The Science of Stuck

Breaking Through Inertia to Find Your Path Forward

By: Britt Frank LSCSW

Narrated by: Sasha Heinz, Britt Frank LSCSW

Length: 7 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

A research-based tool kit for moving past what’s holding you back—in life, in love, and in work.

We all experience stuckness in our lives. We feel stuck in our relationships, career paths, body struggles, addiction issues, and more. Many of us know what we need to do to move forward—but find ourselves unable to take the leap to make it happen. And then we blame and shame ourselves, and stay in a loop of self-doubt that goes nowhere.

The good news is you’re not lazy, crazy, or unmotivated. In this empowering and action-oriented guide, you’ll discover why we can’t think our way forward—and how to break through what’s holding us back. Using an eclectic approach and a customizable plan that’s as direct or as deep as you want, this life-changing guide empowers you to:

• break old habits and patterns
• gain perspective on pain and trauma from the past
• free yourself from the torturous “why” questions
• take control of your choices to create the life you want

Bringing together research-backed solutions that range from shadow work to reparenting, embodied healing, and other clinical practices, along with empowering personal stories, this book is a hands-on road map for moving forward with purpose, confidence, and the freedom to become who you’re truly meant to be.

©2022 Britt Frank (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“In this lively, well-written book, Britt Frank adds her compelling voice to this movement toward listening to rather than avoiding or fighting with what is making you stuck. To use one of her great metaphors, what if anxiety isn’t an annoying feeling to ignore or medicate and instead is a warning light on your mind’s dashboard, indicating that something inside you needs attention? Frank’s has been quite a journey and I’m so glad she’s courageous enough to share it, and the wisdom it brought her, with us.” — Richard C. Schwartz, PhD, creator of the evidence-based Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapeutic model, and faculty member at Harvard Medical School

“In The Science of Stuck Britt Frank provides insights that enable individuals to move from the rigidity and predictiveness of being stuck to flexibility, curiosity, and social accessibility. Through relatable examples, we can develop skills to feel safe enough to venture into relationships and novel experiences and learn that being stuck is not a lifelong destiny.” — Dr. Stephen W. Porges, PhD, originator of The Polyvagal Theory, founding director of the Kinsey Institute Traumatic Stress Research Consortium at Indiana University, professor of psychiatry at the University of North Carolina, and a co-founder of the Polyvagal Institute

“This book is relevant for our modern, complicated lives and necessary for when we need to get our lives back on track. This book will give you the information you need to spark your curiosity with enough room to engage the necessary inward journey of self-reflection. You might just replace that stack of self-help books on your bedside table with this one essential guide.” — Arielle Schwartz, PhD, author of The Complex PTSD Workbook, The Post-Traumatic Growth Guidebook, and other books on trauma recovery

Help is on the way.

Well written. Condenses content we often feel will take years to unpack. Offering simple, meaningful application activities for a more meaningful, healthier journey ahead.

Substantial info presented in a digestible way

Doing the work involves having compassion for ourselves and understanding how anxiety can be a sign of unmet needs. I made notes on my phone of particularly poignant parts that were “aha moments” and actionable suggestions. Great info in digestible pieces is the way I would describe it. Even my therapist wanted a copy (as she had not read it yet) when I brought up ideas presented in this book during my weekly therapy sessions. For someone who has been recently diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and taking medication, I appreciate this book so much.

Lots of useful insights

One of the best self help books I’ve read in a while. Would 100% recommend if you need some inspiration to do the personal work you’ve been putting off.

Uhm Yup

Just the thing I needed. Found this on Mark Groves; very cool indeed. What a breathe of fresh air..

Good for a self help book

I enjoyed this. The narrator also has a fun voice. She sounds like someone with a great sense of humor.
Imo the pros: not your average self-help or pop psych book aka. doesn’t repeat the title 5,000 times and call it a book. Some great insights on getting unstuck and many ideas that are useful and can be applied right away without a therapist. I really liked the first part of the book and the way she uses humor and her own experiences to connect with the reader/listener.
Cons: Way too many lists. I don’t think Frank knows enough about chess to use it as a metaphor like this. And she is way too trigger happy about pharmaceuticals. WAY too trigger happy. Overall though I liked it.

Would appreciate some PDF supplements.

Life changing content. I love this book. Would like some supplemental materials of charts etc.

The BEST book on mental health and trauma EVER

If you are on the fence about buying another book on mental health or personal development, or have read books on mental health and met them with a hard eye roll or confused look…. THIS BOOK IS DIFFERENT. Buy it immediately.

This book is going to be reread over and over and over by me and gifted to everyone I love. From relationships to anxiety, Britt, Frank really breaks down each element within our daily lives and how we may be feeling and the things we may be experiencing she does not use high-level language and the comparisons to relatable things like home alone and Kevin’s attachment style and it gives simple context to each idea, and everything is supported by science. Not only is the information delivered in a way that will be received well by everyone and anyone she also validates the reader and mindfully, acknowledges systemic issues, privilege, and the availability of resources as one of the qualifying factors for people to be able to get unstuck without barrier.

I have dealt with anxiety, my whole life and ADHD as well. I thought mental health disorders were a life sentence, but after reading this book, I am more aware than ever that my body and mind are not trying to harm me or attack me… They are trying to protect me. This book gives you the tools and actual exercises within each chapter to help you learn to communicate with your body and get in better tune with what it is trying to tell you.

Life changing. Validating. Helpful. Unlike any other personal development book I have EVER read.

BUY. THIS. BOOK.

Really insightful

I really loved this, it was very comprehensive and approachable. I’m going to listen a couple more times to digest it

Me gustó tanto que ya compré la copia física

Son pocos los libros que llegan físicamente a mi biblioteca. Este es una joya. Para alguien que ha pasado su vida adulta sintiendo que no avanza y que sólo repite lo mismo en círculos. Lo leeré y escucharé más de una vez definitivamente. Compralo, regalalo, recomiendalo.

Alot of information! Take one topic every day!

The narration was impeccable! There were only three chapters that pretty much pertained to me.