On Edge

A Journey Through Anxiety

By: Andrea Petersen

Narrated by: Andrea Petersen

A celebrated science and health reporter offers a wry, bracingly honest account of living with anxiety.

A racing heart. Difficulty breathing. Overwhelming dread. Andrea Petersen was first diagnosed with an anxiety disorder at the age of twenty, but she later realized that she had been experiencing panic attacks since childhood. With time her symptoms multiplied. She agonized over every odd physical sensation. She developed fears of driving on highways, going to movie theaters, even licking envelopes. Although having a name for her condition was an enormous relief, it was only the beginning of a journey to understand and master it—one that took her from psychiatrists’ offices to yoga retreats to the Appalachian Trail.

Woven into Petersen’s personal story is a fascinating look at the biology of anxiety and the groundbreaking research that might point the way to new treatments. She compares psychoactive drugs to non-drug treatments, including biofeedback and exposure therapy. And she explores the role that genetics and the environment play in mental illness, visiting top neuroscientists and tracing her family history—from her grandmother, who, plagued by paranoia, once tried to burn down her own house, to her young daughter, in whom Petersen sees shades of herself.

Brave and empowering, this is essential reading for anyone who knows what it means to live on edge.

Brave, But Lacking

Petersen shows courage in telling her story of Generalized Anxiety Disorder, but her lack of interest in psychotherapy and reliance on benzos make me suspicious there's a real cure to this anxiety she does not wish to address, which can only come with deep therapy, that which she avoids, thus perpetuating the anxiety. Interesting, but not totally satisfying.

Brilliant

Most books about anxiety are crap but this one is cogent, precise, compassionate and relatable.

A whole new look at my anxiety and other's

I couldnt stop listening to this book. Andrea had me hooked from the beginning! This turned out to be the most wonderful mixture of story telling and research. I recommend this for anyone who is trying to understand anxiety better, either for yourself, others, or both! I am sad it is over, and so glad I listened to it! If you listen to it, and find moments triggering I promise its worth it to see it all the way through.

Reader Comments

For my fellow survivors of an anxiety disorder this book is highly recommend. Reading about how other people are surviving an anxiety disorder is helpful in recovering from your own anxiety disorder.

Good but not what I expected.

Although the book was very good, it was more of an autobiography and medication information than an insight to to self help for panic and anxiety. The book was very relatable, just not what I was looking for.