Nervous Energy: Harness the Power of Your Anxiety

by Chloe Carmichael

“ Anxiety and stress are the number one epidemic of modern civilization. Frequently, stressed people find themselves at the pinnacle of success at the cost of unhappy lives, fractured relationships, and unhealthy bodies.... This book offers the tools they need ." ― Dr. Deepak Chopra, MD, New York Times bestselling author of The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success


Learn how to overcome anxiety by transforming it from an obstacle into an advantage.

Nervous energy is something many of us are familiar with―it’s the urge to double check our work, to create a tidy strategy for an overwhelming goal, or make a to-do list and tick every box neatly. But when work and life become more complex and unpredictable, when there isn’t a straightforward to-do list or clear step by step solution, this nervous energy can spiral into anxiety and stress, becoming a roadblock to success.

Instead of merely trying to overcome anxiety, Dr. Chloe Carmichael uses a combination of storytelling and step-by-step directions to share nine powerful tools thato help you harness this energy in a productive way. Based on her years of experience helping patients change their anxiety from a setback into an advantage,
Nervous Energy offers:


- A breakdown of three common nervous energy profiles

- Step-by-step directions for implementing each of the nine tools in your life

- Exercises, charts, and worksheets

- Real-life stories and examples of people overcoming anxiety with these tools

A must read for anyone feeling trapped by stress and anxiety, Nervous Energy is a practical guide to transforming anxiety and nervous energy into a powerful positive force.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Psychology, Mental Health, Business, Health, Audiobook

304 pages, Hardcover

First published March 23, 2021

Reviews

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great guide for so many in this age of anxiety. I love the approach Carmichael has outlined and feel like this could be beneficial to those who struggle with their anxiety, as well as those who are "high-functioning" but still know their anxiety is holding them back ,
Many thanks to St. Martin's Essentials and NetGalley for the advance copy.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 1 out of 5]

To be honest, when I started reading this book I actually double-checked the title page because I was sure I must have accidentally opened the wrong book. I expected the focus to be on managing anxiety but it is specifically written for "high functioning" people to manage their anxiety. Huh, it turns out that I've been a "low functioning" person all my life and never knew it.

The start of the book is so pompous and pretentious about the clients she chooses to work with (only "high functioning" overachievers like herself) that I stopped reading it fairly early on. This is rare for me since I'll generally even hate-read a book to finish it, but this just made me feel bad and I'm not giving that many hours of my life to something this annoying.

I identify as someone who has nervous energy and anxiety, and I actually think I achieve quite a lot in my life. I do not at all relate to her high achiever profile though -- perfectionists who manage to do everything better than everybody else and get tons accomplished in the blink of an eye (join everything and run it, host perfect parties, have perfectly dressed and coiffed children, etc.). Nope, I'm the scatterbrained artist intellectual mama type who has a million projects and aims for "good enough" in lots of it in order to get things done. I do have nervous energy and I have had anxiety since I was a little girl, but I am not a type A person and I honestly felt like I was a failure reading her definition of the people she works with and wrote this book for.

If you are a super successful overachiever with anxiety, then this will probably serve you well -- and stroke your ego, since she's all about fawning over you (and herself). I'm now going to go do a dozen things with slightly better than mediocre aspirations since that's how I manage to juggle all that I do without even more anxiety, and go find a book that makes me feel slightly less stabby. 😉

I read a digital ARC of this book for review.

[Erin Clemence · Rating 4 out of 5]

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: March 23, 2021

A “high functioning” person, according to Dr. Chloe Carmichael, is “someone who goes beyond the basics of taking care of their physical and mental self, is able to take care of their basic needs and can sustain meaningful relationships with friends and family”. Furthermore, a “highly functioning person” is usually an overachieving Type –A personality, who is driven to succeed, has personal and occupational goals, and strives to perform well. It is to these people that she targets in her novel, “Nervous Energy: Harness the Power of your Anxiety”. Carmichael believes that these types of people benefit from anxiety, and that oftentimes their anxiety has led them to multiple paths of success, but they can also suffer detrimentally from this same anxiety, and she aims to explore this.

