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Nervous Breakthrough: Finding Freedom from Fear and Anxiety in a World That Feeds It
Exhaustion and hurry aren’t a badge of honor.
Fear and anxiety rage in our world—a weight we carry, producing profound physical consequences. We hustle hard and strive more each day, our priorities mismatched with our Savior’s—struggling to surrender our lives to his will. We believe our superwoman tendencies are amazing when they are in fact alarming. What will it take to rock the boat enough to awaken our souls? A total nervous breakdown?
A diagnosis of severe panic and anxiety disorder answered that question for Christy Boulware. Her fast-paced, highly driven, mis-prioritized life finally caught up with her. Eventually she went from being superwoman to staring at guns on her bedroom floor. Through her journey to recovery, Christy learned how to overcome fear and anxiety in a world that feeds both emotions. Whether you’re on the verge of a breakdown, in the middle of one, or worried you’re headed toward one—this book will show you how a breakdown can lead to a breakthrough. We have wasted enough time living in fear; let’s start living in freedom!
Through this book, the reader will:
• Lay down superwoman tendencies and discover how to fully surrender to a trustworthy God.
• Stop anxiety before it starts by recognizing its smoke alarms.
• Recognize ungodly thoughts and replace them before they snowball out of control.
• Learn why the presence of fear does not mean your faith is weak.
• Discover where science complements God’s Word to achieve a balanced approach for overcoming anxiety.
Fear and anxiety rage in our world—a weight we carry, producing profound physical consequences. We hustle hard and strive more each day, our priorities mismatched with our Savior’s—struggling to surrender our lives to his will. We believe our superwoman tendencies are amazing when they are in fact alarming. What will it take to rock the boat enough to awaken our souls? A total nervous breakdown?
A diagnosis of severe panic and anxiety disorder answered that question for Christy Boulware. Her fast-paced, highly driven, mis-prioritized life finally caught up with her. Eventually she went from being superwoman to staring at guns on her bedroom floor. Through her journey to recovery, Christy learned how to overcome fear and anxiety in a world that feeds both emotions. Whether you’re on the verge of a breakdown, in the middle of one, or worried you’re headed toward one—this book will show you how a breakdown can lead to a breakthrough. We have wasted enough time living in fear; let’s start living in freedom!
Through this book, the reader will:
• Lay down superwoman tendencies and discover how to fully surrender to a trustworthy God.
• Stop anxiety before it starts by recognizing its smoke alarms.
• Recognize ungodly thoughts and replace them before they snowball out of control.
• Learn why the presence of fear does not mean your faith is weak.
• Discover where science complements God’s Word to achieve a balanced approach for overcoming anxiety.
224 pages, Paperback
Published April 11, 2023
6 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 15, 2023
"Breakdown to Breakthrough" by Christy Boulware is a powerful and insightful book that addresses the issues of fear, anxiety, and the pursuit of a meaningful life. Drawing from her own personal journey of severe panic and anxiety disorder, Boulware shares her experiences and offers practical guidance on how to overcome these challenges and live a life of freedom.
The book challenges the societal norm of exhaustion and hurry, reminding readers that these are not badges of honor but rather signs of misaligned priorities. Boulware emphasizes the importance of surrendering to God's will and letting go of the superwoman tendencies that often lead to burnout and emotional breakdowns. Through her own transformational journey, she provides inspiration and guidance for others who may be on the verge of a breakdown or in the midst of one.
One of the key insights of the book is the recognition of anxiety as a warning sign or smoke alarm. Boulware encourages readers to pay attention to these signals and offers practical strategies for managing and replacing ungodly thoughts that contribute to anxiety. She also addresses the misconception that the presence of fear indicates weak faith, reminding readers that faith and fear can coexist and that it is possible to find strength and peace in God's presence.
Additionally, Boulware integrates scientific knowledge with biblical wisdom to present a balanced approach to overcoming anxiety. She highlights the importance of understanding the mind-body connection and provides insights into how scientific principles align with God's Word.
"Breakdown to Breakthrough" offers hope and encouragement for those struggling with anxiety and fear. Christy Boulware's writing is relatable and compassionate, providing a safe space for readers to explore their own experiences and find guidance on their journey toward healing and freedom.
Overall, "Breakdown to Breakthrough" is a transformative book that invites readers to reevaluate their priorities, release their fears, and embrace a life of surrender and freedom. It is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to overcome anxiety, find peace in God's presence, and live a more purposeful and balanced life.
The book challenges the societal norm of exhaustion and hurry, reminding readers that these are not badges of honor but rather signs of misaligned priorities. Boulware emphasizes the importance of surrendering to God's will and letting go of the superwoman tendencies that often lead to burnout and emotional breakdowns. Through her own transformational journey, she provides inspiration and guidance for others who may be on the verge of a breakdown or in the midst of one.
One of the key insights of the book is the recognition of anxiety as a warning sign or smoke alarm. Boulware encourages readers to pay attention to these signals and offers practical strategies for managing and replacing ungodly thoughts that contribute to anxiety. She also addresses the misconception that the presence of fear indicates weak faith, reminding readers that faith and fear can coexist and that it is possible to find strength and peace in God's presence.
