As a former sufferer of a severe and disabling anxiety disorder, and finding my own way out, after trying all the usual medical solutions, eg pills, psychology, psychotherapy, CBT etc etc.. I feel my book will be invaluable to anyone who wants to recover, but dosnt know which way to turn, and thinks no one understands. My book is the kind I wished I could have found, when all else had failed. Despite buying many anxiety related, they were all too complicated, and when your mind is crippled by an anxiety disorder, it must be simple to understand and follow, like a step by step guide. Knowing your reading a book by a former sufferer, of such a debilitating condition, can only give you the hope you need, to start the road to rebuilding your life. Do you think this is a good idea, many thanks Sarah.
I wish someone had written a book about my condition, because as mentioned you know you are not alone. When I was a boy, I used to be in awe of people who could learn poetry or lines for plays. The maths lessons for me were the worst, I could learn what to do but when it came to doing the calculations without a rerun of how it is done it wasn't there. I could learn but not recall what I needed. It was the same with English and I loved English, great when we had a recap on nouns verbs and adverbs, two days later not a hope! I went through life thinking that is how it is for everyone, and that doctors scientists even actors were somehow a special breed. Had someone written a book,something like, "I know I am not the only one," then I would have understood more of how things are and my life would have been easier, so yes get it out there some people don't even know they have a problem, they think, as I did that everyone is like that.
Sarah, congratulations on finding the way out of your illness. The sort of book you mention would be really welcome, I'm sure - self-help books written by academics are usually impenetrable when what you want is to find something that resonates with you. You're searching when you haven't the strength to wade through the guff, as you say.
It's like the book recently brought out by a dyslexic man, about his condition; and cookery books by sufferers of intolerances, like Deliciously Ella - they're written by the people who know their subject from the inside.
Have faith in what you have to say, and write it. You will need stamina - and a good proofreader/editor to pull it all together - but if the end result helps one person, you'll have done your job. Good luck!
I'd have thought there is a market given the growing level of this type of illness. Or at least the growing recognition it's more widespread than anyone cares to admit.
It may be that because of the stigma involved you'll find it difficult to get representation for this type of project. I hope not, because (a) the self-help NF book market is apparently in fairly rude health and (b) sufferers need more people to tell them they're not alone.
I wish you the very best of luck with it :)