This was a good companion volume to the recent IT'S ALL IN YOUR HEAD: TRUE STORIES OF IMAGINARY ILLNESS by Suzanne O'Sullivan. In this memoir/science book, Andrea Petersen talks about her lifelong journey with anxiety (she's only in her forties now), alongside history and research on the condition.

Having had a schizophrenic maternal grandmother and a strain of not-crippling anxiety running through my husband's family, I was very interested in the genetic components (they exist), and feel fortunate that my own amygdala must be unnaturally blunted because anxiety is alien to me. Kudos to the good friends and (many, many) boyfriends the author had who handled her condition well. I confess it would have driven me mad. How many trips to the ER can one possibly make, only to be told there's "nothing wrong"?

Here's where those two books dovetail nicely, since they both talk about getting psychiatric treatment to overcome the fallout. Petersen also goes into great detail about available medications, but given the scary uncertainties about pregnancy and depression/anxiety drugs, I'd turn first to the non-medication treatments.

If you struggle with anxiety or have a loved one who does, I recommend this book.

Thank you to the publishers for allowing me to review the galley.

As someone who has been dealing with anxiety throughout her life, this book was an interesting and relevant read. Petersen does anxiety justice with her candid, honest explanation of what it is really like to suffer from anxiety. I also loved that she traced the ebb and flow of anxiety through different stages in her life. I also appreciated her tact and sense of humor throughout the book.

This is a memoir about a journalist's life with anxiety disorders. The memoir is interspersed with information that serves as a primer about information about anxiety, it's diagnosis and treatment options past and present. Those parts were my least favorite part of the book because the information is widely available and because it interrupted the narrative. Her personal story was raw and honest and she uses her journalist chops to interview those in her life and share their reaction to her illness.

I did not finish this book as I did not engage with the story or the characters.

Andrea Petersen's book, On Edge, would be an insightful read for those who haven't experienced debilitating anxiety, and for their families. It would also help sufferers know they're not alone, and encourage them with information about ongoing research into this form of mental illness. I gave it an average review because a lot of the content wasn't new to me; I'd read similar material in other books and magazines, I also found it hard to engage with the author's personal story, and I'm sorry about that. I can't really even explain it, except to say that again, there wasn't much I hadn't heard or read before, from other sources. Perhaps I was looking for a fresher take. Kudos to Ms. Petersen for her honest sharing, thoughtful writing and encouragement to others, in spite of my mild reservations. I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in return for my honest review.

If you have ever been through the dreadful disease of anxiety I highly recommend you read this book. The Author has been there and her insight is amazing. I recommend this book.

So many "big" words, it was very hard to read. Wasn't a smooth book to get thru. Not impressed.

You wrote a book that anoyne suffering with anxiety will appreciate. Well written and for me, a person who does not suffer with this problem I found it to be a bit dry...a little boring.