I have read a few self-help books (I try to avoid them for the most part, as I find them oftentimes to be preachy and condescending), but the ones I do read focus on anxiety and depression. To use Carmichael’s phrasing, I am a “consumer” of therapy, and have had a few therapists (Carmichael explains that high functioning people find it difficult to match with a therapist because they have more complex needs) , so I am too familiar with Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, and have probably tried each and every therapeutic activity for anxiety that there is. It is hard for me to read a book on anxiety and be totally blown away by the author’s new and novel therapeutic suggestions (I am also a skeptic, so it takes a lot to get me to “buy in” to a lot of therapy techniques….did I mention I have a BA in psychology?) but Carmichael provided a few more techniques that I hadn’t tried before, and I might even be willing to give them a shot.

Carmichael highlights her nine-step approach through examples from her client base (honestly, one of them was so relatable I worried Carmichael had somehow been spying on me), and then breaks them down to make them relevant and usable to just about anyone who suffers from anxiety (and, of course, is “highly functioning”) . Unlike most therapy approaches that suggest a person with a Type-A, “almost OCD” personality alter their ways of thinking and behaviour, Carmichael highlights the positives of these personality types, and instead targets the negative thought patterns that these types may suffer from. It was refreshing to see this type of attitude portrayed in a self-help novel.

Some of these approaches are new (to me) and some seem to be just more detailed examples of things I’ve seen before, but either way, Carmichael definitely has a creative way of addressing the “anxiety-driven person”. Although Carmichael touts the benefits of therapy (and encourages her readers over and over again to ‘review’ the activities and tools with a trusted therapist), but her suggestions are also good starting points for those who aren’t quite ready to make that jump.

“Nervous Energy” has good flow, uses easy-to-understand language, and actually provides a bit of insight and new therapeutic techniques, which is great for anyone who is tired of trying the same therapeutic activities over and over and having no success.

[rhlibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for this free electronic ARC in exchange for my honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️If you are a type "A" person, a perfectionist, or someone in a leadership position who experiences anxiety, then Nervous Energy by Dr. Chloe Carmichael might a good fit book for you. As a type "A" person myself, I found many of the anecdotes and the methods for calming my anxiety to be novel, yet attainable. I even found myself taking notes, so I could remember and practice some of technique that are shared by Dr. Carmichael. (I shared a few tips with my educator colleague and both agreed they were great methods for dealing with stress). We often don't realize that someone who is high functioning can feel deep anxiety. Some of the focused material delved on managing your breathing, narrowing your "Zone of Control," and looking at patterns that can cause hiccups in your daily life routines. I think the addition of graphics or small images to illustrate the methods would enhance the material even more. Overall, I enjoyed this selection and would definitely recommend to others.

[Cari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This ARC came along at just the right time for me! The book isn't out till March, but if you have access to Edelweiss, I highly recommend checking it out. This will be a must-buy for my home collection and for my library. Carmichael focuses specifically on high-functioning people (she explains the terminology of "functioning" more effectively than I can - essentially, people who are goal-oriented with a growth mindset). The techniques for dealing with anxiety in a very specific way were so helpful. Also, as a mindfulness practitioner, I appreciated the use of mindfulness techniques integrated into the book. I took plenty of notes and will be practicing these to manage my anxiety.

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nervous Energy is a great book. Not only is it informative and easy to understand but also offers detailed vignettes and techniques so that readers can become their own therapist. As a psychologist, I integrate the tools in my own practice. Thank you, Dr Chloe.

[AnnieM · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am reading this book as a reviewer and at first when I read the introduction, I was not sure I was the target audience based on the description of who has nervous energy. But as I started reading I realized this book is applicable to everyone! In fact, the author says the techniques in this book are geared toward people who recognize there is something about their own thought patterns or skills they'd like to change or improve. What I really loved about the book, is that Dr. Carmichael shares a variety of techniques that are practical, easy to learn and do on my own, and are extremely effective. The book is very well structured - it starts with a story as an illustrative example, then an overview of a tool and technique used to help, and then more tips on how to use the tool- "DIY" as she calls it. Part II goes into a deeper dive on each tool/technique. I have highlighted many pages in this book so that I can use the appropriate technique when I am either feeling anxious or overthinking something. I started using two tools immediately - "The Three Part Breath" - which helps me reconnect with myself and calm my thoughts and nervous system, and "Zone of Control" - great to use when I am overwhelmed with worry because it helps me focus on things I can control vs. things I cannot control and define actions for those things I can control.

I highly recommend this book particularly during this time of the pandemic where everyone is feeling high levels of anxiety.

