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Hardcore Anxiety: A Graphic Guide to Punk Rock and Mental Health
Punk rock and mental health have been intertwined since the very beginning. Nervous breakdowns, anxiety, seeking acceptance, attempting to overcome internalized demons, and reacting to harmful and oppressive systems--punk rock embodies and emboldens all our feelings and experiences, positive and negative. Hardcore Anxiety charts and tracks punk movements from the 70s till today, from small towns to stadiums, from the struggles in our heads to the people actively harming us in our communities.
192 pages, Paperback
Published September 10, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
January 26, 2020
"You will make it out alive."
Review/overshare.
When I saw this book, I knew I had to have it. The punk subculture having been such an important part of my life, and the struggle with mental illness also being very familiar territory, it was an obvious pick. But I admit I didn't anticipate how much I would relate to Reid's story.
I have been struggling with anxiety - often crippling anxiety - since I was eight years old. I also had a few clinical depression episodes. It took years to get to the root of it, to develop mechanisms to help me manage it and to not let it take over my personality and drive my life. One of the things that attracted me to punk rock early on was the fact that a lot of people writing the songs weren't shy about discussing their own struggle with similar symptoms. Songs like "Nervous Breakdown", "Fix Me" and "Depression" made me fall in love with Black Flag; then there was "I Wanna be Well" (Ramones), "Sanity" (Bad Religion), "Crazy" (The Adicts), "Fuckmylife666" (Against Me!)... Punk music was a weird haven where not being well was OK, because people were being honest about the fact that they weren't well either. And it helped. A lot. It did stuff talk therapy and anti-anxiety meds couldn't do: it made me feel like I wasn't alone, like I wasn't a freak. Reid Chancellor's story runs along the exact same lines. And reading his story might help people who have felt that music was a big part of their survival.
Intertwined with autobiographical bits, Chancellor also discusses the bands that had a strong influence on him, that he felt carried him through tough patches. He discusses his ten years playing with various bands, struggling with scene politics, and the way all this work left him with no sense of satisfaction or accomplishments. I could relate to so much of what he talks about, from the irony of feeling "on the outside looking in" in a scene that was supposed to be for misfits, to the way he pins high hopes on the wrong things, and to the tricky process of finding a therapist who actually gets what you are trying to say.
The art is very minimalist, a bit crude even, but that works very well with the theme. The epilogue is a very uplifting few pages, that acknowledges that while punk subculture can help people find meaning and inspiration, it has its own trapping that you have to watch out for. And that asking for help is so, so important.
"I made it out alive because two things happened in my life - punk opened the door to mental health awareness, but I had to make the choice to walk through that door. I love that punk opens doors to great things. And it is my dream to see punk push people to walk through those doors and get help for their issues."
This little book hit me a lot harder than expected: it made me cry and laugh and it made me feel a lot less lonely. A wonderful little surprise from a lovely indie press.
Review/overshare.
When I saw this book, I knew I had to have it. The punk subculture having been such an important part of my life, and the struggle with mental illness also being very familiar territory, it was an obvious pick. But I admit I didn't anticipate how much I would relate to Reid's story.
I have been struggling with anxiety - often crippling anxiety - since I was eight years old. I also had a few clinical depression episodes. It took years to get to the root of it, to develop mechanisms to help me manage it and to not let it take over my personality and drive my life. One of the things that attracted me to punk rock early on was the fact that a lot of people writing the songs weren't shy about discussing their own struggle with similar symptoms. Songs like "Nervous Breakdown", "Fix Me" and "Depression" made me fall in love with Black Flag; then there was "I Wanna be Well" (Ramones), "Sanity" (Bad Religion), "Crazy" (The Adicts), "Fuckmylife666" (Against Me!)... Punk music was a weird haven where not being well was OK, because people were being honest about the fact that they weren't well either. And it helped. A lot. It did stuff talk therapy and anti-anxiety meds couldn't do: it made me feel like I wasn't alone, like I wasn't a freak. Reid Chancellor's story runs along the exact same lines. And reading his story might help people who have felt that music was a big part of their survival.
Intertwined with autobiographical bits, Chancellor also discusses the bands that had a strong influence on him, that he felt carried him through tough patches. He discusses his ten years playing with various bands, struggling with scene politics, and the way all this work left him with no sense of satisfaction or accomplishments. I could relate to so much of what he talks about, from the irony of feeling "on the outside looking in" in a scene that was supposed to be for misfits, to the way he pins high hopes on the wrong things, and to the tricky process of finding a therapist who actually gets what you are trying to say.
