Summary of Caroline Dooner's Tired as F*ck

By IRB Media

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.

Book Preview: #1 I learned that sociopaths are made, while psychopaths are born with a smaller amygdala that doesn’t feel anxiety or fear. I would never choose psychopathy, because I believe that it is not the answer to our exhaustion. Some anxiety is normal, and some is chemical and genetic.

#2 The more people are part of the hype cycle, and the higher the stakes of performing, the more anxiety is likely to be experienced. It is to be expected. The question we must ask ourselves is: How much of our anxiety is inherent and chemical, and how much is learned and accidentally perpetuated.

#3 It’s OK to have anxiety. It’s OK to get stressed. We’re human. Life is scary. But it’s also OK to try to manage your anxiety and support your mental health. The expectation that we can and should be completely curing ourselves of anxiety with just a little self-help can become toxic in its own way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: Feb 28, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669354451

IRB Media

With IRB books, you can get the key takeaways and analysis of a book in 15 minutes. We read every chapter, identify the key takeaways and analyze them for your convenience.

Book preview

Insights from Chapter 1

#1

I learned that sociopaths are made, while psychopaths are born with a smaller amygdala that doesn’t feel anxiety or fear. I would never choose psychopathy, because I believe that it is not the answer to our exhaustion. Some anxiety is normal, and some is chemical and genetic.

#2

The more people are part of the hype cycle, and the higher the stakes of performing, the more anxiety is likely to be experienced. It is to be expected. The question we must ask ourselves is: How much of our anxiety is inherent and chemical, and how much is learned and accidentally perpetuated.

#3

It’s OK to have anxiety. It’s OK to get stressed. We’re human. Life is scary. But it’s also OK to try to manage your anxiety and support your mental health. The expectation that we can and should be completely curing ourselves of anxiety with just a little self-help can become toxic in its own way.

Insights from Chapter 2

#1

We are all looking for meaning and a sense of belonging, and when we find something that seems to offer us all of that, it can be very difficult to let go of it.

#2

The same cult mentality that religions have, diets also have. It takes out the guesswork, and gives you a simple worldview. There are rules to follow, and community members to connect with. The promise is that if you follow the rules, you will be saved, either by absolving you of your sins and getting you into heaven, or by keeping illness at bay.

#3

When your group positions itself as having all the solutions, and sets up the us vs. them dynamic, you’re always at risk of losing the safety of the group. You’re always at risk of being othered.

Insights from Chapter 3

#1

I had nine adult teeth missing when I was eight, and my parents tried to figure out why. They realized that it was probably because I was calcium deficient, and they began feeding me liquid calcium every