My interest is seldom piqued by messages shared on social media. Hence, it was a rare occurrence for me to have picked up this book on Kindle minutes after reading an excerpt shared by a friend. I can often be accused of indulging in the cardinal sin of judging a book by its cover, though in my defence, it is the back cover blurb I am speaking of rather than the front cover art which is never germane to the content. However, I happened to make an exception when purchasing the book and turned over to the first page, truly blind and oblivious to the subject matter.
What struck me immediately was the earnestness and candidness in the tone of the writing. It can only come from someone who has sunk to the depths and risen from it, to an extent. For someone, who hasn’t experienced depression or anxiety in any form, the story might seem like an exaggeration but that is definitely not the case. As masking is always seen as the more acceptable option when dealing with society, the worst of depression or anxiety never manifests itself in the visible world.
Being more attuned to fiction, I found the rawness of this book particularly refreshing and eye-opening. The shorter chapters interspersed with varying anecdotes lend well to reading by those who tend to slip in to contemplation and perhaps, recollection. Also, the book doesn’t overdraw itself by being as concise as it is precise. It stands out as a good read by not only those experiencing anxiety or depression but by anyone in general, to better understand those invisible messages around us that just happen to be the most vital ones.