I’ve even dismissed the connections between thoughts, chalking everything up to my mental health state and branding it all lies.īut Solutions and Other Problems has changed the way I think about these processes. At least, until last year or so.Ī heavy bout of severe depression, a serious cancer scare, the tragic death of her sister, even more depression, the dissolution of her marriage, even more anxiety and depression… My heart broke and continues to break for Allie Brosh.įor so long, I’ve perceived my anxiety and depression-driven thoughts as illogical and as having no basis in reality. I’d also checked Allie Brosh’s blog from time to time, completely unaware of everything that befell her after (and even in the lead up to) Hyperbole and a Half’s release. To this day, this book is one of my favorites of all time and is more than worthy of its spot on my “favorites” bookshelf in my bedroom.īelieve me when I say that I’ve been waiting for Solutions and Other Problems since 2013, constantly checking Goodreads and Amazon for publication date updates. I’d never been able to really put into words how I felt or the things my brain was telling me, and her first novel (as well as her hilarious blog) made me feel seen. But I couldn’t help but to closely identify with her colorful depictions of trains of thought and questions of self. From what I’ve seen, it doesn’t look like she knew the full extent of her mental state at that point either. Mostly though, I read Allie Brosh’s work before I, too, realized that I suffered from depression and anxiety pretty hard.

Allie hyperbole and a half