Overthinking About You

February 14, 2022
Self-help and memoir collide in this courageous and practical guide by Just Between Us podcaster Raskin (I Hate Everyone Except You) on how people with mental illness can “form healthy dating and relationship habits.” Raskin, who has been diagnosed with anxiety, OCD, and depression, shares her struggles with mental illness while delivering actionable advice in the form of conversations with psychologists, a therapist, and a sexologist, among other experts. The author provides tips on how to talk about mental health with partners, noting that readers don’t have to divulge everything at once, that they should address their illness deliberately (not compulsively), and that they should be forthright about how their symptoms present. Raskin also tackles such questions as, “How do I date productively?”; “What’s me and what’s my disorder?”; and “How can I handle breakups better?” Raskin’s podcasting roots show through in her conversational prose (“Why shouldn’t devouring an ice cream sundae be as valuable an experience as multiple orgasms?”), which is studded with lengthy quotes from experts and couples, all tied together by her unwaveringly empathetic approach. This invaluable and empowering primer delivers on its promise to help readers date while struggling with mental illness. Agent: Stacy Testa, Writers House.