Audio Book is not the right medium for this

What disappointed you about Dare?

Although it has a lot of valuable information, its the kind of book you need to get in physical form. The author talks about being able to skip from one chapter to another as necessary instead of reading the full book in the order it was written. In an audiobook, you don't have that kind of control. You also cannot easily visualize steps and refer back to them easily. At times, I had to rewind SEVERAL times because I would find that I missed important information because the author's tone is not particularly engaging so I would find my mind wandering and I'd have to rewind all over again...and again...and again.

What could Barry McDonagh have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

It felt that the points were not just stressed but they really dragged on and on and on. I think the same tips and knowledge could have been communicated in a much more concise fashion. Less words to communicate the same message would've been better.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Boredom

Any additional comments?

I'll definitely check this book out in paperback. I do NOT recommend this book in audio format.

67 people found this helpful

Not complete

Everything that was said in this book was right on the mark. He described the different anxieties we could be dealing with, but you didn't ever get the skills to resolve them. I was very surprised when I realized that was all there was. Up until that time I was totally into it.

61 people found this helpful

Really helped me

I never leave reviews; never. I mean who cares what I think. But I’m providing this review because this book may help others as much as it helped me.

This book gave me a ton of hope. And I really related personally to Barry’s own story. This book helped me realize the racing thoughts and the feeling that I’m “losing my mind” and all the other things that come with anxiety is experienced by millions. Your anxiety is not as unique as you think.

Even though I have struggled with anxiety most of my adult life I really didn’t know much about it. This book was able to give me the knowledge to talk intelligent and efficiently about my anxiety to my therapist. I’m new to therapy and seeking treatment for my anxiety. But for me this book was as helpful as my therapy sessions; if not more helpful.

People had commented that the book is too long. I see where they are coming from but I thought the length helped reinforce the concepts that Barry lays out.

Listening to this book have me hope. You’re not alone and anxiety is treatable. Good luck!

56 people found this helpful

Not helpful for me.

The author makes a lot of generalizations about anxiety, however none of them seem to apply to me at all. The strategies don't seem applicable in the least. I don't have panic attacks. I'm not worried I'm going to lose control. I don't have dark unexplainable thoughts that scare me. I don't have unusual bodily sensations that frighten me. I'm anxious about my life and the future; generally about entirely likely, and if not, at least plausible things. I tried applying the strategies in the book anyways, and found they were almost totally unhelpful. What temporary relief that may have occurred seems to have simply been from the distraction trying. I think the book would be helpful for someone who suffers panic attacks, or has and wild unrealistic, or otherwise paralyzing anxiety.

46 people found this helpful

unnecessarily long

the narration was great. very clear and calming. the book, however, was the exact same points over and over. I had to check in the middle of the book to see of it had accidentally restarted because I had already heard it all before moments earlier. I also do not personally believe this method is worth anything but it may work for some.

37 people found this helpful

It increased my anxiety

I wanted to get some relief from constant anxiety and depression. However, throughout the book he constantly narrates anxiety attacks, goes through the feelings and describes it as if it were happening. Whereas I might be in a calmer state when I opened the book, after listening to it, it constantly triggered me. Additionally, with advice like "Tell your anxiety is that all you got? Make my heart beat fast, my chest feel heavier." Does not help someone trying to stop constant attacks from happening. This book gave me more of them with each chapter.

31 people found this helpful

Hope this helps someone

Let me start by saying this gonna be long but hopefully not boring and will be helpful to someone, I “suffer” from generalized anxiety and started getting panic attacks from it slowly with in the years, I think it was all due to the symptoms that came from it, this book made me realize that no matter what symptoms it is that it must be from anxiety once u get cleared from ur doctor, I never thought of it that way. At first I was scared to even get the book shows u how bad my anxiety was but I said u know what it’s like 13 bucks on audible and what if 13 bucks cure me why not, so I tried it this the first book I ever got through in my life even tho it was read to me, I listen to it while I was at work, i like it because it makes perfect sense and u can’t really question it like many anxiety users do, I’m convinced that he’s 100 percent right and that’s rare for me I never believe that, but he’s right and seems like he’s done his home work, Ima listen to it again and keep practicing this, I push myself to do stuff this weekend and I actually did it, thanks to this book, I’m gonna keep trying since I tried everything and nothing work never in a million years would I think accepting it would be a solution I always try to avoid the feelings and if I think about it the symptoms are from anxiety and u get more anxiety from symptoms so it’s a never ending loop, so I say F it if I’m feelings symptoms that at least eliminates the anxiety of symptoms and I start working on ending this loop! What ever I feel fuck it I can’t stop it I been trying for years! So just accept it and end the anxiety from fearing it. Every time I read reviews I think it’s a actor or someone from the company faking it, but I assure u this real af and I’m a regular ass dude just like all of u. Let’s hope this works and like I said it’s only 13 bucks f it and try it!

29 people found this helpful

Horrible

Wouldn't recommend it. All it talks about accepting your anxiety over and over. Not worth it.

28 people found this helpful

Was this supposed to help? Awful.

Any additional comments?

Sorry but i hated this. I WANTED to like this. I wanted it to help. But it really didn't. If you have ever read anything at all about anxiety then you will know exactly what is i this book. Sorry but hated it. Cliched nonsense. Waste of money

22 people found this helpful

Repackaging Old treatment

Dear. BM: you asked for honest review, I am a psychiatrist over 20 years in practice, there is nothing in this audio book that I did not tell my patients 25 years ago about anxiety. However, I realize you somehow admit it is built on work of others but call it "The New Way", it is a "New Marketing of an old Treatment" . I don't mind your brilliant repackaging of it, May the Power and Success be with you. DARE elements, these are not the only elements /tools used in Cognitive-Behavioral treatment of anxiety. Next concerning issue is that Anxiety Disorder, is the most comorbid disorder with more serious mental illness like Schizophrenia, Bipolar, PTSD, etc, but agree that there exist anxiety symptoms free of such serious illnesses, however the diagnosis relies on assessment by a psychiatrist, not once you mention in your book to seek psychiatric counseling to rule out those serious conditions; Also many serious medical conditions like Asthma, COPD, Cardiac symptoms, Diabetes, Hypertension, have serious anxiety symptoms, so I think your reassurance that "Chances are that this is just simple anxiety", is simplistic, you do mention " to seek primary care if if you worry …" the point is medical and psychiatric assessments are essential at the start before calling a symptom "just anxiety". One more thing, you talk about "Schizophrenia does not happened after age 25" so wrong, it can have late onset in 40's or even 60's. So other than these issues, great book, there is nothing more in this book that I disagree, I definitely remind myself of DARE when I deal with anxiety and I will definitely recommend your book to my patients. Congratulations.

18 people found this helpful