[Missy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page 57: "Remember that the goal here is to harness your nervous energy, not get rid of it. A person with zero anxiety or without a reservoir of extra cognitive energy is oftentimes a person without awareness of threats, without goals, and/or without resources to navigate threats and goals. If you find yourself feeling keyed up or a little on edge, don't automatically categorize that feeling as a bad thing."

Chapter 5: "One of the first lessons in Buddhism is that Beginner's Mind is the ideal mindset, the one we all want to cultivate."

Part 2:
The 3-Part Breath: "No problem can be solved by the same level of consciousness that created it." (Albert Einstein)
"By handing your brain something else to focus on, you will be unable to sustain your negative internal monologue...or at least you'll give the negative monologue some real competition while you focus on mentally guiding yourself through the breath."
A) Put your hand over your belly and feel it expand
B) Put your hand on the sides of your rib-cage
C) Put your hand at the base of your collar bone
_____
1) Breath normally. Observe it in a non-judgmental manner.
2) Exhale to prepare.
3) Inhale from the belly.
a. Feel your belly expand
b. Feel your middle chest expand
c. Continue the inhalation into the upper chest, pause briefly at each of these places
4) Pause, hold your breath for a moment
5) Exhale
6) Continue your exhalation, continue through your belly, try pulling your belly button inwards to exhale even more
7) Pause, notice what the bottom of the exhale feels like
8) Repeat until you decide to stop. Make observations about your breathing as you go.
_____

Chapter 9: The Mental Shortlist. "Tell me what you pay attention to and I will tell you who you are."
Create a list of 5 things that you can think about when you need to distract yourself from your obsessive thought patterns. Some examples: what to buy people for their birthdays, researching something that interests you, like a dream trip, play really loud music, run on a treadmill, write thank-you notes to people, checking out the websites of your competitors (meaty enough to satisfy you, light enough to be easy to draw up and think about).

Chapter 11: "Some high functioning people are so focused on hitting their to-do list throughout the day that they lose touch with their background thoughts and feelings." Give yourself breaks, plan fun events for yourself, plan self-care appointments. Do this ESPECIALLY on the days/times you know you will need it because of something stressful, like an important meeting at work. "Forecast" your feelings and make a plan.

Chapter 13: "He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still." (Lao Tzu)

"So when you find yourself experiencing any of these 4 states (hungry, angry, lonely or tired), give yourself the gift of making an extra effort not to make a bad moment worse by lapsing into undesirable problem behaviors."

Chapter 14: Thought Replacement: "Identify you mal-adaptive thought...write it down...write its close cousins...write down your replacement thought."

Chapter 15: "While keeping a sharp focus on high standards is important and your willingness to show concern at the first sign or problems is applaudable, there is a tipping point where you start wasting your resources and become less productive, reliable and strong, because you're going berserk over relatively minor problems."

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had the privilege of working with hundreds of writers. I was lucky enough to be employed at Atlantic Center for the Arts, an artist-in-residence facility. Even with the experience I have had with some of the greatest writers, from all over the world, this book completely impressed me. Not only is is well written, well planned and thought out, the content is beneficial to anyone. I own a small business; I am a professional organizer and designer. I ALWAYS recommend my clients read this book. I have even gone as far as purchasing the book for them. Thank you, Dr. Chloe!

[Candace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nervous Energy by Chloe Carmichael is a book that talks about tools and techniques to handle anxiety. After reading this I realized that I am high functioning. I look forward to using some of the techniques mentioned in this book.
Thank you, NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read Nervous Energy by Chloe Carmichael.

[Chris Laughton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super helpful. This book was the perfect combination of being "straight to the point" with nine of its chapters each specifically devoted to teaching a new technique, but also providing lots of stories and background information (especially in Part 1 of the book) so I could do a deeper dive whenever I wanted more. I found myself flipping around in the book to learn particular techniques that caught my eye (the author says that's okay, she says readers can almost use it like a cookbook where we flip to whatever technique feels most helpful at times) but also reading many chapters sequentially.

Some readers have criticized the book as seeming elitist, but I don't see it that way-- Carmichael makes it clear that many of her favorite people in life are actually lower functioning, so it isn't a value-judgement to recognize someone's cognitive or emotional development is just at a higher or lower level; and she just wants to provide tools/techniques that will be helpful to "meet someone where they are" instead of doing one-size-fits-all techniques that don't account for a person's level of functioning.

