Everyone but Myself: A Memoir

Elementary school librarian Chavez recounts in her inspiring debut how a mental health crisis upended her busy life, and charts the subsequent journey to reclaim her peace of mind. As a frequent volunteer and mother of two boys, with a husband who frequently traveled for work, Chavez’s mantra was, “I do, therefore I am.” During a week when her husband was away and her sons were in middle school, however, the 38-year-old’s stresses came to a head and she suffered a debilitating panic attack. The incident threw her into a tailspin, leading to weeks of disrupted sleep, little appetite, and constant anxiety about whether “in the end, everything would be fine.” With her father facing a high-risk surgery, her husband grieving the loss of his sister, and Chavez desperate to show up for her family, she sought out the aid of therapy, antidepressants, and close friends. This support network gradually taught her to say “no,” ask for help, and prioritize her own happiness, whether it came from assembling a jigsaw puzzle, riding a bike, or reading a book. In elegant, straightforward prose, Chavez speaks with compassion and candor to overextended women everywhere. There’s plenty of wisdom in these pages. Agent: Naomi Eisenbeiss, InkWell Management. (Jan.)