The art is very minimalist, a bit crude even, but that works very well with the theme. The epilogue is a very uplifting few pages, that acknowledges that while punk subculture can help people find meaning and inspiration, it has its own trapping that you have to watch out for. And that asking for help is so, so important.
"I made it out alive because two things happened in my life - punk opened the door to mental health awareness, but I had to make the choice to walk through that door. I love that punk opens doors to great things. And it is my dream to see punk push people to walk through those doors and get help for their issues."
This little book hit me a lot harder than expected: it made me cry and laugh and it made me feel a lot less lonely. A wonderful little surprise from a lovely indie press.
February 4, 2020
A pretty passionate memoir by Evansville, Indiana native and punk musician Reid Chancellor, who looks back nostalgically on how punk "got him out alive," paying particular attention to bands who were special to him such as Bad Brains, Black Flag, Minor Threat, Husker Du, and Fugazi.
I'm pre-punk, an old folkie who appreciates the tale for its acknowledgement of the importance of music in one's life, especially in the "formative" years (for me it was folk and folk rock, mostly). And I don't usually think of punk as "therapy" though now that I think of it, the "rage" in the music of Rage Against the Machine could work like politically-focused primal scream therapy. There was a lot of rage in that music, for sure. And now that I think of it, many groups may have had songs such as “Depression” by Black Flag.
My former high school student M dragged me to a few concerts in the late eighties (Scratch Acid, Butthole Surfers? I can't recall all of them. The Pogues, for sure, which punkers in the most pit crashing into each other at the very same time we old folkies were arm in arm in the back!) some abandoned Detroit church where I could see people getting banged into in the most pit, or bottles getting thrown, bands or audience spitting and swearing at each other. And very loud music that surely contributed to my present hearing loss. She insisted I stand right next to the speaker at a Clash concert so I could get the full effect. So yeah, I can see--at its best--the political anger, the emotional release.
The art style is rough and indie, not polished, so it's in keeping with punk. It's not so much about "mental health" per se, but it is fun and shows you how punk got him out alive.
I'm pre-punk, an old folkie who appreciates the tale for its acknowledgement of the importance of music in one's life, especially in the "formative" years (for me it was folk and folk rock, mostly). And I don't usually think of punk as "therapy" though now that I think of it, the "rage" in the music of Rage Against the Machine could work like politically-focused primal scream therapy. There was a lot of rage in that music, for sure. And now that I think of it, many groups may have had songs such as “Depression” by Black Flag.
My former high school student M dragged me to a few concerts in the late eighties (Scratch Acid, Butthole Surfers? I can't recall all of them. The Pogues, for sure, which punkers in the most pit crashing into each other at the very same time we old folkies were arm in arm in the back!) some abandoned Detroit church where I could see people getting banged into in the most pit, or bottles getting thrown, bands or audience spitting and swearing at each other. And very loud music that surely contributed to my present hearing loss. She insisted I stand right next to the speaker at a Clash concert so I could get the full effect. So yeah, I can see--at its best--the political anger, the emotional release.
The art style is rough and indie, not polished, so it's in keeping with punk. It's not so much about "mental health" per se, but it is fun and shows you how punk got him out alive.
September 19, 2019
A former member of several Evansville, Indiana, local punk bands recounts his struggles with mental health and how he feels it intertwined with his love of punk rock music. Between the autobiographical bits, he includes quick sketches of his favorite bands, including the Ramones, Black Flag, the Clash, the Replacements and more.
I'm not sure he really lands his thesis that punk rock directly addresses mental health issues in a special way that enabled him to rise against his depression and self-harm. Based on the timeline presented a skeptic might make the case that letting go of punk rock music and getting professional assistance is what actually put him on the road to recovery. But then, the passage of time is a bit vague as he skips from moment to moment.
Overall, this feels like a first-time effort, lacking polish in writing and art and tending toward the melodramatic.
p.s., I decided not to mention the multiple copyediting mistakes in my initial review, but while indexing the people mentioned in the book, I verified that the name of one of the idolized musicians, Paul Westerberg of the Replacements, is actually misspelled in the book. Oof!
