Publisher's Synopsis
A young man's mind continually drifts into a mental loop. A loop that has him questioning his sanity.
This memoir follows a young man's struggles with anxiety, and especially social anxiety. During his high school years, Cliff became self-conscious to the point of being embarrassed about himself. His first date ends without a kiss, or a "goodnight," after he barely speaks the entire night.
His struggles with anxiety and shyness consumed him for many years, while he managed to comport himself through life. As a middle-aged man, he finds himself witness to the events of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack. He spends the day trying to reconnect with his family, and realizes he is most comfortable when surrounded in chaos.
In Driving Myself (Un)Crazy, Cliff weaves episodes of his mental struggles within the narrative of his life, and describes the practices he used to calm his mind and regain his sense of self.
Written in an engaging style with touches of humor, this book reframes how to perceive anxiety and fear, and offers the reader methods he uses to tame an overactive mind.
"That's what this story is about. It's one man's attempt to understand his own anxiety, to heal himself and find relief in the midst of turmoil, so he can finally feel comfortable in his own skin; but it's our story as well. This is a journey of self-discovery and reconnecting to the self. Of tearing down walls and connecting to others...This is no emotional spew-fest, but an introspective exploration of what it takes to bridge the gap between fear-based detachment and fully functional engagement, complete with a dose of humor."
- Ann Sheybani, Author
How to Eat the Elephant
Build Your Book in Bite-Sized Steps
"Cliff Holtermann has courageously opened his inner life to us, and in the process has revealed our own. In Holtermann's story, you will find the archetypal struggles each of us must face - the demons of anxiety, fear, anger, alienation, and loss. More important, you will also encounter the angels of healing... Read this book and join the author on the journey, and the same rewards can be yours."
- Tom Monte, Bestselling Author of
Unexpected Recoveries:
Seven Steps to Healing Body,
Mind, and Soul When Serious Illness Strikes
