Arc review
Get out of your head

Thank you @netgally for a eARC of this book.

I wanted to like this book but it fell short in so many ways. As a psych major going for her doctorate soon as was as a Christian, I was disappointed by a few statements in the book.

People who take anti- (insert here) meds are not outright sinning. Yes they need a strong relationship with God but sometimes you just need extra help til you get there or you may always need it. And making blanket statements saying they are sinning is a big reason there is so much stigma.

I always compare it to a seatbelt in a car.
If your car has airbags why wear a seatbelt. Seems silly right? Of course you still wear a seatbelt.

It is similar to when someone is struggling. Yes they have God and yes unlike a car, God is all you need but when you are struggling it’s more than helpful to “wear your seatbelt” and get additional help, like therapy or meds.

If He didn’t want you to seek help when needed (meds esp) then he wouldn’t have created someone to make them, or therapists.

The one redemption of this book is the chapters on needing community. But that’s about it.

I think this book was helpful. Although, she doesn’t use the King James Bible only. That makes it to where I have to read it along side my Bible firstly. Secondly, the other versions change the verses meaning the way the author would define a verse here a there would be the way the Bible is written. So, doctrinally there are things I get on board with. That being said, I believe we can learn from all men. I believe that the science and the research she described concerning how our brains are transformed by staying in the word is spot on. I really liked how she explained how the process of changing our thoughts changes more than just our thoughts. Overall this was a good book.

This is one of the best books I’ve read. It has helped me used scripture to stop my anxiety right in its tracks it teaches you how to turn to Christ in the moments we spiral the most.

Get Out of Your Head
By Jennie Allen
Pub Date: Jan. 28, 2020
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Great self help book from Social Media guru Allen. At times I thought it was a bit repetitive.
3 stars

Another tremendous title from Jennie Allen!
I have followed Jennie Allen for years both through her books as well on social media and she has a talent for getting her points across to full effect but always in the most loving way.
I feel that this book is so timely right now for the times we are living in and is definitely one that I will be recommending to friends and family!

I really wanted to get into this and enjoy it but I am learning that self help, nonfiction books are just not my jam. I did not finish this one

This book started out strong! I took notes and made several annotations, but I did struggle with reading as I approached the end. Some of the ideas felt a little repetitive. Still I love this author and the message in this book, as well as the care she takes in researching and sharing her findings in an easy-to-understand way. I think this is a great book for church small groups to complete and discuss together. I think I could have gotten more out of it through discussion with others and hope to get the opportunity to do so in the future.

I guess I had set higher expectations for this one than this book was able to deliver. I had hoped for non-partisan guidance for readers on how to help with their toxic thoughts (stress, anxiety, depression, etc) - as the title would lead one to believe. This book was neither non-partisan (very heavily Christian orientated) and severely lacking in any real knowledge, substance or research of mental illness.

What this poorly written, disorganized book does do well, is it falls extremely short in actual, practical help for people who truly suffer from the complexity of mental health illnesses. It's too bad that the author missed the mark on this one. Wouldn't recommend wasting your time on this one to anyone and won't be purchasing it for our municipal library.

I enjoyed it, but it's a bit heavily religious compared to the books I normally read. For people who like reading a different version of the Bible, the book will hit perfectly. I received a review copy from NetGalley and have left my opinion.

I loved Jennie’s mix of practical steps, Scripture, and personal anecdotes on this topic. Will definitely read this again and again!

I have mix feelings for this book. I just didn't care for some of it and then there were small parts that I did like.
This was a low 3 star rating from me




Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this ebook.

I've been trying really hard to finish this book but I just can't make it. I feel so much better seeing others had the same problem. The title is so captivating but the content that followed had no depth to it. I felt that the author spent a lot of time repeating herself and never actually offering any practical advice. I really thought I would have gained some useful information from this book but that wasn't the case.

This book absolutely changed my life, and then fell flat later on. Ultimately, it may not tell you anything you've never heard before, but it may say those things in a way that makes it actually sink in. Like when your parents gave you advice and you were like "ugh, whatever..." but then a cool mentor said the same thing weeks later and it felt like the best information you've ever received? That's how her main concept hit me. I do think I'm better because of reading this book, but I also think it's important to have the right additional tools (community, therapy, etc...) to truly make all the difference. It's a good starting place.

This book is practical, relatable and full of wisdom. As someone who struggles with anxiety I found it very helpful!

What a book for me as a woman! I know that I definitely struggle to corral the runaway thoughts that run rampant in my mind.

Right from the start, Allen, hit it on the head - "I began to see a patent work in many of us. Our emotions were leading us to thoughts, and those thoughts were dictating our decisions, and our decisions were determining behaviors, and then the behaviors were shaping our relationships, all of which would take us back to either healthy or unhealthy thought.
Round and round and round we go, spinning down, seemingly out of control..." Boom! She hit the nail on the head. Ultimately, she talks about getting to the root of the problem and how we think clearly affects how we live.
My only wish is that she utilized more scripture in the ways that she articulated her arguments.

I was really looking forward to reading this book as I struggle with toxic thoughts nearly every day. Although I have to say once reading it, I switched off. I believe in God but I don't attribute my mental health to God and I think that is why I couldn't read the book properly. It is a lot of God's teachings and how god wants us to feel and honestly I don't believe this. The reason I believe the toxic thoughts is because of past experiences and believing in God doesn't change that. I personally would have preferred a book of ways to prevent the toxic thoughts without God's teachings as then it could be available for everyone not just Christians. That is my personal opinion anyway. Others may feel completely different

“Get Out Of Your Head” is the first book I’ve read by Jennie Allen. It’s a practical look at how our thoughts contribute to our attitude and gives a roadmap on how to challenge them.

Anyone who’s struggles with overthinking, anxiety, or self-doubt will want to pick this book up.

I found this book to be helpful in overcoming negative thoughts. But I also thought it was very wordy and kept repeating the same points. This book was just “ok.”

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I appreciated the disclaimer that Jennie Allen put at the beginning that she was addressing toxic, anxious thoughts we have to combat as believers and NOT chemical imbalances that cause depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. She made it very clear that they were different which was important. I read this during recovery from a major surgery which gave me a great perspective as I went through the ups and downs of healing. I would absolutely recommend this book to any fellow follower of Christ!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and WaterBrook Multnomah for the free copy in exchange for an honest review!

Overall, there were aspects of this book I enjoyed. I liked how Jennie wove her story and her mental health journey with scripture and neuroscience. However, at times I felt that there was too much going on - she didn't get too into scripture, or too into neuroscience. It just felt like too much and that it wasn't always done well. Depending on how much you are willing to "do your own work," this book could be a good stepping stone to overcoming toxic thoughts and patterns in your life. I thought there would have been more practical strategies included (like the mind map) but didn't quite get the connection of how everything fit together.

I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.