I'm not sure he really lands his thesis that punk rock directly addresses mental health issues in a special way that enabled him to rise against his depression and self-harm. Based on the timeline presented a skeptic might make the case that letting go of punk rock music and getting professional assistance is what actually put him on the road to recovery. But then, the passage of time is a bit vague as he skips from moment to moment.
Overall, this feels like a first-time effort, lacking polish in writing and art and tending toward the melodramatic.
p.s., I decided not to mention the multiple copyediting mistakes in my initial review, but while indexing the people mentioned in the book, I verified that the name of one of the idolized musicians, Paul Westerberg of the Replacements, is actually misspelled in the book. Oof!
July 31, 2019
Great stuff. The art is sloppy and frenetic but that’s OK. The heart of this book is the author’s deep dive into the intense swirl of mental health and punk rock. For me this was personal as I’ve been a punk for 35 years and have struggled with bipolar for pretty much the same length of time. The bands featured - Jawbreaker, Bad Brains, Black Flag,Minor Threat, Husker Du, Fugazi and a couple others - guided my way through some very difficult years. Trust me, I’ve screamed along to “Depression” by Black Flag more than a few dozen times. Microcosm publishing as always did a great job and this was a Kickstarter.
December 16, 2019
This is pretty much what it says on the cover. Reid Chancellor played in several Indiana punk bands over a ten year period while battling depression. Interspersed are capsule biographies of a number of well-known punk bands with emphasis on how some of their songs pertain to mental health.
As someone who's delved into punk rock among other genres over the years--and as a huge comics fan--this book resonated strongly for me. The DIY, no BS ethos of punk has always meshed well with the indie comics autobiographical format. Sure, Chancellor’s art is hardly realistic. But there's a zest and liveliness and directness to his style that I find highly appealing. I also love how he did the usual “About the Author” and “About the Publisher” pages in comics form too. I don't recall ever seeing that before. Fun!
True, this is one more drop in a vast sea of indie autobio comics. It rises above the rest for me largely because of the punk aspect, but that probably won't be the case for everyone. Recommended!
As someone who's delved into punk rock among other genres over the years--and as a huge comics fan--this book resonated strongly for me. The DIY, no BS ethos of punk has always meshed well with the indie comics autobiographical format. Sure, Chancellor’s art is hardly realistic. But there's a zest and liveliness and directness to his style that I find highly appealing. I also love how he did the usual “About the Author” and “About the Publisher” pages in comics form too. I don't recall ever seeing that before. Fun!
True, this is one more drop in a vast sea of indie autobio comics. It rises above the rest for me largely because of the punk aspect, but that probably won't be the case for everyone. Recommended!
September 25, 2019
The older I get the more aware I become of my anxiety and depression and the effects it has on my life. I work at a book store (a new job) and while scanning the shelves saw this title pop out at me. A book about anxiety and punk, two things that are ever-present in my daily life? Sign me the fuck up! Bought it and read it immediately. Caught myself crying while reading it thinking of my own relationship with music and the mental health struggles I've faced. The books ending statement and epilogue left me feeling at peace.
After reading this my mom asked if it helped. I responded by saying it's good to know that I'm not the only one.
After reading this my mom asked if it helped. I responded by saying it's good to know that I'm not the only one.
February 20, 2021
The unspoken tenets and ethos of punk rock have long inspired, accepted and celebrated alternative lifestyles that diverge from societal norms. Perhaps unsurprisingly, punk rock and mental health have been intrinsically tied from the inception: much of the early angst and expressive frustration of punk was fueled by talented musicians suffering with mental health (OCD, schizophrenia, substance abuse, depression, anxiety, etc.,).
There is remarkably (next to) nothing written on the cross-section of punk rock and mental health. This graphic novel demarcates a unique entry-point in a topic that has remained largely unexplored.
There is remarkably (next to) nothing written on the cross-section of punk rock and mental health. This graphic novel demarcates a unique entry-point in a topic that has remained largely unexplored.
September 5, 2019
You don't have to be a fan of graphic novels to enjoy this. You don't even have to be a fan of punk rock to enjoy this. You just have to be human and love a good, fast paced, nonfiction story about life, love, music, and mental health. Pick this up and thank yourself! I loved everything about it.
July 4, 2019
Reid's honesty in his debut graphic novel is what I look for in anything that I read. Even if you aren't into punk rock music, you will walk away with something valuable from this book.
August 24, 2020
Chancellor combines his mental health history with the punk rock scene, and it makes for a very interesting combination.
