As someone who struggles daily with anxiety, I thought this book did a good job of providing practical tips and exercises while handling the topic sensitively. I thought some of the information was repetitive and the chapters didn't flow as well as I usually prefer. The case studies were also interesting to read.

With a background in therapy, creative writing and ministry, as well as her own struggles with anxiety, the author brings a lovely sensitivity to a tough topic. She provides case studies, helpful tips and practical exercises to help readers conquer their anxiety. As someone who has been through therapy for my own OCD, much of the content of this book was not new to me, but it did serve as a helpful reminder. Reading this book felt like getting a pep talk from a wise friend.

The book is made up of dozens of short chapters, not all of which naturally flow into each other, and some of the information is repeated in multiple chapters. Therefore, while I read it in one go, that’s not the way I recommend reading this book. I think reading a chapter a day and seeking to put each chapter’s principles into work that day would be most helpful to other readers.

I think this book will be especially helpful to people who are facing their anxiety for the first time and to those seeking to understand a loved one’s anxiety. I hope it gets into the hands of readers who will benefit from it!

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Jan. 21, 2025
Non-fiction author and therapist Stephanie Dowrick’s new work “Your Name is Not Anxious” is designed to help those of us who suffer from anxiety separate who we are from what we experience. With anecdotes from fellow sufferers, Dowrick introduces ways to look at yourself as an individual who makes up part of a complex, and very human, world, with the understanding that anxiety will forever be present in our makeup (if we are so inclined), but we can learn how to live because of it, rather than in spite of it.
The chapters in this book are quite short, which makes an easy read. Dowrick covers anxiety disorder in all its components, including sections on OCD and perfectionism, with not only anecdotes from herself and her friends and patients, but also tips and suggestions on how to change your life so that anxiety isn’t all that you are.
In theory, I loved the premise. Understanding a disability, disorder, syndrome or illness are separate from who we are could lead to massive change on a personal and societal level. Connecting with humanity, finding what makes us happy and treating ourselves with kindness are the basic tenets of Dowrick’s book. She encourages those who are suffering to seek professional help, and makes it very clear that those who are in controlling, bullying or aggressive relationships should not hesitate to get professional and legal help, but she considers her book “self-therapy”, for those who are looking for a way out of the anxiety spiral.
There isn’t a whole lot in Dowrick’s “Anxiety” that I hadn’t heard before. Connecting to the world and to other humans. Meditation and mindfulness. Treating yourself kindly. Putting yourself first. Caring self-talk. It’s nothing new but it’s definitely nice to get a refresher once in awhile. Now, if only it were easy enough to do (but then, we wouldn’t need self-help books I guess).
Dowrick’s chapters are labeled, making it easy for readers to find the chapter that speaks to them. As this was for a review, I read the whole book cover-to-cover, but it isn’t necessary if you are looking for specific tips on certain behaviours and attributes.
If this book does nothing else for you, at least Dowrick makes you feel less alone in the world. To know that there is an entire community of sufferers out there, looking for a way to calm their brain and body, is reassuring on its own. Dowrick’s easy-flowing chapters and generalizable language also make this book perfect for anyone who is looking to make a positive change (you don’t need a degree in anything scientific to understand it! Thank goodness).

This book was okay. I felt that there was not a lot of new information, but maybe it would be more helpful for people who are just beginning to learn about this topic.

This guide is excellent for anyone seeking to better understand and manage anxiety symptoms. I found many of the tools provided to be quite helpful. However, it does have a clinical tone that makes it feel more like a therapist's manual than a general self-help book. Despite this, I believe that everyone can benefit from the insights shared in this novel.

I've never believed there is one end-all "solution" to anxiety, much less something that consistently works for everyone. This book, however, is a great toolbox of techniques for anyone looking to tackle their anxiety — it's practical and helpful!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Your Name is Not Anxious: A Very Personal Guide to Putting Anxiety in Its Place by Stephanie Dowrick is an insightful and compassionate exploration of managing anxiety. Drawing on her deep experience as a writer and psychotherapist, Dowrick combines practical advice with empathetic storytelling to create a guide that feels both intimate and empowering. The book navigates complex emotional landscapes, offering readers relatable anecdotes, psychological insights, and actionable steps to reclaim a sense of calm and self-assurance. Dowrick’s gentle yet authoritative voice provides comfort, making readers feel understood and equipped to face their anxieties. This guide stands out for its genuine warmth and its ability to resonate deeply with anyone seeking to reduce the power anxiety holds over their lives.

