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jess_mango's review
3.0
Nervous Energy is a guide "for high functioning individuals to take control of their anxiety". So, what is a high functioning individual? Think of someone that pretty much has their life together and is a perfectionist, but, in this case, is getting overwhelmed by anxiety. In "normal life" I may be considered a high functioning individual, but during COVID quarantine, I am more of a "just keeping it together"-slouch in sweatpants.
In this book, Dr. Chloe Carmichael offers up her techniques to help get a handle on anxiety. Carmichael has a pHD in psychology and has spent some time as a yoga/mindfulness instructor as well. Her tips are a blend of the two. The first 33% of the book is an intro of sorts and the last two thirds discuss the techniques, with a full 10% of the book dedicated to "The Three-Part Breath". I am a fan of breathing. But I don't need 30+ pages about how to breathe deeply. I would've strongly preferred if the book was more succinct. I am someone who strongly believes in K.I.S.S (Keep It Simple, Stupid) when it comes to guides, so all of the extra words and such in each section started to make me....well, a bit anxious. Overall, the techniques were good things to try to reduce anxiety, but I think the book could've been notably shorter.
This book, to me, is like a crab cake that misses the mark due to too much filler and not enough crab.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
In this book, Dr. Chloe Carmichael offers up her techniques to help get a handle on anxiety. Carmichael has a pHD in psychology and has spent some time as a yoga/mindfulness instructor as well. Her tips are a blend of the two. The first 33% of the book is an intro of sorts and the last two thirds discuss the techniques, with a full 10% of the book dedicated to "The Three-Part Breath". I am a fan of breathing. But I don't need 30+ pages about how to breathe deeply. I would've strongly preferred if the book was more succinct. I am someone who strongly believes in K.I.S.S (Keep It Simple, Stupid) when it comes to guides, so all of the extra words and such in each section started to make me....well, a bit anxious. Overall, the techniques were good things to try to reduce anxiety, but I think the book could've been notably shorter.
This book, to me, is like a crab cake that misses the mark due to too much filler and not enough crab.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
niniane's review against another edition
The author is young and has a "hustle culture" perspective, not reflecting on any of the systemic issues that cause anxiety. It's a "Lean in" mentality about using breathing techniques or spending money to solve anxiety that is caused by societal challenges.
agnesita's review
5.0
This book had very practical, tactical techniques for managing anxiety and anecdotal case studies that showed how they could be used. Breathing techniques hadn’t worked for me before (I can’t seem to hold my breath as long as they require) but the three part breath technique was easier.
smorrison4's review
medium-paced
3.0
An interesting book providing strategies for "high functioning" people to manage their anxiety. I did like the SLOW method for the three step breathing technique, I don't know if I will use it very often but I found it was easy enough to do and could be helpful for grounding yourself in a high stress situation.
deyanira's review
3.75
Has some really helpful techniques, but the author was a little too wordy for me. It's like she's trying to prove her credibility, which I get, but I already trusted you enough to pick up your book, so it felt like a bit TOO much. The actual techniques are great though. Ironically though, I couldn't get into the breathing one, but the rest have helped a lot.