March 18, 2021
I usually have an unfair, predisposed attitude towards anything with punk/hardcore themes since there's just so much out there that's corny/out of touch. I can usually gauge its authenticity right off the bat. I think this one is ok. The cover is what made me even pick it up; it features a caricature of the author/illustrator in a GIVE shirt, with the unmistakable sunflower logo identifiable by anyone who went to shows in the 2010's.
The book goes through a timeline of big bands (The Ramones, Bad Brains aka the Best Band, Black Flag, Minor Threat, etc.) and drops a couple later faves like Jawbreaker and Life of Agony (still hoping Mina Caputo puts out a memoir), citing the ways the members of these bands have navigated mental illness and incorporated that into their songs. There are also brief vignettes of more contemporary bands, like the two-page spread of a TUI set from 2010 (try not to get caught up in judging the text on this page...).
Sprinkled in between band stuff are some autobiographical snapshots; times when the author’s mental state was challenged and he contemplated life/ purpose, other times when his ego was challenged and he contemplated his place in the punk world. Both are valid. Coping with and overcoming mental illness obstacles is incredibly difficult and deserves as much praise as possible always, no matter how it manifests artistically. I also enjoyed how this was like an I Spy book, with hidden logos on t-shirts and whatnot.
I will also say; the book seems to be all over the place and doesn’t really define any specific timeline – was it over the course of a year? Ten years? The cover says it’s ‘A Graphic Guide to Punk Rock and Mental Health’, but the book just doesn’t end up connecting them in the end the way that I maybe wanted it to. It definitely embodies DIY and probably didn’t go through many hands in the editing process. Just like that other graphic novel I reviewed last year, it comes off as crude and whiny sometimes. But I'm trying to be fair. I also get that everyone’s experience with punk and hardcore is dramatically different based on where you’re from (I’m from Florida, the author is from the Midwest). Also, I’m by no means a hardcore historian and I don’t think this book was trying to really get factual (you should talk to my husband since he’s literally the encyclopedia on all things hc+) but I did question the accuracy of a few of the tidbits in this book (for example, the tidbit about the Ramones was only RUMORED to be about Dee Dee’s personal experiences, not hard facts, he took this to his grave so we'll never really know but I certainly wouldn't publish it).
I am one of those people that hardcore zines are loving talking shit about right now; COVID-19 has facilitated my reverse gravitation to the punk and hardcore scene. Ironically, I didn’t even play my first show until December 2019, right before the pandemic blew away any chance of playing a second show any time soon. I’ve been replacing shows with reading and collecting photography books (strongly recommend Hard Art DC and Making a Scene, RIP Bri Hurley) and (unfortunately) watching random punk-infused movies like Sound of Metal. It’s making me feel like an out of touch oldhead. So maybe this book and I were meant for each other.
The book goes through a timeline of big bands (The Ramones, Bad Brains aka the Best Band, Black Flag, Minor Threat, etc.) and drops a couple later faves like Jawbreaker and Life of Agony (still hoping Mina Caputo puts out a memoir), citing the ways the members of these bands have navigated mental illness and incorporated that into their songs. There are also brief vignettes of more contemporary bands, like the two-page spread of a TUI set from 2010 (try not to get caught up in judging the text on this page...).
Sprinkled in between band stuff are some autobiographical snapshots; times when the author’s mental state was challenged and he contemplated life/ purpose, other times when his ego was challenged and he contemplated his place in the punk world. Both are valid. Coping with and overcoming mental illness obstacles is incredibly difficult and deserves as much praise as possible always, no matter how it manifests artistically. I also enjoyed how this was like an I Spy book, with hidden logos on t-shirts and whatnot.
I will also say; the book seems to be all over the place and doesn’t really define any specific timeline – was it over the course of a year? Ten years? The cover says it’s ‘A Graphic Guide to Punk Rock and Mental Health’, but the book just doesn’t end up connecting them in the end the way that I maybe wanted it to. It definitely embodies DIY and probably didn’t go through many hands in the editing process. Just like that other graphic novel I reviewed last year, it comes off as crude and whiny sometimes. But I'm trying to be fair. I also get that everyone’s experience with punk and hardcore is dramatically different based on where you’re from (I’m from Florida, the author is from the Midwest). Also, I’m by no means a hardcore historian and I don’t think this book was trying to really get factual (you should talk to my husband since he’s literally the encyclopedia on all things hc+) but I did question the accuracy of a few of the tidbits in this book (for example, the tidbit about the Ramones was only RUMORED to be about Dee Dee’s personal experiences, not hard facts, he took this to his grave so we'll never really know but I certainly wouldn't publish it).