I have spent a lot of time thinking about how I want to review this book. I had many different thoughts while reading but I also wanted to make sure that I wasn’t just making complaints, if I was going to give criticism I would hope it would be constructive. I appreciated that the title of the book said, “A very personal guide” because that is indeed what it was. On a positive note it felt like you were having a chat with your good friend and your friend is giving you advice. The repetition throughout mimics like when you talk about the same problem over and over with your buddy. However, my personal opinion for when I am picking up a book like this, I am looking for something with a little more authority and formality. This book only made me feel like I was listening to the authors journey with anxiety, it was hard to insert myself into the picture in an accurate way. I feel like I left the reading knowing a lot more about the author but not so much how the information related to me. Again this is personal preference, I think some would really appeal to the casual like conversation that this book carried, it’s just not my cup of tea.

It seemed like a scrapbook of someone’s journey. Pulling quotes and things that the author appreciated but left little room for my own self discovery. I also didn’t care for the repetition of “Your name is not anxious.” In the whole book. I think the title was sufficient. It made it feel more like they were trying too hard to make it a thing.

This is a formatting issue not so much an actual issue. But I actually like it when you have these really profound statements hidden among other text. You can tell which statements stand out to the author because everything was in bold. But my personal preference is that I highlight it myself. Makes me feel like an explorer, I have to dig deeper. Makes me pay attention more.

Now for the positive… I loved the short chapters, I think that was a really great mood. I also liked the quotes at each chapter that kind of set the mood. I think all of that was a really good choice!

One of my favorite quotes was this one, “In some way, suffering ceases to be suffering at the moment it finds a meaning, such as the meaning of a sacrifice.” That was a chapter that did take me to another place and was enjoyable. I also liked, “Anxiety is a robber when it takes hold of your feelings. It robs you of your natural optimism and much of your vitality. Along with stress, it exhausts you. It is also a liar, telling you what is seldom if ever “true” about the richly complex person each of us is.”

The best chapter in my opinion was 45 on venting. It provided great visuals, great advice, and easy things to remember. That is my takeaway chapter for the whole book.

In conclusion, although I appreciated the realness of the author and her courage to share. I would have thought based on the title that it would be more informational and not the extent of personal that it was. But I know this will be right up someone else’s alley!

Very well written and on such an important matter. I feel this book will help many anxious people learn how to cope.

This book was granted to me at a time when I was experiencing more stress and anxiety than ever before. Dowrick's book helped me to understand my anxiety and the things that can cause it. I now have a better understanding of my symptoms and am getting better at recognizing the things that may trigger it. I believe this book would be beneficial to anyone with anxiety, as well as anyone looking for a better understanding.

As someone who struggles with anxiety daily I found this to be quite helpful. In this book I’ve learnt a few techniques that I believe will be helpful to help deal with my anxiety.

This book has great chapters discussing the many facets of anxiety and it includes exercises and suggestions on how to overcome anxiety when it appears in its different forms. The chapters are super short and it is quite a quick book to get through. I don't know if it really gave any new information or insights into anxiety, however, it is a nice resource to have.

This book provides good insight on anxiety have how to manage it. It was easy to understand. It has describes the physical effects of anxiety on the body as well. I’ve read many books on anxiety and found that this one was the most helpful.

I suffer from a disorder called PMDD that greatly affects my mental health. For a week every month I go through it. I have frequent panic attacks, dissociating, and intrusive thoughts. I feel like I have read everything there is to read about anxiety - but this book is truly guiding me in a better direction.

This is a toolbox filled with everything you need to help you live a better, less anxious life. This author has helped me tremendously. THANK YOU.

This is a great tool to have around because it focuses on the subject rather than just speaking of what anxiety is. It has practical examples, and the chapters are short and well-structured. They end with a try this section, suggestions that help initiate the process of finding our own way to self-help ourselves. I relate to it a lot, and it made me feel I was being listened to. I will definitely get an audio version so I can listen to specific chapters on a loop when anxiety flares.

This book was extremely helpful in visualizing some of what anxiety is and the ways to cope. I cannot wait to use these skills in life and hopefully see a change.

Thank you to the publisher/author for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

This book was different than the other ones I read on Anxiety. This one seemed to cater to different types of people with ideas to help and not to necessarily solve the issue.

I think if you are new on your journey to understanding anxiety this book might be for you, however if you are a little farther into it, I don’t think this book would suit you. I found the tips and tricks just ok. A lot of this information just felt like a repeat from any anxiety self help book.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for this eARC.