Hands: An Anxious Mind Unpicked

Lauren Brown's memoir 'Hands' explores her anxiety and skin-picking, tracing it back to its source and exploring obsession, forgiveness, stigma, and healing. It is a moving and joyful exploration of these themes, written with rare wit and insight.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 05 January 2023
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Raw, Intense, and Absorbing:
Matt Haig's The Comfort Book is a powerful and captivating read that delves into the depths of human emotions and experiences. With his raw and honest storytelling, Haig takes readers on a journey through the complexities of life, offering insights and perspectives that are both thought-provoking and relatable. The book is filled with intense moments of vulnerability and heartache, but also with moments of hope and resilience. Haig's writing style is engaging and evocative, drawing the reader into the characters' lives and leaving them feeling deeply connected to their struggles and triumphs. Whether you're going through a difficult time or simply seeking a thought-provoking book, The Comfort Book is a must-read that will leave you feeling inspired and uplifted.
As Tender and Funny as it is Painful:
TLS's review of The Comfort Book highlights the book's ability to balance humor and tenderness with its exploration of difficult topics. The reviewer notes that the book is "as tender and funny as it is painful," capturing the complexities of human relationships and the challenges we face in navigating them. The characters in the book are well-developed and relatable, and their struggles and triumphs are portrayed with honesty and authenticity. The book's humor is often dark and witty, providing a much-needed relief from the emotional weight of the story. While it may not be a lighthearted read, The Comfort Book is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of the human condition that will leave readers feeling both challenged and inspired.
I Didn't Give My Hands Much Thought Before They Turned Against Me:
Lauren Brown's Hands is a poignant and introspective memoir that delves into the author's struggle with skin-picking, a condition that affects millions of people worldwide. The book opens with Brown describing her anxiety and the compulsive nature of her skin-picking, which began as a way to cope with stress and anxiety but eventually took over her day-to-day life. As she explores the reasons behind her condition, Brown uncovers a deep-rooted history of trauma and emotional pain. Through her writing, she offers a raw and honest portrayal of her journey to healing, exploring the stigma associated with mental health and the importance of seeking help.
They Have Been Chipping Away at My Life, Slowly, Slowly, in a Way I Could Never Have Predicted:
In Hands, Brown shares her journey to unravel the reasons behind her skin-picking and to find ways to manage her condition. She explores various treatment options, including therapy and medication, and shares her experiences with each. She also confronts the societal stigma associated with mental health and the challenges of seeking help. Through her writing, Brown encourages others to seek support and to recognize that mental health is just as important as physical health.
Lauren Brown is Anxious:
Throughout Hands, Brown's anxiety is a central theme. She describes the physical and emotional toll that her skin-picking has taken on her body and mind, and how it has affected her relationships and social life. She also shares her struggles with self-esteem and body image, which are often intertwined with her anxiety. Brown's writing is raw and honest, and she offers a powerful portrayal of the emotional toll that anxiety can take on a person's life.
When She Feels Worried, She Picks at Her Skin:
As Brown's anxiety increases, so does her skin-picking. She describes the sensation of picking at her skin as a way to release tension and stress, but also as a way to avoid dealing with her emotional pain. However, her skin-picking becomes increasingly compulsive, and she finds herself picking at her skin even when she's not feeling anxious.
Her Skin-Picking Begins to Affect Her Day-to-Day Life:
Over time, Brown's skin-picking begins to affect her day-to-day life. She starts to avoid social situations and events because she's ashamed of her condition and worried about being judged by others. She also starts to develop physical symptoms, such as scarring and infections, as a result of her skin-picking.
She Realizes She Must Unravel the Reasons Behind It:
Eventually, Brown realizes that she must unravel the reasons behind her skin-picking in order to find healing and recovery. She seeks out therapy and works to confront her past trauma and emotional pain. Through her journey, she learns to manage her anxiety and to develop healthy coping mechanisms for dealing with stress and emotional pain.
This Sparkling Memoir Follows the Thread of Lauren's Anxiety:
Hands is a sparkling memoir that follows the thread of Lauren's anxiety from its source. Written with rare wit and insight, the book is an attempt to redirect the anxiety that has pooled in her fingertips for as long as she can remember, released in odd bursts in caravan parks, on European holidays, at GP surgeries, and on the wind-stung north-east coast. The book is a moving and joyful exploration of obsession, forgiveness, stigma, and healing, and a true love-song to the north.
Thoughtful, Unsparing, and at Times Darkly Comic:
Hands is a thoughtful, unsparing, and at times darkly comic exploration of the human condition. Brown's writing is filled with raw emotion and honesty, and she offers a powerful portrayal of the struggles and triumphs of human life. The book is not without its flaws, but it is a testament to the resilience and strength of the human spirit.
The Masterful Debut of a Luminous New Talent:
Hands is the masterful debut of a luminous new talent. Lauren Brown's writing is fresh and engaging, and her portrayal of the human condition is both nuanced and powerful. The book is a testament to the power of storytelling and the ability of literature to connect with readers on a deep emotional level. Whether you're a fan of memoirs or simply seeking a thought-provoking and engaging book, Hands is a must-read that will leave you feeling inspired and uplifted.

Weight: 166g
Dimension: 129 x 197 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780008465797