Additionally, Boulware integrates scientific knowledge with biblical wisdom to present a balanced approach to overcoming anxiety. She highlights the importance of understanding the mind-body connection and provides insights into how scientific principles align with God's Word.
"Breakdown to Breakthrough" offers hope and encouragement for those struggling with anxiety and fear. Christy Boulware's writing is relatable and compassionate, providing a safe space for readers to explore their own experiences and find guidance on their journey toward healing and freedom.
Overall, "Breakdown to Breakthrough" is a transformative book that invites readers to reevaluate their priorities, release their fears, and embrace a life of surrender and freedom. It is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to overcome anxiety, find peace in God's presence, and live a more purposeful and balanced life.
August 22, 2023
Christy Boulware's book, Nervous Breakthrough, is a much needed resource in today's society, due to the rising levels of fear and anxiety prevalent in the world. We are not alone. This book is a great reminder of this truth, that God is beside us walking the journey called life, and guides us through all fear and anxiety that we encounter. Having a special needs son with high medical needs, I have lived much of my life trapped in "fears" and the "what ifs" that each day may bring, or just the day-to-day life worries that crop up for each of us. Christy really helps to relate to and recognize those triggers that start the spiral into an anxiety/panic attack and depression. She gives us actionable ways to combat the triggers and ultimately, to seek Jesus in our times we struggle.
I highly recommend this book to anyone that has struggled personally and/or knows someone that has struggled with anxiety and/or depression. The application points, as well as a list of 25 "ready" statements to summarize what we learned throughout this book, are a great resource to have in combatting anxiety and fear. Thank you NetGalley and Leafwood publishers for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I highly recommend this book to anyone that has struggled personally and/or knows someone that has struggled with anxiety and/or depression. The application points, as well as a list of 25 "ready" statements to summarize what we learned throughout this book, are a great resource to have in combatting anxiety and fear. Thank you NetGalley and Leafwood publishers for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
April 11, 2023
"Nervous Breakthrough" was a great read! Christy is a great storyteller, really brings you in to her story and made me want to keep reading chapter after chapter. I don't deal with anxiety like Christy did, but I do have some tendencies of anxiousness & fear and this really helped me understand what is happening and gave lots of strategies on how to stop those fear bullets. I thought the order of her chapters really built on one another and she did a great job of weaving her story in. The first few chapters gave lots of good information on anxiety & panic, medication, and how the church, medical and mental health fields should work together. Then she turned towards what "anxiety smoke alarms" look like, how God's love casts out fear, how to stop the anxiety snowball, and identifying the cause of anxiety.
I loved that throughout the entire book, Christy emphasized Jesus as the One to bring the healing and help, we cannot do it on our own. Though medication and doctors play an important role, we must go to God and put on that Armor of God, But she ended the book with some important topics. One quote that hit me was "fear is rising because faith is dying" and it is so true! We need to get back to total surrender to God- praying, going to church, reading our Bibles and pursuing healing from the Lord. I loved how the end of the book is so practical. There is a great study guide for all chapters with bullet points that review the chapter, Scriptures and reflection questions. There is also a list of 25 "ready" statements to summarize what we learned throughout this book. Thanks Christy for writing this great book full of real life stories, laughter, heartache and truth from the Bible. I cannot wait to pass this on to my friends!
I loved that throughout the entire book, Christy emphasized Jesus as the One to bring the healing and help, we cannot do it on our own. Though medication and doctors play an important role, we must go to God and put on that Armor of God, But she ended the book with some important topics. One quote that hit me was "fear is rising because faith is dying" and it is so true! We need to get back to total surrender to God- praying, going to church, reading our Bibles and pursuing healing from the Lord. I loved how the end of the book is so practical. There is a great study guide for all chapters with bullet points that review the chapter, Scriptures and reflection questions. There is also a list of 25 "ready" statements to summarize what we learned throughout this book. Thanks Christy for writing this great book full of real life stories, laughter, heartache and truth from the Bible. I cannot wait to pass this on to my friends!
September 9, 2023
What a refreshing book! I love that the Author combines her Christian faith along with her own challenges with Anxiety. She is brutally honest and candid and her vulnerability will mean many anxiety sufferers will easily relate. She really tackles the issue of how living today comes with a world of pressures and stress often leading to Anxiety. That even the most resilient can suffer.
It’s got practical tips on how to manage your anxiety. It’s a huge issue in our society today. I read somewhere that 1 in 3 Americans have anxiety disorders. I know it’s prevalent in teenagers and very small children to a shocking degree.
It was an easy read and there is no complex psychological babble to confuse you. The fact it’s written by someone who has lived with it instead of a Psychologist who has never experienced it makes it great. The writing is good and I particularly like how you are drawn back to leaning into God in dark times. Even if you are not a Christian you’d get something from this book. A super read. Definitely recommended!
Thanks to Abiline Christian University Press and Leafwood Publishers for my ARC via NetGalley.
Thanks so much for reading my review of this book. Join me as a friend or follower and feel free to browse my shelves for your next great book! I love to connect with other readers.
