I felt like not writing about them was creating a false history, and honestly, when I first wrote about them I expected I’d lose readers. I expected that I’d scare people. I expected silence. I did not expect what I was given. What I got back in return for being honest about my struggle was an enormous wave of voices saying, “You aren’t alone,” and “We suspected you were crazy anyway. We’re still here.” “I’m proud of you.” And louder than all of that were the whispers that became stronger every day from thousands and thousands of people creeping to the edge and quietly admitting, “Me too. I thought it was just me.” I did not ride that wave alone. That’s why I continue to talk about mental illness, even at the cost of scaring people off or having people judge me. I try to be honest about the shame I feel because with honesty comes empowerment. And also, understanding, I know that if I go out on a stage and have a panic attack, I can duck behind the podium and hide for a minute and no one is going to judge me. They already know I am crazy.

The book is full of moments that made me nod in understanding, like when she mentions feeling like a failure, even on good days. She talks about the impostor syndrome, and how even compliments can feel like lies. And it’s something I was able to relate to and many of us can relate to it as well.

In the book, Jenny talks about how she used to be scared of the term “mentally ill,”. She makes it clear that there’s a big difference between being a little ‘off’ and being truly mentally ill. And she’s all too aware of her own quirks, from hiding under tables to telling her anxiety to chill when it’s acting up. Jenny also talks about medications. She explores how they can be both a blessing and a curse, like a pinch of salt for your life. They can make you feel better, but they can also mess with your head and body. And she’s real about it, no sugarcoating, which is again very much relatable.

Jenny openly shares that she only feels successful a few days a month. The rest of the time, she’s caught in a storm of self-doubt and anxiety. Like Jenny, I am on a quest for answers, trying to figure out if this is just me or if others feel the same way. It’s a journey many of us are on, trying to understand what it means to be ‘successful’ and how to quiet those negative voices in our heads.

So, if you’re looking for a brutally honest, funny, and relatable take on mental illness and mental health, give “Furiously Happy” a read. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you will find a new mantra for life: “Pretend you’re good at it.”

Note: I am also sharing some pictures of words from the book that resonated with me and were highly relatable to me.