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magnoliafay's review
4.0
I suffer from anxiety and I finished this book in the middle of a crisis.
Whilst I acknowledge the issues other reviewers pointed out, like the chaotic style, the blanket statements against medication and the romanticising of the disorder, I believe I needed this book here and now. It’s not for everyone, but it was for me at the moment.
I related to much of what she said and it made me feel better about myself, all the while gently pushing me towards getting back up. I know I need to take steps in managing my anxiety, and the book gave me ideas and inspiration. I don’t think I’ll go as far as to make my own beast beautiful, but I can try to sit with it. That kind of advice and the tricks and tips she recommends are in agreement with my therapist’s approach as well. I also appreciated the parts addressed to the anxious person’s loved ones, and showed them to my husband.
That said, I would only recommend it to sufferers who like me already have the support of a therapist, and only if you’re not prone to chasing someone’s ‘recipe’ for healing. Definitely not for people with issues related to food in my opinion, because of the constant sugar bashing. So basically, if you can read it with a big grain of salt and only take what you need, it can be good, but some caution is in order.
Whilst I acknowledge the issues other reviewers pointed out, like the chaotic style, the blanket statements against medication and the romanticising of the disorder, I believe I needed this book here and now. It’s not for everyone, but it was for me at the moment.
I related to much of what she said and it made me feel better about myself, all the while gently pushing me towards getting back up. I know I need to take steps in managing my anxiety, and the book gave me ideas and inspiration. I don’t think I’ll go as far as to make my own beast beautiful, but I can try to sit with it. That kind of advice and the tricks and tips she recommends are in agreement with my therapist’s approach as well. I also appreciated the parts addressed to the anxious person’s loved ones, and showed them to my husband.
That said, I would only recommend it to sufferers who like me already have the support of a therapist, and only if you’re not prone to chasing someone’s ‘recipe’ for healing. Definitely not for people with issues related to food in my opinion, because of the constant sugar bashing. So basically, if you can read it with a big grain of salt and only take what you need, it can be good, but some caution is in order.
elizabethgenter's review against another edition
2.0
2 stars for the author being real and vulnerable. Also only 2 stars for this being categorized as a "self-help" or "psychology" book instead of an "autobiography"
potplant's review against another edition
"They (worries) are just narratives we create in the present."
Honest and insightful, but unnecessary long.
Honest and insightful, but unnecessary long.
laurasauras's review against another edition
5.0
A wonderful blend of memoir and self-help book. I love that Sarah describes different strategies working and failing at different times during her life with anxiety. I love the idea of making my own beast beautiful, and I found that in understanding her beast I found her beautiful as well.
notesquotesscarletmotes's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
I found myself identifying pretty strongly with a few too many of the authors struggles here. I learned some interesting things and got some tools and ideas to try out and see if they can help me with my own struggles with anxiety.
trisairatops's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
shebby1991's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
2.75
Almost a DNF, but I am glad I finished the book. The author is vulnerable in her journey and I can tell she put a lot of effort into the book, but it missed the mark a little for me. There's nothing groundbreaking, but it is nice to know I’m not the only anxious person out there. Several good nuggets of wisdom that the everyday anxious person can apply (daily meditation, accepting the anxiety as a positive attribute, etc), but also a ton of the book that I cant relate to (running away from work for months, the privilege of forgetting you had $10k in savings, being a nomad without a passport or money for weeks while stealing food without repercussions, sugar is the reason for our anxiety and we should cut it completely out of our diet, and the name-dropping of celebrities the author met and how they helped). The book read more as a memoir instead of a self-help book that I was expecting.