Genres:

Nonfiction, Self Help, Mental Health, Relationships, Psychology, Mental Illness

Book Synopsis wrote by Workman Publishing & Amazon.com

“Dating is hard. But pursuing love and relationships when you live with mental illness can be even more overwhelming. Allison Raskin knows this challenge firsthand and shares her journey with perfect candor. She’s learned from her experiences, and we get to learn from her, discovering new ways to form healthy dating and relationship habits. How do you talk to a partner about your mental health? What is the potential impact of SSRIs on your body? What is the difference between having valid concerns and catastrophizing? It’s all here, from meeting online to how to handle a breakup, from recognizing and avoiding unhealthy relationships to the big one—sex. Woven throughout are interviews with clinical psychologists, a psychiatrist, a sexologist, relationship experts, and real-life couples for their points of view and professional guidance. All to help you walk away from this book feeling less alone in the struggle and better prepared to tackle dating and relationships with more confidence and less worry.”

My Thoughts:

I almost didn’t write this book blog because I think everyone’s relationship with it will be very personal, but I absolutely loved it!

My friend went through a very rough break up and like many, they vowed never to date again. I assumed that it was just something people said, but four years later they were still afraid to date again. I bought this book and we both read it together and that friend sees their worth again. This book made my friend understand truly how beautiful they are and also learned how to avoid toxic relationships.

This very practical guide for individuals with or without mental illness guides the reader in finding healthy relationships. The author’s interwoven personal stories, sense of humor, and overall uplifting vibe kept me reading. She tackles each chapter with the input of two mental health professionals, who often offer complimentary advice despite differing perspectives. Each chapter is summed up with a list of key takeaways.  Even though I have been in a relationship for many years, this book taught me how to approach arguments instead of avoiding them. This book made me feel seen in such a unique and meaningful way. Even though the focus is very much on romantic relationships, many of the takeaways can be applied universally. I’m so glad I read this one!