I didn’t know if I was going to find effective anxiety relief advice as I decided to read Dan Ryckert’s novel on his trials living with this condition. While I was a bit disappointed that Dan didn’t go in depth into particular aspects on his anxiety recovery efforts, I still got a lot out of reading his novel. For one, I felt at ease that I wasn’t the only one who experienced anxiety and panic attacks in a social setting. Throughout the entire time I read the novel, I had a strong sensation of reading a good friend’s inside thoughts on how much they have struggled in finding a solution to get rid of of anxiety and finding solidarity with our respective battles. At the end of the novel, Dan wrote an emphatic message to everyone to make the choice to get yourself better or face the alternative of living with anxiety for the rest of your life. It was that message that kick started my motivation to recover from this debilitating condition.

Dan’s novel isn’t going to bombard the reader with a lot of technical terminology around anxiety. He attracts the reader by having them be observers of his severe anxiety and panic attack episodes and all of the trials he undertook in hopes of being cured from this condition. I simultaneously felt a bit relieved that I wasn’t the only one that had to endure a panic attack in a social setting and at awe on Dan’s detailed accounts of his episodes and the numerous methods he reached out to get help at various points on his battle. Dan goes deep in detailing his anxiety and panic attacks, whether it’s his first at a movie theater or his latest panic attack he recorded in this novel at a Giant Bomb PAX panel. Reading his detailed attacks makes me feel like I’m a ghost observing right by him.

I was amazed on how well Dan utilized his intuition in duress to get through certain events. He frequently accessed university resources to get help with his anxiety while he was a college student and openly made his anxiety aware to a few of his professors, which they were happy to adjust the course to cater to his condition. He learned an early valuable lesson that he converted to one of his tools to combat anxiety in the future while working at a local news TV station after college. Later on, he would add in exercise and meditation as important tools that he credits as big tools that helped him relieve anxiety. The “a-ha” moments were great to read as they were critical breakthrough moments to Dan that he found some sort of formula that would help him reach a calm state at the end of the novel.

With the highs of Dan finding significant breakthroughs in his battle against anxiety also comes numerous pitfalls. Early in his battle, he asked his parents in hopes they can provide any assistance but both of their efforts were very unfruitful. His time after college seemed to be his darkest period where he had few solutions in dealing with his anxiety with the combination of experiencing panic attacks with friends on a trip, involved in fragile and unhealthy relationships, trying to make ends meet while working at unsatisfying jobs that constantly triggered his anxiety. He also mentions the few attempts in taking certain medications with one he admits he didn’t give a chance and another he used sparingly. It wasn’t until he finally got hired at Game Informer where he was able to start breaking through against his long battle with anxiety.

As much as I loved reading Dan’s comprehensive recollection of his anxiety, there were certain aspects I wished he delved a bit deeper into that would give readers with the condition be more informed of. My biggest nit-pick is the lack of detail in regards to his visits with various doctors or psychologists. He briefly mentions some of his visits to only come out of them in him getting prescribed with medication. After finishing the book, I hoped that he would go into more detail with his doctor visits and see what to do prior, what worked and what did not. As someone who is considering making appointments with a psychologist or therapist, some insight into meetings would be helpful.

Dan’s stance with medication is murky. He admits he quit on taking his first medication (Paxil) early because it made him feel dull in spite of the medication working to ease his anxiety. He delves into his brief use of Xanax during one of his panic attack episode while attending a live taping of Conan O’Brien’s late night show. Dan recalls taking a half-pill of Xanax during his panic attack then not remembering what happened as the medication was so strong it knocked him out. He used to carry a help-pill around him as a “fire extinguisher” at a time he would suffer another panic attack. Dan was more receptive to his final prescribed medication of Zoloft, but would later go off when he ran out and decided not to refill as he felt confident with himself at the time. Dan warns of the danger of Xanax during that panic attack episode and follows up on warnings on using strong medication to battle anxiety on his rundown, which seems to suggest he is against medication if possible.

At the end of the book, Dan provides a rundown on tools that helped him overcome his battle with anxiety. He does admit that the tools that he used may not work effectively with everyone and advises folks to find their own tools that are effective to themselves. A lot of the tools Dan lays out make common sense amongst the information I have gathered on combating anxiety. He credits exercise, meditation, and combating fears as his biggest tools that helped him combat anxiety and the rest of the tools as augments to further strengthen his dedication, such as striking a balance, not rely on crutches, being open about your anxiety, and setting quantifiable goals. There’s nothing groundbreaking on what Dan suggests, but it’s still helpful for those who are looking for solid, first, small steps advice to start their recovery process.

What sold me on Anxiety as an Ally was Dan’s final message to the read at the end of the novel. He sets the table on what one can do with their anxiety. One can simply continue being miserable living with anxiety for the rest of your life, or you can take charge and work your way to overcome and not deal with anxiety as much and regain living your life. His strong conviction to ask his readers to make recovery as an imperative goal was the kick in the ass that I sorely needed to get my life back from this cruel condition. I have recalled Dan’s emphatic message constantly whenever I start to lose grip against anxiety. I was a complete wreck and felt completely powerless prior to reading Anxiety as an Ally. Now I have a much brighter mindset and newly instilled confidence that I can overcome and at the very least, feel less frightened and overcome against anxiety. There is a way out and Dan helped me get started on the road there.

Don’t come expecting Dan’s book to be a comprehensive guide to battle and outright eliminate anxiety. There are plenty of books, online articles and videos, and in-person professionals available for users who are looking for immediate relief for their anxiety. Dan’s books succeeded with me by providing a grounded and perspective view into one’s personal decade long battle with anxiety. It helped me read that another person who I admire through his work in video game media experienced the same dreadful experiences and sensations that I had, and that he underwent various trials to find what worked and what did not to overcome this condition. It’s like talking with a friend who overcame a dreadful event and told their story and insights on how they overcame their particular challenge. I don’t know Dan personally, but like how everyone felt when hearing about Ryan’s passing that he was like a friend to us, I felt like Dan was a good friend telling me his story and how he overcame his stiffest life challenge. Thanks Dan for publishing this book and still having a strong, direct impact with me four years after it was released!