[Heather Jonas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book couldn’t have come at a better time! With current world circumstances, everyone is on edge. Carmichael lays out how to turn what essentially could be crippling anxiety into a positive - even a power! Highly recommended, pleasurable and bold read that will change lives and boost confidence.

[Davis Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book for gaining new perspective on achieving a full life. Dr. Chloe Carmichael provides the tools not only to manage and subdue anxiety, but also to alter it in a way that you can maximize your potential in any circumstance - regardless of which challenge you're facing at any given moment. What I really liked most about this book is that it's not some sort of instruction manual saying 'this is what you need to do to overcome anxiety,' but in large part it is an account of her life's journey, where she shares with you the challenges or anxieties she had to face and overcome throughout her life - from the analytical analysis and reflection of well experienced and successful clinical psychologist. In doing so, she shares some of the intimate and personal details of her life (which I thought was incredibly brave), which makes the content of each point and lesson very gripping - and it effectively helps to submerge them into not only your conscious, but also your subconscious to help face any anxiety, regardless of the dilemmas you're facing. Along with this wonderful book, she share with you on various other online platforms, such as YouTube, her take on the anxieties people face in life - which makes this whole experience as if you're sitting intimately with her in her private office for a therapist session.

[Caitlin Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one I will definitely be referring back to, since as the author says it’s almost like a cookbook of techniques. Part 1 of the book was a very refreshing explanation of mindfulness, perfectionism, and the psychology of high achievers. Part 2 was where she shares the techniques. Many of the techniques felt immediately applicable for me, and there were also a couple of others I can see myself referring to in future situations. The book was a nice balance of being reflective yet also action oriented.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm currently reading this and loving it.
I've always had anxiety, but no one could ever give me actionable tasks to do and instead would just throw comments out like just don't worry or just relax. This book is the first step in finally taking control of my anxiety.

[Lisa Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Full review will be up later this week on my blog, www.therapybooknook.com/blog.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt this book got a lot right, and I love the use of bold font for the important points. This book actually covers a lot of topics, many of which have whole books devoted to them.The intro makes it seem like the book is for people who struggle to plan or handle open-ended problems, but I decided it's also for people who just tend to over-correct. Though not every statement will apply to you, there were enough that I felt, "yes, that is me". The situation that most spoke to me was the story of a person who kept waffling between two strategies for dating, trying to find the right balance between being flexible and open and being firm in her desires and values. I identified with this rush to find the right strategy from the get go and worrying more about whether someone likes me than whether I like them.

I've read a lot of self-help books and engaged in different behavioral therapies, and was surprised to find some new techniques here.  Techniques that weren't new to me were techniques that helped me in the past, such as metacognition, perfectionism and cognitive re-framing. Chapter 5 deals with perfectionism and provides suggestions that are reminiscent of self-compassion - don't skip it!

I like that the author presents the book and techniques more as a reference from which you choose what works best for you in that moment. In chapter 3, she introduces a menu of techniques that she provides to her clients, and in chapter 4, she provides three example people and which techniques they might select.

The three example people and their recommended technique "starting points" were useful to help me think through which techniques to apply. None of the people were a perfect fit. Reading the examples, I was able to see which techniques were a fit and why and say yes, that makes sense for me, or no, that isn't my issue. For example, mind maps, I love mind maps and use them all the time because they just fit the way I already think. 

My personality is more of the endless planner, always looking to increase efficiency, making this faster and more effective, getting to the essence of the problem and continuously improving. I make a good plan and I love planning and organizing and strategizing whether it's studying a language, playing a game, or completing a project. However, I am always second-guessing my plan, and I haven't gotten used to waiting years for fruition. One could brush that off as being a millennial, but women and minorities often are criticized for not having results or their results not being enough. So, I've absorbed that criticism over time. 

I started with the zone of control, the mental short-list, the to-do list with emotions, and worry time. I've created a worry-agenda before (really a parking lot of negative thoughts to make myself not get distracted at work), and I can tell you it is fabulous. However, I'd never made worry time before. The to do list with emotions is also very helpful for thinking through procrastination or breaking up a task, but I can also see it feeding endless revisions of plans.

The author also welcomed readers to contact her at the end. I'm curious to see what happens.

