Hardcore Self Help: F**k Anxiety Paperback – July 7, 2015

I definitely could have read this in one day, it doesn't have page numbers, but I know it's not that long. I counted 58 pages of the actual self-help part, the part you [usually] read. I read everything in it though, even the "thank you" page, where I found myself writing out, "Thank YOU, Robert". (Yes, I'm one of THOSE people, when reading something I can learn from, like when I was in college, I write little notes in the book, and dog ear, too... *GASP*) (I can take it in better that way, that's how I learn.)But I wanted to read it slower, read/learn at my own pace, and just take this journey slow.I've never read a self-help book, ever, just not really my thing personally. I love novels, that's my thing, fiction. To read and to write, to have and to hold. I love reading fiction about mental illness, especially anxiety and depression, but also other ones I'm not as familiar with. It's interesting to me, to see how it's portrayed in a fictional way. (We need more of it, but I'm trying to read as many as I can find.) (And maybe write some of my own as well.)I've suffered with general anxiety (and other types within it, like some social anxiety, etc.), so when I knew this book existed, I felt this need to get it and read it right away. I wouldn't have gotten it otherwise, obviously. When, in fiction, I'm willing to learn more about other illnesses, this was completely a personal choice to buy, read slow, and learn more about one of the things inside me. It's been really helpful to read and learn about.I LOVE how this is written. Self-help books, in my opinion but I could be wrong, probably can be patronizing a little? Or sound like it. It's hard to find genuine help that talks to you in a way that doesn't make you feel like you're being talked down to. You know? And Dr. Robert Duff is that help for you. And he was for me.Don't be put off by the swear in the title, and the swears in the book, it's within the tremendous amount of very useful and interesting information wherein he talks to you person to person, human to human, and not just doctor to patient.He makes it all simple. He uses doctor terms and the stuff he knows, but says it and explains it in a way that you're going to understand so clearly. It's incredible. You don't feel like a therapist is writing it most of the time. And when the doctor things come up, you don't feel like he's talking down to you, or judging you. It's like he's just talking to you, as a human, and trying to help you. But in a comforting way. It's kind of hard to explain, this book really just changed me.He uses real life scenarios, some of his own, some made up, to help his points across, and I'm very into that, because it's easier when imagining things to understand them more.I could go on and on about how well-written and just amazing this book is, I really could, haha. It really helped me out. A lot of it I knew, of course, but a lot of it helped me learn even more. It was interesting, I loved feeling like I wasn't being talked down to or judged, and it just really helped me out.I would recommend this to someone with anxiety, in any form, but I would also recommend this to someone who is friends with, or in any way involved with, someone with anxiety. It will help the person with anxiety and then help the person not with it to understand it more. (It even includes a letter you can actually give someone that helps them understand more, and it's perfectly written.)We need more people to understand mental illness. And not in a judge-y/stigma-like way. Sure, it's an "invisible" illness, but that doesn't make it any less real. We just need more people to understand that.Thank you, Robert.-Jacquelyn Joyce <3

Decent book, some helpful tips. Writing style is super clear and conversational - not too much clinical crap & not boring, but enough intelligent detail/depth thrown in to get an idea that the author has some real-life experience and knowledge in dealing with anxiety. Super quick read - I literally read it in about 1/2 hour - my order on Amazon actually still says "pending" as I'm writing this review. Worth the $3 overall. I would suggest that the author add a little bit more to the "taking care of yourself" section that includes some additional references to exercising (massages and other stuff are nice, too, sometimes). You don't have to do much, but I know for myself, some of my most anxious times are when I'm the laziest fat ass, too. I think there's some kind of direct correlation there, at least for me. :) Get the book, read it. It's quick, it's informative, it's worth it.

There was nothing I didn’t like about this book honestly. Everything was so in depth just enough without turning into medical jargon. It felt real and down to earth instead of stuffy like a hospital. I would die to have him as my therapist my goodness! I really love how many resources he has and that he laid the links out throughout the book with the corresponding chapters. 10/10 read!

This book breaks down anxiety and shares wonderful ways to manage it… as well as identifying the underlying thoughts associated with the feelings. Dr. Duff gives brilliant examples that are highly relatable, and, honestly hilarious. I’m in awe that he took such a difficult subject to discuss and made it enjoyable to read about and broke things down for everyone to understand. I’ve already recommended this book to several friends, family members, and my fellow therapists. Thank you Dr. Duff!! … now off to read the depression book!!

It has some useful tips. The book doesn't go very in depth but is a quick, easy, and comical read for the topic. I felt it was a great starter book to get into dealing with my severe generalized anxiety disorder but is not the cure all book. I do recommend it a read as like I stated, its a great starter book for getting into the nitty gritty. He also offers different links to check out throughout, I haven't personally looked into those links but they may provide even more help. Additionally, there are tips to help explain the disorder to people who just don't get it, and would be a good read for those people as well.

Clear, solid advice to deal with anxiety in fun, short, easy-to-read format. Grounded in sound psychological principles, but not preachy. No pedantic mumbo jumbo. Everyday, earthy conversational tone and humorous analogies engage reader from the start. Quickly gets to the core of issues facing those dealing with anxiety and offers practical advice for moving forward. Recognizes not all techniques perfect for everyone and offers a variety of solutions / suggestions for coping. Realistic and straightforward; offers no illusions that anxiety will totally disappear from one's life if one follows these exercises, but offers practical ways both to learn to avoid anxiety when possible and to learn how to better tolerate one's anxiety symptoms. Encouraging but practical about the process; states that "there will be days that you fell crazy motivated and resilient and others where you fell like you are losing the uphill battle. These are normal things. The graph of improvement over time is never a perfect line. There will be ups and downs, but you will be trending upward. My best advice to you is to try to be enthusiastic about this in a way what makes sense to you."Must-read for anyone wanting to lessen anxiety's hold over their life. Especially great for those in twenty to thirty-something age range.

I felt this book to be more like a friend. It was a great read. Not the information powerhouse like a encyclopaedia of anxiety, it’s more like a good talk with someone close to you who has a deep understanding of what anxiety is.

Very easy to read and very very very very very very very very very very very very very very funny.

This book gave me the strengh and the will to start my journey to my better self again. Thanks Rob !

If you suffer from anxiety or panic attacks, don't even hesitate, just purchase this book. I wish I had it ages ago but I'm glad I've gotten my hands on it now. I've been suffering from absolutely debilitating anxiety and panic attacks as of recently, and this book has done a great deal in helping me. It's far from your normal, bland self help book. It kept me engaged. And it really moved me and made me feel less isolated. It was extremely comforting. And not to mention it's nice to be able to get some laughs in as well. Incredibly written and helpful to anyone out there suffering. Made me feel quite hopeful and relaxed. I'll definitely be recommending this to any friends experiencing similar issues.

I really needed to read this after multiple hard to digest anxiety self help books. Like a breath of fresh air. It feels like getting advice from someone who could easily be your best mate. Robert does some fantastic podcasts on his website that are worth listening to also. Unfortunately breathing exercises have never helped with my anxiety to date. I've found it more helpful recently to stop focusing on my breathing so I can let my body breathe the way it's supposed to mainly because I was becoming too fixated on it. You know, how's my breathing? Too fast? Too slow? Am I feeling anxious? Constantly 'checking in' and then getting more worried. I'm pretty sure I forgot how to just breathe. I find that tensing various muscle groups systematically helps more than deep breathing at least for me anyway.