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Reviews
Anxiety Rx: A New Prescription for Anxiety Relief from the Doctor Who Created It by Russell Kennedy
nina_11's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
This book is suitable for (almost) everyone who worries, has fears, struggles with anxiety disorders or is stuck in a mental rut. It really has very good approaches, ideas and generally interesting and helpful content.
My rating is based on the fact that this book can help you and your situation IF you work on it yourself! BUT: There is a lot of repetition... If I'm honest, I think the book could be cut in half. The author is not a typical author who "knows how to write“.
There is so much repetition, sometimes whole sentences written completely the same way over and over again.... It's very tiring to read, which unfortunately makes the content fade into the background.
But the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. I would simply plan more time and take a marker to work with the book. I deliberately read a few passages quickly because it was tedious in the long run to endure so much of the same content. Nevertheless, a good book that can also improve your life!
My rating is based on the fact that this book can help you and your situation IF you work on it yourself! BUT: There is a lot of repetition... If I'm honest, I think the book could be cut in half. The author is not a typical author who "knows how to write“.
There is so much repetition, sometimes whole sentences written completely the same way over and over again.... It's very tiring to read, which unfortunately makes the content fade into the background.
But the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. I would simply plan more time and take a marker to work with the book. I deliberately read a few passages quickly because it was tedious in the long run to endure so much of the same content. Nevertheless, a good book that can also improve your life!
charlottereadsthings's review
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
To put it bluntly, Anxiety RX has been a lifesaver for me.
I discovered its existance after looking into trying to heal myself physically and mentally after a difficult period and through looking at resources via TikTok, somone reccomended this book.
Russell Kennedy talks openly and candidly about his own experiences and process of discovering and underdtanding his body more. I think that played a big part in me taking it seriously because it came from a comforting place of "i've been theee."
A big thing I loved alongside this was the fact that, while a retired medical professional he made the content easy to understand and even threw in the odd joke to try and lighten the mood.
Not only does he share experiences of patients and his own, but he provides what he's personally leafned about the connection between body and mind but most importantly how to heal it which practical expcises you can do every day.
It was the perfect place to kickstart my journey and I am grateful for its existance.
I discovered its existance after looking into trying to heal myself physically and mentally after a difficult period and through looking at resources via TikTok, somone reccomended this book.
Russell Kennedy talks openly and candidly about his own experiences and process of discovering and underdtanding his body more. I think that played a big part in me taking it seriously because it came from a comforting place of "i've been theee."
A big thing I loved alongside this was the fact that, while a retired medical professional he made the content easy to understand and even threw in the odd joke to try and lighten the mood.
Not only does he share experiences of patients and his own, but he provides what he's personally leafned about the connection between body and mind but most importantly how to heal it which practical expcises you can do every day.
It was the perfect place to kickstart my journey and I am grateful for its existance.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Death of parent
coriwiden's review
2.0
It’s so rare that I give up on a book, particularly on this topic. The concept had potential, and I was intrigued by the lack of citing studies, etc because at first, it read like having coffee with a knowledgeable friend sharing their own personal experiences in their journey with anxiety. I was fine with that in principle, but here is where it went wrong:
1. I cannot describe the level at which this book is repetitive. Hundreds of pages should have been 50. It has no real identifiable structure within each part, and it feels like one person droning on about his own personal experiences.
2. As I said, there was value in his personal experiences - but if your anxieties manifest in different ways, his failure to use enough meaningful, detailed examples from people other than himself starts to make it hard to relate to.
3. His aha moments stem from psychedelic use. I don’t begrudge him the potential of these drugs, but a lot of his musings about it feel esoteric and not particularly grounded in reality.
The bottom line is that some people may enjoy his personal musings, and he certainly makes some very interesting points that you won’t read elsewhere. For me, though, it was rambling, detached from reality, and difficult to get through.
1. I cannot describe the level at which this book is repetitive. Hundreds of pages should have been 50. It has no real identifiable structure within each part, and it feels like one person droning on about his own personal experiences.
2. As I said, there was value in his personal experiences - but if your anxieties manifest in different ways, his failure to use enough meaningful, detailed examples from people other than himself starts to make it hard to relate to.
3. His aha moments stem from psychedelic use. I don’t begrudge him the potential of these drugs, but a lot of his musings about it feel esoteric and not particularly grounded in reality.
The bottom line is that some people may enjoy his personal musings, and he certainly makes some very interesting points that you won’t read elsewhere. For me, though, it was rambling, detached from reality, and difficult to get through.
kiranmacarena's review
3.0
As my life has been through many waves, I have developed a sense of apprehension for the worst. Reading through this book did make me address it.
It's a rather unique book, one that blends multiple analogies and merits to fit one main narrative: we develop alarms as a response and it's up to our faith and how we face that alarm that sets the whole course of this stress response or anxiety.
Now that is considered a spoiler because that's what the book boils down to.
It has the essence to be a truly novel read but suffers utterly at the hands of the editor. It is poorly structured, a lack of thought put into the coherent, almost a Hodge Podge of sorts. There is many abbreviations but more in the sense of trying for it to catch on.
Many notes can be drawn or extrapolated when the text is trying to earnestly deliver it's material, when it hits it's stride in the last few chapters. This is when the jokes take a back seat and the material shines.
I would recommend this book to anyone who does suffer through anxiety or interested in the mechanisms of anxiety. It is however not the best and definitely something to keep looking for.
Would not read it with LSD but a hot Toddy.
It's a rather unique book, one that blends multiple analogies and merits to fit one main narrative: we develop alarms as a response and it's up to our faith and how we face that alarm that sets the whole course of this stress response or anxiety.
Now that is considered a spoiler because that's what the book boils down to.
It has the essence to be a truly novel read but suffers utterly at the hands of the editor. It is poorly structured, a lack of thought put into the coherent, almost a Hodge Podge of sorts. There is many abbreviations but more in the sense of trying for it to catch on.
Many notes can be drawn or extrapolated when the text is trying to earnestly deliver it's material, when it hits it's stride in the last few chapters. This is when the jokes take a back seat and the material shines.
I would recommend this book to anyone who does suffer through anxiety or interested in the mechanisms of anxiety. It is however not the best and definitely something to keep looking for.
Would not read it with LSD but a hot Toddy.
dreadandsolace's review
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
The Solace: Recommended by my therapist, this book contains a solid chunk of nuggets that helped me take control of my anxiety in a new way, through my body.
The Dread: Written in the format of mala prayer (108 breaths/chapters), the author very clearly chose the format over the function and helpfulness of his words. The author is so repetitive and long-winded; it was a very slow read.
Overall, there are definitely helpful tips from a qualified M.D.; just skip and skim to find the gems that will work for you.
The Dread: Written in the format of mala prayer (108 breaths/chapters), the author very clearly chose the format over the function and helpfulness of his words. The author is so repetitive and long-winded; it was a very slow read.
Overall, there are definitely helpful tips from a qualified M.D.; just skip and skim to find the gems that will work for you.
fasika's review
challenging
informative
medium-paced
3.75
I found it frustrating to get through mostly because the first two parts felt like filler that would only make sense after getting through part three, and only then could you appreciate all the stories and info that was provided in the lead up. I do think he takes a lot of ideas that are presented in other more thorough psychology books and retail a lot of ideas under new catchy labels. BUT I think it made those ideas a bit more digestible which is definitely useful.
airyca's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
5.0
This book changed my life!