My only criticisms are that there is maybe a little too much personal exposition and I didn't like the use of generalizations, especially in the first two chapters. However, this type of book is more about the demonstrations and the techniques.

It is also very very easy to navigate and to skim or skip sections or anecdotes.

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I received an advanced copy via Netgalley in return for my honest review and feedback.
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[Rebecca Brenner Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

brief synopsis: a guide how to work through mental health issues as an already high-functioning person. NERVOUS ENERGY is full of engaging writing and specific examples that are fun & illustrative. I enjoyed it overall & will seek out a physical copy and/or audio in the future. my concern, however, is the fat-shaming sprinkled throughout the book. while exercise & fitness are important, body size is not. I worry that this weakness could make many high-functioning readers — including those with eating disorders — feel excluded. otherwise, NERVOUS ENERGY seems pretty current regarding technology, social media, & problems that high-functioning people realistically face in daily life. as a high-functioning person w/ anxiety myself, I found NERVOUS ENERGY useful & already recommended it to my therapist!

[G M W · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been fortunate to have private sessions with Dr. Chloe and always appreciated her thoughtful, practical advice…and I can say without hesitation, this book is pocket Dr. Chloe! It’s so nice to revisit her most important lessons in this mini Bible of Dr. Chloe’s wisdom. She has taught me how to harness my nervous energy in productive ways for worthy goals. I hope you find the same inspiration and tools from reading this wonderfil book!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Managing Anxiety for High Functioning People

A person driven to succeed, tries to do everything right, wants to be in charge and has lots of nervous energy. This is the person Dr. Chloe Carmichael’s book is intended for. However, even if you don’t qualify as a super Type A personality some of Dr. Carmichael’s treatment suggestions can be valuable.

Although high energy people who are very successful can appear to have it all under control, they can also suffer from sever anxiety. I thought the author did a good job of illustrating this type of person in the examples she chose. Whether you find yourself in those people, it will give a better understanding of this personality type.

I thought the best part of the book was the treatments described by Dr. Carmichael. She doesn’t focus on just one approach but goes into several treatments. One chapter is devoted to a laundry list of approaches for dealing with OCD type problems. With so many tools, not all will be appropriate for each situation. The author encourages you to look at the spectrum and decide what might work for you.

This is a helpful book for anyone suffering from nervous energy that threatens to control their life leading to OCD like behaviors. The book is very readable and the client descriptions are well done.

I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.

[Jeremy Reppy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Nervous Energy" will be a beneficial book for many people. Dr. Carmichael sets out the material she presents in a clear understandable manner. One thing I liked about the book is that Dr. Carmichael explains how she utilized some of the techniques to assist her in her own life and in her clinical practice. When discussing each technique, she uses a real client as an example (with names changed), explaining what the client was struggling with, why this particular technique was useful in this situation, and specifics as to how the technique was utilized. Dr. Carmichael also includes troubleshooting tips for each technique, addressing common concerns about or struggles with the technique that clients have raised. Another positive about this book is that Dr. Carmichael does not insist that any particular technique is the "right" one for particular people or situations or that her approach is the "correct" one. Rather, she encourages people to try out the techniques that seem the best fit for them and she encourages people to seek therapy or utilize other resources if appropriate for their situation.

I received a copy of the e-book via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

[Megan Bingman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a very niche audience, but for those of us who fit the bill, the tools are very valuable. I will keep it on my bookshelf as a resource and re-read it as needed.

[Genevive Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best Anxiety Book I’ve ever had. Great Advise from Dr. Chloe. I would definitely recommend it.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well-researched book with an interesting premise. It's a valuable addition to the self-help field, but with the caveat that its target audience is quite narrow: other clinicians and what she describes in her private practice as "high-functioning clients," which definitely isn't the most relatable. I think her small target audience would find the book incredibly useful. But people outside of that? Ehhh. If you have the ability to speed read, and simply take what you find useful and discard the rest, I absolutely recommend doing so here. Anyway...

So often anxiety is seen as an incredible burden, and it is. But what I like about this book is mostly its premise: that it's possible to turn something that many people with anxiety can't turn off into something more healthy. The idea that anxiety, which can feel absolutely awful, can be reframed and used mindfully to become a help instead of a hindrance is a very hopeful message.

