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Fear of Fear: A Psychological Thriller
Thirty-eight-year-old Vivian Long has suffered from agoraphobia (fear of public places, fear of leaving home) for all her adult life. She experiences a severe panic attack while driving home from the store and runs a red light, nearly crashing into a truck with her 14-year-old daughter, Faith, in the car. This is the catalyst to get long-needed help.
She meets with Dr. Buhari, a psychiatrist who, via video sessions, leads her through a 10-step Cognitive Behavioral Therapy program, which progressively pushes Vivian to be exposed to situations which frighten her.
As a child, little Vivi was abducted from a county fair after being separated from her family, and as a teen, she survived two sexual assaults. These traumas haunt her for years, culminating in her becoming paralyzed with anxiety and agoraphobia. Vivi and her brother, Shane, are raised by their grandparents after their parents died in a snowmobile crash. As the two become adults, Shane’s life is propelled forward but Vivi’s stagnates.
Vivian makes good progress in her therapy, and the final step involves she and her husband, Carl, taking a day-long canoe trip down a remote Michigan river. The first part of the trip is spectacular. Vivian has never felt so free and serene—until Carl suddenly slumps over in the canoe. Vivian drags him to the riverbank to attempt CPR, but she is unable to revive him. In the process, the canoe, bottled water, food, and cell phones float away downriver.
Vivian is left alone in the remote backwoods with her husband’s body—her greatest fear. She encounters many dangers during an effort to find her way back to civilization (thunderstorms, snakes, bear, biting insects, mushroom poisoning, a broken ankle, dehydration, and hunger). Vivian draws on every survival skill she can muster and is eventually rescued, tattered but alive.
Vivian celebrates her new life by visiting Italy with Faith, Shane and his partner, Luis, a trip she has dreamed about someday taking. She realizes that her strength and growth would not have been possible without her multiple challenges—the death of her parents, her abduction, her sexual assaults, the deaths of her grandparents, and finally, losing Carl and becoming stranded in the wilderness, forcing her to use every bit of fortitude to survive, and even thrive.
She meets with Dr. Buhari, a psychiatrist who, via video sessions, leads her through a 10-step Cognitive Behavioral Therapy program, which progressively pushes Vivian to be exposed to situations which frighten her.
As a child, little Vivi was abducted from a county fair after being separated from her family, and as a teen, she survived two sexual assaults. These traumas haunt her for years, culminating in her becoming paralyzed with anxiety and agoraphobia. Vivi and her brother, Shane, are raised by their grandparents after their parents died in a snowmobile crash. As the two become adults, Shane’s life is propelled forward but Vivi’s stagnates.
Vivian makes good progress in her therapy, and the final step involves she and her husband, Carl, taking a day-long canoe trip down a remote Michigan river. The first part of the trip is spectacular. Vivian has never felt so free and serene—until Carl suddenly slumps over in the canoe. Vivian drags him to the riverbank to attempt CPR, but she is unable to revive him. In the process, the canoe, bottled water, food, and cell phones float away downriver.
Vivian is left alone in the remote backwoods with her husband’s body—her greatest fear. She encounters many dangers during an effort to find her way back to civilization (thunderstorms, snakes, bear, biting insects, mushroom poisoning, a broken ankle, dehydration, and hunger). Vivian draws on every survival skill she can muster and is eventually rescued, tattered but alive.
Vivian celebrates her new life by visiting Italy with Faith, Shane and his partner, Luis, a trip she has dreamed about someday taking. She realizes that her strength and growth would not have been possible without her multiple challenges—the death of her parents, her abduction, her sexual assaults, the deaths of her grandparents, and finally, losing Carl and becoming stranded in the wilderness, forcing her to use every bit of fortitude to survive, and even thrive.
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First published May 28, 2021
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About the author
P.J. Nakfoor
2 books35 followersI'm a recently retired Emergency Physician and worked in the field for over thirty years. I loved my career and now have the time to develop my experiences into dramatic plots. I stifled my creativity (I wanted to become an actress) to learn all of the science necessary to become a doctor. Writing has reawakened that part of me.
I live in Michigan, am married and have two grown sons.
In addition to reading and writing, I love to cycle, hike, travel, play pickleball and eat chocolate!
I live in Michigan, am married and have two grown sons.
In addition to reading and writing, I love to cycle, hike, travel, play pickleball and eat chocolate!
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 9, 2022
Thank you to GoodReads and PJ Nakfoor for providing me with a free giveaway!
This story was intense, filled with horrifying and heart wrenching scenarios that really twist the heart and make you feel for the main character Vivian.
Vivian has been through her fair share of trauma. So much trauma, in fact, that she has completely shut herself down and hidden away from the world. When an impromptu outing goes horribly wrong and almost causes a horrible accident, she knows she needs to get help fast.
Working with the help of a professional, she begins to take the steps needed to overcome her fear of the world. It's not a total cakewalk and Vivian goes through some decent hurdles along the way.
The storyline itself is fast paced, intense, and emotionally demanding. As a self published author, Nakfoor needed a little depth to the communication between characters, a little more setup for transitions between scenes, and a little more heart wrenching during the more heartbreaking events.
All in all, a great story with a little room for fine tuning.
This story was intense, filled with horrifying and heart wrenching scenarios that really twist the heart and make you feel for the main character Vivian.
Vivian has been through her fair share of trauma. So much trauma, in fact, that she has completely shut herself down and hidden away from the world. When an impromptu outing goes horribly wrong and almost causes a horrible accident, she knows she needs to get help fast.
