed to cater to different types of people with ideas to help and not to necessarily solve the issue.
October 22, 2024
This book provides good insight on anxiety have how to manage it. It was easy to understand. It has describes the physical effects of anxiety on the body as well. I’ve read many books on anxiety and found that this one was the most helpful.
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December 17, 2024I tried to finish this book. But when chapters are less than two pages, it somehow makes it harder to feel like you're making any progress. I will give this copy to someone else who will hopefully get farther than I did.
December 28, 2024
As someone that suffers from anxiety, I found this book to be very informative and helpful. I like the friendly tone and the tips offered. I think this is a good book for someone early in the journey of trying to manage their anxiety. A big thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc!
October 22, 2023
Some thoughtful insights in this, but it did take me a while to get through.
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