As to the writing, Chloe Carmichael does a fair job at trying to keep the book and her examples engaging. How successful she is at that, I suppose, is up to your level of concentration and patience. She's very, very, very thorough. And that translates to long-winded. It's not bad, per se. But there were many times when I wished she were more succinct.

The tools she discusses, however, are practical and easy to apply, even if it takes quite a bit of wading to get to the nitty gritty. And it definitely gives hope to people suffering from anxiety, like me, that we don't have to fight to eliminate it (which is impossible) but can actually use our anxiety to make our lives better.

One note: there are a lot of heavy citations in this book, and they are useful, especially for those who want to delve deeper into her concepts. But for some, it might be seen as overly cumbersome. Personally, I appreciate the citations, especially so I can look into the assertions I find a bit dubious, by your mileage may vary.

*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really hits home for a “Capital A Type A” like me, particularly in an 18 month period that’s held this much change personally (caring for ill, aging parents; heartbreak), professionally (a promotion and managing a much larger team) and globally (pandemic, racial injustice). From the intro’s “suddenly there’s more work to do than any human being could possibly double-check, there’s no syllabus or clear objectives, and there’s a team of people whose approval you’re seeking rather than just one person,” Dr. Carmichael captures the sense of languishing overwhelm I’m feeling. Though at times the author’s examples from working with exclusively highly privileged, highly functioning people in NYC can seem aloof and off-putting, the practical tips like the Three-Part Breath, speaking to yourself the way you would a good friend who asked for candid feedback, and the “To-Do List with Emotions” — since many ‘overachievers’ like me are used to accomplishing a ton and ‘powering through’ by putting emotion aside— could be useful for anyone who’s looking to harness their nervous energy and remember that (particularly in moments that need an anchoring statement), “My number one job right now is to breathe.” Here’s to continuing to grow in ways that enable us to take control of our nervous energy rather than letting it take control of us.

With gratitude to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Essentials and the author for the ARC.

[Tamzen · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Nervous Energy" was a good, shorter read. The book is focused on people who have high anxiety/nervous energy levels who need a few coping skills to help them step back from perfectionist tendencies that keep them highly strung. Dr. Carmichael elaborates on nine tools that can be helpful for these cases. For instance, the very first skill that is discussed is a breathing technique that can be used as a base-level calming down skill. The book is written very thoroughly, with each chapter detailing a human example, how to do the technique, and how to troubleshoot it if you don't find it is working for you. It is a great read if you are looking for a little help on how to put away intrusive thoughts, react in situations better, etc.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Nikita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though this book was not tailored for me, as I am very much not a high functioning OCD perfectionist person, I found it very useful; I am actually quite the opposite of a high functioning person: always late, disorganized and slow. Despite my overall ‘low energy’ shadow-character caused by maladaptive thoughts and rippling notes of depression, I often experience moments of intense nervousness (anxiety and panic attacks).

This book was great at addressing this problem into an asset by presenting cheat methods for the overthinking brain. Very clear, eloquent, easy read. Super helpful and directive. She describes examples and ways of applying productive techniques to each personal issue that redirect the high buzz vibrations of anxiety into creative harmonic flow of life.

[Calvin Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Personally, I usually liked the complete picture of the psychology concepts explained in Part 1 and the crisp stories that illustrate the techniques in Part 2... but I also liked that I could just flip to the step-by-step instructions whenever I felt eager to just see the actual directions.

I also liked the Troubleshooting section at the end of each technique. The troubleshooting sections served two purposes for me: First, they were helpful solutions to potential difficulties. Second, they helped normalize the idea that I didn't have to do each thing perfectly. I struggle with perfectionism so this was helpful for me.

[ELLA · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not usually one for self-help books, but I got this one after hearing Dr. Chloe on the Nike podcast recently. The book was great-- it was very motivating, and actually went beyond just anxiety help. She also gets into things into perfectionism, staying focused, and feeling positive... but she does it in a very clear, direct manner instead of seeming cheesy or trite. Definitely a refreshing read as well as a refreshing listen (I actually got the audiobook as well, so I could reinforce the ideas while out walking or doing housework). Will keep this one around.

[David Jimenez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a find for me because the techniques were really on-point for my personality: I struggle with perfectionism, I have anxiety, but I also know that I’m ultimately a strong person. This book seemed to address the total picture for me. Plus it was fun to learn about “the secret lives of therapists” since the author reveals a lot about her own background using the techniques on herself as well as her experiences with clients.