It’s got practical tips on how to manage your anxiety. It’s a huge issue in our society today. I read somewhere that 1 in 3 Americans have anxiety disorders. I know it’s prevalent in teenagers and very small children to a shocking degree.
It was an easy read and there is no complex psychological babble to confuse you. The fact it’s written by someone who has lived with it instead of a Psychologist who has never experienced it makes it great. The writing is good and I particularly like how you are drawn back to leaning into God in dark times. Even if you are not a Christian you’d get something from this book. A super read. Definitely recommended!
Thanks to Abiline Christian University Press and Leafwood Publishers for my ARC via NetGalley.
Thanks so much for reading my review of this book. Join me as a friend or follower and feel free to browse my shelves for your next great book! I love to connect with other readers.
October 26, 2023
A book about everyday experiences of living with fear, anxiety, and the pursuit of a meaningful life.
The author has pulled on her own experiences and offers some practical ideas on how to overcome these.
The book uses the bible to offer additional support which can be reassuring.
Her writing is simple and not lecturing but rather in the tone of another gal, sharing openly and warmly.
At the end of the book you realise how much of the fears are coming from unrequired pressure we are putting on ourselves and that it is easier to let go and live a more balanced life.
I really appreciate the addition of the bullet points at the end of each chapter - its been great to revisit it as sometimes we all need a pick me up.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book.
The author has pulled on her own experiences and offers some practical ideas on how to overcome these.
The book uses the bible to offer additional support which can be reassuring.
Her writing is simple and not lecturing but rather in the tone of another gal, sharing openly and warmly.
At the end of the book you realise how much of the fears are coming from unrequired pressure we are putting on ourselves and that it is easier to let go and live a more balanced life.
I really appreciate the addition of the bullet points at the end of each chapter - its been great to revisit it as sometimes we all need a pick me up.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book.
April 12, 2023
This book was such a great read and knowing you are not alone when it comes to anxiety and depression. I have struggled myself, whether it be from postpartum or just the day-to-day life aside from babies. Even though, for the most part, I have overcome those feelings, Christy really helps to relate to and recognize those triggers that start the spiral into an anxiety/panic attack and depression. Christy gives us actionable ways to combat the triggers and ultimately, to seek Jesus in our times we struggle.
I highly recommend this book to anyone that has struggled personally and/or knows someone that has struggled with anxiety and/or depression. Christy's insight and personal experience is a great one to have in your toolbelt for when those triggers hit!
I highly recommend this book to anyone that has struggled personally and/or knows someone that has struggled with anxiety and/or depression. Christy's insight and personal experience is a great one to have in your toolbelt for when those triggers hit!
July 24, 2023
Christy Boulware has faced the beast. Winston Churchill called it the Black Dog. In "Nervous Breakthrough she writes twelve million Americans know and can identify with her illness. It is here. It is real. What do we do about it?
It is amazing that this phenomena can happen to the most successful people. The ones whom we admire and envy. In "Nervous Breakthrough," she kicks and tears down our maps to the good life. Should we trust her? Believing in her is a serious vote that touches on who we really are behind our darkened lamp posts.
It is amazing that this phenomena can happen to the most successful people. The ones whom we admire and envy. In "Nervous Breakthrough," she kicks and tears down our maps to the good life. Should we trust her? Believing in her is a serious vote that touches on who we really are behind our darkened lamp posts.
March 6, 2023
Are you struggling with anxiety and depression? So many of us are or know someone who is. Christy shares her story honestly and vulnerably of how she has overcome severe anxiety and panic disorder by pointing you to the One who set her free. Using Scripture throughout, she directs you to the Truth and gives practical steps and tools for taking those anxious thoughts captive and replacing them with life giving thoughts from the Prince of Peace Himself, Jesus Christ.
March 28, 2023
Really easy to read! Loved the tie in of scripture, the ready statements and the study guide included in the book. This book is going to help a lot of people! It’s perfect for someone newer on their journey to combating fear and anxiety but also is super relatable to anyone that has or is struggling with fear and anxiety.
July 7, 2024
Wow! Thank you for speaking the truth and giving us applicable ways to improve our lives immediately. This book blends real-life stories, Biblical truths, and advice. While I do not feel anxiety/nerves often, I am glad I can use what I learned from this book to help my daughter, my students, and youth group kiddos who do feel the effects of anxiety & nerves.
June 27, 2023
This wasn't my favourite self help book. I did see a few useful pointers across the way but I just wasn't the right reader to appreciate it.
A lot of references to god, which is important, but isn't for everyone's beliefs.
A lot of references to god, which is important, but isn't for everyone's beliefs.
November 20, 2023
So many resources in this one book.
July 5, 2023
Although I've never been given an official diagnosis for anxiety or depression I've dealt with worry and anxious thoughts from time to time. I found Christy's words to be very encouraging and her book gave me practical tools to keep the worry and panic at bay. I love the questions at the back at the book because you can use it as a study guide. Christy's writing style is very easy to read and no matter where you are on the anxiety spectrum you'll find helpful information in this book!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews