Living with IT: Summary Review

What if your worst fears weren’t monsters lurking in the dark, but thoughts quietly hijacking your peace of mind? In Living With It: A Survivor’s Guide to Panic Attacks, Bev Aisbett—author, illustrator, and anxiety survivor—offers a refreshingly honest and humorous roadmap to reclaiming calm from chaos.

What is the Book About?

Living With It is a compassionate, down-to-earth guide for anyone grappling with panic attacks or anxiety. Drawing from her own experience, Bev Aisbett demystifies the overwhelming nature of panic by personifying it as “IT”—a sneaky, intrusive presence that thrives on fear and misunderstanding. Through relatable anecdotes and comic-style illustrations, she explains how panic disorders develop, how to recognize their symptoms, and most importantly, how to take back control. The book emphasizes that recovery is not only possible but achievable with the right mindset and tools.

This revised edition expands on the original’s core principles with updated insights and strategies. Aisbett walks readers through practical steps like identifying negative thought patterns, seeking professional help when needed, and building resilience through self-awareness. Her tone is warm and reassuring, making complex psychological concepts accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Whether you're in the midst of anxiety or supporting someone who is, this book serves as both a comforting companion and a practical guide.

Book Details

Print length: 160 pages
Language: English
Publication date: July 23, 2013
Genre: Self-help / Mental Health

Book Author

Core Theme

At its heart, Living With It is about empowerment through understanding. Aisbett challenges the stigma surrounding panic attacks by normalizing the experience and providing clear, actionable steps toward recovery. She emphasizes that panic is not a sign of weakness but a manageable condition that can be addressed with patience and self-compassion. By framing anxiety as “IT,” she externalizes the problem, allowing readers to confront it without self-blame.

The book also highlights the importance of self-awareness and proactive coping strategies. Aisbett encourages readers to examine their thought patterns, identify triggers, and implement techniques to reduce anxiety's grip. Her approach is holistic, advocating for a balance between professional support and personal effort. Through relatable language and illustrations, she fosters a sense of community and shared experience, reminding readers that they are not alone in their journey.

Main Lessons

A few impactful summary lessons from Living With It:

1. Understanding Panic Is the First Step to Healing

Many readers found solace in realizing that panic attacks are not mysterious or unmanageable events but rather understandable responses of the body and mind. When people are able to identify what is happening to them during a panic attack—rather than fearing the unknown—it strips away a layer of anxiety that feeds the panic itself. The book's strength lies in how it names the beast, so to speak, helping sufferers frame their experience in plain language that demystifies and de-stigmatizes it. That clarity becomes the starting point for healing because once the unknown has a name, it can be dealt with logically and compassionately.

2. Lighthearted Language Can Calm a Heavy Mind

One of the most striking elements of this book is its use of comic-style illustrations and approachable language to tackle a deeply serious issue. This unconventional format makes the emotional content more digestible, particularly for people overwhelmed by their symptoms. Instead of clinical terminology that can feel cold or overwhelming, the book communicates warmth and understanding through humor and simplicity. Readers consistently noted how the “funny but real” tone made them feel seen and soothed without being lectured, allowing them to absorb key ideas at their own pace.

3. A Practical Companion for Daily Anxiety Management

This book isn't just a read-once-and-shelve kind of guide; it's more like a daily companion. Several users spoke about keeping their copy nearby at work or in a bedside drawer, ready to revisit in moments of distress. The accessibility and layout of the content—short sections, visual aids, and repeated key messages—makes it incredibly useful for quick referencing. Rather than waiting for full-on attacks, readers use it as a kind of maintenance tool to prevent spiraling, which points to its deep practical value in real-world settings.

4. Emotional Recovery Requires More Than Medical Fixes

A recurring theme in reader feedback is the feeling of being medically "patched up" after trauma or illness but emotionally abandoned. People who had undergone heart surgeries or hospital treatments found that while their physical ailments were addressed, their psychological wounds remained raw and unattended. This book offers validation to those feelings and bridges that gap by offering support where the medical system sometimes falls short. It acknowledges that emotional aftershocks can be just as frightening as the physical event, and that both need attention.

5. Shared Experience Creates a Powerful Healing Space

What gives this book its credibility and emotional gravity is the fact that the author has lived through the experience herself. Readers resonate with the authenticity of the voice behind the words, feeling like they’re receiving guidance from someone who truly understands, not from a detached expert. It’s this sense of camaraderie—this feeling of “you’re not alone”—that turns pages of advice into emotional lifelines. People found comfort in knowing that someone else had felt their pain and made it through, which in turn gave them hope for their own journey.