I am one of those people that hardcore zines are loving talking shit about right now; COVID-19 has facilitated my reverse gravitation to the punk and hardcore scene. Ironically, I didn’t even play my first show until December 2019, right before the pandemic blew away any chance of playing a second show any time soon. I’ve been replacing shows with reading and collecting photography books (strongly recommend Hard Art DC and Making a Scene, RIP Bri Hurley) and (unfortunately) watching random punk-infused movies like Sound of Metal. It’s making me feel like an out of touch oldhead. So maybe this book and I were meant for each other.
January 16, 2022
I read this in two sittings. Chancellor’s Hardcore Anxiety is a vulnerable and enlightening read that explores the connection between the mental health ideology of punk rock and the author’s own struggles with his own mental health struggles. Memoir aside, I really never noticed the ways in which The Ramones, The Clash, Black Flag, Minor Threat, Bad Brains, Jawbreaker, Husker Du, and Fugazi – some of my favorite bands ever – relied so heavily on analyzing and engaging with their mental health. In hindsight, it’s stupid I never did, and it is so clear to me now why it was so easy to gravitate toward these messages. Chancellor knows his audience, and opened with that understanding. We’re Gen X, we make art, we love punk, and we struggle. Maybe we all struggle in different ways, but we are all the same, wandering with the little spark in our hearts as we navigate how to live the most fulfilling and rewarding lives we can with the monster of anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, self-harm, substance abuse, and whatever else sitting on our chests. This was a great read, and maybe the third or fourth Microcosm title I have read. All of the books in their catalogue are beautifully self-reflective, and I absolutely look forward to picking up more Microcosm titles, as well as works by Chancellor.
January 8, 2023
I got this ebook from a Humble Bundle, I’m not sure if I would have picked this book up otherwise. But I’m glad I did.
Like the writer, music helped me through a dark part of my life. Even though I never listened to a lot of punk, I knew some of the mentioned bands and appreciated the background info. This book reminded me of my own past and made me thankful for how far I've come.
"Your favorite band didn't save your life, you did"
Like the writer, music helped me through a dark part of my life. Even though I never listened to a lot of punk, I knew some of the mentioned bands and appreciated the background info. This book reminded me of my own past and made me thankful for how far I've come.
"Your favorite band didn't save your life, you did"
September 17, 2019
When the book came into the library, I was not sure what to think about the graphic novel. Once I started reading I could not stop. It uniquely weaves one person's journey with anxiety and depression while giving the reader a history of punk rock. It's a quick read, so there is no reason not to give this book a try.
February 25, 2020
reread 25/02/2020: it’s still as good as i remember! it gets me every time, man. definitely an all time favorite.
i absolutely love the art style! i love punk rock stuff and a lot of the personal, mental health related stuff spoke to me in a weird way. this book hit me harder than i expected.
i absolutely love the art style! i love punk rock stuff and a lot of the personal, mental health related stuff spoke to me in a weird way. this book hit me harder than i expected.
June 30, 2019
Some spelling errors but good overall.
October 17, 2019
Very moving.
January 2, 2021
Heavy topics but great ending and morale. We got that P.M.A ! We got that attitude !
September 29, 2022
I'd like to start off by saying that I read this book and liked it even tho I don't really like punk/ hardcore music. I mainly listen to disco/ pop, it's still a good read.
This book was very well drawn, I loved the style of the characters and all of the background details in the drawings.
The story is super relatable. The anxiety, the self consciousness, the depression Ried talks about makes me wish that I had a friend like him growing up. If only all the outcasts knew everyone else felt like them, we would all feel less alone. This book does that, makes the world feel a little bit less lonely.
My only criticism might be my inexperience in the punk scene. In portions of the book it says that a certain bands revolutionized punk music ect. But it didn't state how they revolutionized it, like in what way. This may be obvious to someone who already knows about these bands, but I was clueless. This may just be a problem with my knowledge and not the book tho.
Anyway, 4/5 stars. Will probably read another book by Ried Chancellor in the future!:)
This book was very well drawn, I loved the style of the characters and all of the background details in the drawings.