Working with the help of a professional, she begins to take the steps needed to overcome her fear of the world. It's not a total cakewalk and Vivian goes through some decent hurdles along the way.
The storyline itself is fast paced, intense, and emotionally demanding. As a self published author, Nakfoor needed a little depth to the communication between characters, a little more setup for transitions between scenes, and a little more heart wrenching during the more heartbreaking events.
All in all, a great story with a little room for fine tuning.
August 22, 2022
This was a solid read. I didn’t want to put it down and I will probably think of parts of it for a while, but I really didn’t like the narration. It sounded like a biography which is fine, but I just wanted a little bit more emotion behind the read, I suppose. Overall, I’m glad I picked this up and I will probably read more from this author in the future!
April 18, 2024
SPOILER ALERT*************************
The story of a woman plagued with PTSD, having been the victim of an attempted abduction as a young child, in addition to having had just about every other traumatic event you can think of occurring to her. Hate to throw in too much of a spoiler, but by the time we get to the bear attack AND the rattlesnake, I was done. You name it, it happened to her. Good news, though. By the end of the book, she has no more panic attacks BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING LEFT THAT CAN HAPPEN TO HER!
The story of a woman plagued with PTSD, having been the victim of an attempted abduction as a young child, in addition to having had just about every other traumatic event you can think of occurring to her. Hate to throw in too much of a spoiler, but by the time we get to the bear attack AND the rattlesnake, I was done. You name it, it happened to her. Good news, though. By the end of the book, she has no more panic attacks BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING LEFT THAT CAN HAPPEN TO HER!
August 18, 2022
Rattled my own anxiety just trying to read it.
October 8, 2021
I want to start off by saying that I received a copy of this book for free and in exchange, I will give my honest review!
FOR A MORE DETAILED REVIEW CHECK THE LINK BELOW TO MY BLOG!
https://heatherrlynn13.wixsite.com/yo...
I am going to start off by saying I didn't really enjoy this book (then why would I give it 4 stars you ask) well that's because I think the problem was me. This book in general was amazingly done with great characters, life difficulties, and healing. To me, this book was a fiction self-help book. This book talks mainly about mental health and conquering it through your life.
The reason I didn't like this book is that it was so.....bland. Vivi's life was bland, her marriage, pretty much everything about her was. Vivi's character also really angered me because to me she seemed selfish, boring, stubborn, and unwilling to get better. I also feel this way most likely because I don't struggle with mental health issues.
This book would be great for someone who has their own mental health struggles and needs a fictional life to relate to. There really isn't much thrill or suspense as the summary says but it did hold my attention about 95% of the time.
Overall - this is not a suspense/thriller genre - more like a fictional self-help book. It was a pretty quick read of 350 pages so just give it a try if you are intrigued!
FOR A MORE DETAILED REVIEW CHECK THE LINK BELOW TO MY BLOG!
https://heatherrlynn13.wixsite.com/yo...
I am going to start off by saying I didn't really enjoy this book (then why would I give it 4 stars you ask) well that's because I think the problem was me. This book in general was amazingly done with great characters, life difficulties, and healing. To me, this book was a fiction self-help book. This book talks mainly about mental health and conquering it through your life.
The reason I didn't like this book is that it was so.....bland. Vivi's life was bland, her marriage, pretty much everything about her was. Vivi's character also really angered me because to me she seemed selfish, boring, stubborn, and unwilling to get better. I also feel this way most likely because I don't struggle with mental health issues.
This book would be great for someone who has their own mental health struggles and needs a fictional life to relate to. There really isn't much thrill or suspense as the summary says but it did hold my attention about 95% of the time.
Overall - this is not a suspense/thriller genre - more like a fictional self-help book. It was a pretty quick read of 350 pages so just give it a try if you are intrigued!
August 22, 2021
Life's obstacles
A relatable story of a main character overcoming life's obstacles with the help of family and health professionals! You can feel the stress of the main character in many circumstances in the story and your heart beats a lot quicker on the camping trip that changes the main characters future. A hard book to stop reading and keeps the reader turning the pages faster and faster!
A relatable story of a main character overcoming life's obstacles with the help of family and health professionals! You can feel the stress of the main character in many circumstances in the story and your heart beats a lot quicker on the camping trip that changes the main characters future. A hard book to stop reading and keeps the reader turning the pages faster and faster!
September 11, 2021
I received this kindle copy as a promotion for my honest review. I really enjoyed this book and discovering how each fear would affect Vivi and the effects it brought to her life.
September 3, 2022
Quick read, first half of Viv's life juxtaposed with second half.
Anxiety issues may have been wrapped up in too pretty a bow after the challenges.
Anxiety issues may have been wrapped up in too pretty a bow after the challenges.
October 16, 2022
I had to read this fast because it was so good I couldn't wait to get to the conclusion. Excellent!
November 4, 2022
This was a Goodreads Giveaway win. I thought this was going to be a mystery but it was actually more of a family drama. I found it kind of boring.
June 11, 2024
Great read with several plot twists and turns. Everyone with a bit of anxiety can relate to the main character and emphasize with her rough life and perseverance.
September 22, 2022
Really wanted to like this one. Too graphic. DNF
January 1, 2023
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
A solid 3 Stars. I know it's fiction, but someone with that severe of a form of agoraphobia is not going to be able to progress that fast through therapy. Otherwise, very engaging.
A solid 3 Stars. I know it's fiction, but someone with that severe of a form of agoraphobia is not going to be able to progress that fast through therapy. Otherwise, very engaging.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews