analyndagrace's review against another edition
2.0
The bad out did the good. Coming from a person with anxiety disorder, I just didn't like the character. She was too whiny and ugh. I didn't like it at all. I already plan on getting rid of it.
echo_finished_cake's review against another edition
5.0
This short book was published in 2006, when I was a sophomore in high school. I had never heard about it until recently, here in 2020. After reading this book, I almost wish I could go back to my high school days and tell myself about this book. I think, had I read it back then, I would have had more courage to get help then when I really needed it. That is how wonderfully written and relatable Ms. Schutz's story of living with an anxiety disorder is to me. I won't go into too many specifics here on this book review forum, but there were so many lines and experiences in her story I could relate to that I lost track of them all. She was blunt, she was honest, she was descriptive and I appreciate these things about this book. I could relate so closely to several of the feelings she describes about having anxiety, panicking and worrying about how others will react to her anxiety & panic attacks. I paused several times while reading this to briefly reflect on relatable feelings towards experiences in my own life that have perpetuated my anxiety. The beauty is I feel that was to some degree, Ms. Schutz's intention when telling her story-to get those of us with anxiety to think about ourselves and our own lives and to take action as need to get help. This is why I think this is a book for anyone who lives with anxiety. A story about a young woman who grows to or comes to terms with her anxiety through medication, counseling, supportive (and sometimes unsupportive) family and friends and through living her life the best she can. I can relate to so much of this and that is why her story told here means so much to me.
The only part I could not relate to really, is all her hook-ups with guys over the years (though believe me, I'm not passing judgement when I say this, it's just an observation) and the experiences with medication. I have a generalized anxiety disorder and I have never taken a single pill for it. I refuse to amidst fear of becoming addicted.
Otherwise, I loved this story and feel the fact it was written in poetry format expresses the positives of all she learned about herself as she struggles and highlights the triumphs she had in learning how to manage it all. As someone with anxiety, I think this was a good move or goal for the writer to have when telling the world the story of her pain. May all who have any form of an anxiety disorder this and be inspired to get the help you need when you need it so that your important story can be told.
This is a must read (though be warned this is not a "light" book to read, but I did get a chuckle out of it here and there)!!! I will likely read it again before returning it to the library and will likely eventually buy a copy for keeps.
The only part I could not relate to really, is all her hook-ups with guys over the years (though believe me, I'm not passing judgement when I say this, it's just an observation) and the experiences with medication. I have a generalized anxiety disorder and I have never taken a single pill for it. I refuse to amidst fear of becoming addicted.
Otherwise, I loved this story and feel the fact it was written in poetry format expresses the positives of all she learned about herself as she struggles and highlights the triumphs she had in learning how to manage it all. As someone with anxiety, I think this was a good move or goal for the writer to have when telling the world the story of her pain. May all who have any form of an anxiety disorder this and be inspired to get the help you need when you need it so that your important story can be told.
This is a must read (though be warned this is not a "light" book to read, but I did get a chuckle out of it here and there)!!! I will likely read it again before returning it to the library and will likely eventually buy a copy for keeps.
zoesbookshelf's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
3.5
jlinvill1's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
3.5
Good insight into someone with panic disorder
angelreadsthings's review against another edition
4.0
I think the most amazing thing about this book is that after everything Samantha went through, she had the courage to so openly reveal her story. And I'm very glad that she did--this is a story that definitely needs to be heard.
dream_write_read's review against another edition
3.0
Memoir about a girl who suffered from anxiety disorder.
It was alright.
I loved how this author was willing to come out about this, and show the world something she feared most, so therefore I can't me upset with the plot, and either way I glad your story was told.
What I did have a problem with was is was too repetitive. Good story to tell yeah, great story to tell, but you didn't to go in to detail more. I felt like every time she had a panic attack I, as the reader, began to stop feeling what she was feeling. This all had to do with your details and descriptions, the were all the same to me. For example, I can't breath, I feel pain in my stomach, it was said so much it lost meaning you need to change it up. Instead of being like I felt like I couldn't breath say I felt like an air compresses had replaced my lungs, or instead of I'm going to die or I want to kill my self say this could very well my the end of me. Simple things like that would of kept me interested.
All the while I think this is a good story. Just needed some touch ups in my opinion.
It was alright.
I loved how this author was willing to come out about this, and show the world something she feared most, so therefore I can't me upset with the plot, and either way I glad your story was told.
What I did have a problem with was is was too repetitive. Good story to tell yeah, great story to tell, but you didn't to go in to detail more. I felt like every time she had a panic attack I, as the reader, began to stop feeling what she was feeling. This all had to do with your details and descriptions, the were all the same to me. For example, I can't breath, I feel pain in my stomach, it was said so much it lost meaning you need to change it up. Instead of being like I felt like I couldn't breath say I felt like an air compresses had replaced my lungs, or instead of I'm going to die or I want to kill my self say this could very well my the end of me. Simple things like that would of kept me interested.
All the while I think this is a good story. Just needed some touch ups in my opinion.