The story is super relatable. The anxiety, the self consciousness, the depression Ried talks about makes me wish that I had a friend like him growing up. If only all the outcasts knew everyone else felt like them, we would all feel less alone. This book does that, makes the world feel a little bit less lonely.
My only criticism might be my inexperience in the punk scene. In portions of the book it says that a certain bands revolutionized punk music ect. But it didn't state how they revolutionized it, like in what way. This may be obvious to someone who already knows about these bands, but I was clueless. This may just be a problem with my knowledge and not the book tho.
Anyway, 4/5 stars. Will probably read another book by Ried Chancellor in the future!:)
October 31, 2020
It is not a very “beautiful” drawn book, it is something else. It’s a story of someone who dares to draw and write a very vulnerable and personal story. I actually like de Dutch word better for it..someone who dares to show his “kwetsbaarheid”. It makes it easier for other people to notice/talk about how they actually feel if more people tell their story about mental health. Sooo...4 stars
Check out his storyenvy shop...he draws nice zines too.
Check out his storyenvy shop...he draws nice zines too.
March 12, 2023
85
His openness about his mental health was beautiful.
His openness about his mental health was beautiful.
July 5, 2025
Generally I usually gravitate towards indie comics so this book is in my lane. Unfortunately I didn’t love the execution. It’s a very fast read because the art is simple (not a bad thing) and the writing isn’t thought provoking.
It feels like a very early work which apparently it is, so just expect that.
Overall Hardcore Anxiety was fine. I wouldn’t recommend nor advise against reading this. Maybe his future work will be more my taste.
It feels like a very early work which apparently it is, so just expect that.
Overall Hardcore Anxiety was fine. I wouldn’t recommend nor advise against reading this. Maybe his future work will be more my taste.
March 26, 2020
I found this book by accident of the library's borrow box app. I'm so glad I did as a punk fan who left the scene years ago due to "scene politics" this book really resonated with me for so many reasons. If your a punk fan or mental health survivor or both this is the book for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2020
I love this book! It really spoke to me, I have always considered myself as someone who loves punk but didn’t know if I really could truly fit into that community like I wanted to or if people would accept me. This book really showed me that there are people like me who love punk but don’t know if they belong. Overall I love Reid Chancellor and I am so happy he shared his story!
April 14, 2021
Actually 3.5 Stars
I recently remembered Humble Bundle, a website that bundles books, games, and software into groups to sell cheaply and then donate profits to charities of your choosing, has book bundles. It used to only be video games so I often forget this fact. I was rudely reminded when Facebook showed an add for the “Unfuck Your Life” bundle and I cursed them out for knowing me too well because I clicked. Hardcore Anxiety was one of the books in that bundle and I have some rather mixed feelings about it.
I loved how raw and real it was. This was Chancellor’s very heartbreaking relationship with anxiety and punk rock. First and foremost, it is emotional and vulnerable. It’s also very relatable for me and many others who also deal with anxiety. I enjoyed how he linked his emotions to music since that’s something I also do though I don’t tend to listen to Punk.
Chancellor also includes trigger warnings within the text for sensitive parts around depression and self harm. It was thoughtful and I wish more authors did this. It was unmissable on the page and helped prepare me for reading the heavy content I was about to consume.
I also really enjoyed the mini history lessons about different punk bands and the role their mental health played in their music. I never realized so many punk bands helped fight the stigma surrounding mental illness and addiction.
Now for all that I liked it, there are some major problems with it for me. These mostly stem from needing a better editor and proofreader I think. There were quite a few glaring typos or grammar mistakes. There were a few sentences that just didn’t make sense unless you could figure out what Chancellor was trying to say in the typos.
The story itself is also all over the place. It’s split into 4 parts but these parts are broken up in weird places and don’t help format or structure the story. It also jumped back and forth from the mini punk history lessons to Chancellor’s experiences with no rhyme or reason. Sometimes the mini lesson linked up with what Chancellor was experiencing in the next scene but not often.
It was a good read and very informative but there were some obvious mistakes that kept me from really loving my read. It is an independent publisher so I’m not as harsh on the rating as I could be but these two major issues kept me from enjoying it to the story’s full potential.
I recently remembered Humble Bundle, a website that bundles books, games, and software into groups to sell cheaply and then donate profits to charities of your choosing, has book bundles. It used to only be video games so I often forget this fact. I was rudely reminded when Facebook showed an add for the “Unfuck Your Life” bundle and I cursed them out for knowing me too well because I clicked. Hardcore Anxiety was one of the books in that bundle and I have some rather mixed feelings about it.