6. Naming Panic Reduces Its Power

There’s a simple but profound concept in this book: when you can label what you’re feeling, it becomes easier to face. One reader mentioned how the book helped them put a “face” on panic, which transformed it from an invisible monster into something more concrete and conquerable. It shifted the emotional dynamic from fear to familiarity. By making panic attacks less mysterious and more explainable, the book arms its readers with the psychological edge they need to feel more in control when the symptoms strike.

7. Everyone’s Journey With Anxiety Is Unique

While many found the book incredibly helpful, others pointed out that not all panic experiences are the same. One reviewer described nocturnal panic attacks that struck without warning during sleep and found that the book didn’t entirely address this specific pattern. This highlights the importance of tailoring mental health resources to individual needs. Nonetheless, the diversity of reactions reinforces the idea that healing is not one-size-fits-all and that what works for many may still need adjustments for others.

8. Tools and Strategies Empower Small, Courageous Steps

The book doesn’t claim to be a magical cure, but it equips readers with the confidence to take the next small, meaningful step. Whether that step is calling a doctor, breathing through a moment of fear, or simply understanding that you’re not broken, the power of forward motion becomes apparent. Readers reported using the book as a springboard to begin addressing their panic attacks proactively, shifting from a place of helplessness to one of action. That empowerment is one of its most celebrated outcomes.

9. Support Should Be Within Reach at All Times

Several readers shared how they bought multiple copies of the book to distribute among friends, family, or to keep one in every space they frequent. This shows that the book becomes more than a resource—it becomes a kind of emotional security blanket. It is something tangible to hold onto in times of invisible distress. When panic threatens to strike at any moment, having reliable guidance literally within arm’s reach becomes a source of immense reassurance.

10. The Right Words Can Help You Reframe Fear

One of the most transformative takeaways readers gained was a shift in perspective. The book gently challenges destructive inner narratives, replacing them with affirmations and reframing techniques that help disarm fear. It's not about suppressing anxiety or pretending it doesn't exist; it's about changing the story you tell yourself when it shows up. That simple mental pivot—from being a victim of panic to being its observer and handler—can make a world of difference in how someone copes and eventually thrives.

Key Takeaways

Key summary takeaways from the book:

• Panic attacks are common and treatable; understanding them is the first step to recovery.
• Personifying anxiety as “IT” can help externalize and manage the condition.
• Changing negative thought patterns is crucial in reducing anxiety's impact.
• Seeking professional help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
• Humor and self-compassion are powerful tools in overcoming panic.

Book Strengths

Living With It stands out for its approachable and empathetic tone, making complex psychological concepts accessible to a broad audience. Aisbett's use of illustrations and humor not only demystifies panic attacks but also provides comfort and reassurance. Readers appreciate the book's practical advice, relatable anecdotes, and the author's genuine understanding of their struggles. Its concise format and engaging style make it a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand and manage anxiety.

Who This Book Is For

This book is ideal for individuals experiencing panic attacks or anxiety, as well as their friends and family members seeking to understand and support them. It's also a valuable resource for mental health professionals looking for a relatable tool to recommend to clients. Anyone interested in personal development and mental wellness will find Aisbett's insights both enlightening and practical.

Why Should You Read This Book?

If you're seeking a compassionate, straightforward guide to understanding and managing panic attacks, Living With It offers both comfort and practical strategies. Aisbett's unique blend of personal experience, humor, and professional insight makes this book a standout resource in the realm of mental health literature. Readers have praised its ability to make them feel seen, understood, and empowered to take control of their anxiety. It's not just a book; it's a companion on your journey to wellness.

Concluding Thoughts.

Living With It is more than a self-help book; it's a lifeline for those navigating the turbulent waters of panic and anxiety. Bev Aisbett's empathetic approach, combined with her practical advice and engaging illustrations, creates a resource that is both informative and comforting. Her message is clear: you are not alone, and recovery is within reach.

Whether you're in the midst of anxiety or supporting someone who is, this book offers valuable insights and tools to foster understanding and healing. It's a testament to the power of empathy, humor, and resilience in overcoming life's challenges.

→  Get the book on Amazon or discover more via the author's website or social channels.

* The publisher and editor of this summary review made every effort to maintain information accuracy, including any published quotes, lessons, takeaways, or summary notes.

Chief Editor

Tal Gur is an author, founder, and impact-driven entrepreneur at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey and most recent book, The Art of Fully Living, has led him to found Elevate Society.