I loved how raw and real it was. This was Chancellor’s very heartbreaking relationship with anxiety and punk rock. First and foremost, it is emotional and vulnerable. It’s also very relatable for me and many others who also deal with anxiety. I enjoyed how he linked his emotions to music since that’s something I also do though I don’t tend to listen to Punk.
Chancellor also includes trigger warnings within the text for sensitive parts around depression and self harm. It was thoughtful and I wish more authors did this. It was unmissable on the page and helped prepare me for reading the heavy content I was about to consume.
I also really enjoyed the mini history lessons about different punk bands and the role their mental health played in their music. I never realized so many punk bands helped fight the stigma surrounding mental illness and addiction.
Now for all that I liked it, there are some major problems with it for me. These mostly stem from needing a better editor and proofreader I think. There were quite a few glaring typos or grammar mistakes. There were a few sentences that just didn’t make sense unless you could figure out what Chancellor was trying to say in the typos.
The story itself is also all over the place. It’s split into 4 parts but these parts are broken up in weird places and don’t help format or structure the story. It also jumped back and forth from the mini punk history lessons to Chancellor’s experiences with no rhyme or reason. Sometimes the mini lesson linked up with what Chancellor was experiencing in the next scene but not often.
It was a good read and very informative but there were some obvious mistakes that kept me from really loving my read. It is an independent publisher so I’m not as harsh on the rating as I could be but these two major issues kept me from enjoying it to the story’s full potential.
March 9, 2020
A solid comic about finding comfort and community in music. It's very white dude heavy so I didn't personally relate strongly. The bands touched on are the usual punk bands that most white dudes talk about (not to say they are bad; I'm a big fan of a lot of the music in the book) but I would like to see this story told from a different perspective. I feel like everyone has acknowledged many,many times how influential bands like The Clash and the Ramones were but I would really, really love to hear about other bands and communities doing just as amazing things that were overlooked because they weren't straight, white, cis dudes.
April 24, 2025
🎶🎶 Anxiety, keep on trying me
Feel it quietly, tryna silence me, yeah
Anxiety, shake it off of me
Somebody's watching me (Great John on the beat by the way)
It's my anxiety🎶🎶
I actuality thought this was quite a decent read of the author going through his mental emotions while being in a band and breaking down the stories of different metal bands (hardly know any of them actually lol, personally don’t mind metal actually) who faced their own challenges too. I mean we all do!
Yeah the art is wonky but at least it’s charming and engaging which some non fiction books don’t try to do. Definitely kudos to Reid by being open with his personal challenges!
Feel it quietly, tryna silence me, yeah
Anxiety, shake it off of me
Somebody's watching me (Great John on the beat by the way)
It's my anxiety🎶🎶
I actuality thought this was quite a decent read of the author going through his mental emotions while being in a band and breaking down the stories of different metal bands (hardly know any of them actually lol, personally don’t mind metal actually) who faced their own challenges too. I mean we all do!
Yeah the art is wonky but at least it’s charming and engaging which some non fiction books don’t try to do. Definitely kudos to Reid by being open with his personal challenges!
December 1, 2022
I want to love this book - the author is clearly very passionate. I did learn more about the punk scene and its history, but I felt like the author’s journey wasn’t very clear? Other graphic mental health memoirs I’ve read have talked a lot about more in depth about the nitty gritty of what was happening and how it was helped with lifestyle changes, friends and family, and obviously doctors/therapists. This book felt like 3/4 of it was the same note in terms of mental illness, and then abruptly was resolved with a therapist and medication.
December 11, 2019
This book was relatable, but not knowing most of the bands mentioned left me feeling like I was missing something. I'm sure if the reader is someone that listens to punk rock, they will be able to understand more of what is being said.
I think mental health is a topic that really needs to be talked about more, so I'm glad this book exists, it just wasn't for me.
Author: Reid Chancellor
Publisher: Microcosm Publishing
Publication Date: September 10th 2019
I think mental health is a topic that really needs to be talked about more, so I'm glad this book exists, it just wasn't for me.
Author: Reid Chancellor
Publisher: Microcosm Publishing
Publication Date: September 10th 2019
May 26, 2020
I enjoyed the illustrations as well as the information about punk bands. I found the author's struggles with anxiety to be relatable but wanted more from that. I was also frustrated with the amount of spelling errors.
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