Chrissy Metz is best known for her role as Kate Pearson on the hit TV show, This is Us. I just finished reading Chrissy Metz’s book, This is Me, for the second time and I’m excited to share some of the insights that I gained from her story.
Mental Health Themes
This memoir covers a multitude of mental health themes including body image, anxiety, confidence, imposter syndrome, divorce, and boundaries; however, I’ll keep it brief by focusing on the two that were most insightful to me personally.
Body Image
I love the show, This is Us, in part because I really resonate with the characters of Kate and her brother, Randall. What surprised me most in reading her memoir, is that Metz’s life parallels that of Kate’s very closely. Metz’s portrayal of this role is revolutionary because it shows many of the ups and downs of living in a plus-sized body.
I’ve written previously about my own body image struggles, so you can imagine how validating it was to hear how Metz has been through similar circumstances. Something that resonates specifically was her narrative about how the stepfather would regularly force her to step on the scale which was almost always followed by cruel body shaming.
“I began to associate fullness with safety and contentment. […] Food was something to look forward to, my only happiness.”
Anxiety
Between the first and second readings of this book, I somehow forgot that Metz lives with anxiety and occasional panic attacks. She shares about experiencing her first panic attack at the age of 30; more specifically, how she was rushed to the emergency department because they believed she was having a heart attack. It’s worth noting that the symptoms of panic attacks and heart attacks can feel similar and that emergency departments see a lot of this.
“I had no idea anxiety could feel like dying.”
While Metz didn’t directly speak about going to therapy, she did mention being prescribed medication. Her doctor gave her some wise advice about anxiety; more specifically, “The more you resist anxiety, the more it persists.” Metz goes on to discuss the importance of leaning into one’s anxiety instead of avoiding or fighting its presence. She also mentioned how prayer and meditation were helpful in coping with her symptoms.
Other Insights Gained
I really liked the daily practice of gratitude that Metz shares; more specifically, listing five things you’re grateful for before getting out of bed or reaching to check your phone. Hearing this was the push that I needed to get back in the habit of gratitude; in fact, I started this morning with this simple exercise and I have already noticed some benefits!
Favorite Quotes
“Showing up for yourself is sometimes the lesson. It’s only a failure if you don’t try in the first place […] When you put one foot in front of the other, you cannot fail.”
“Confidence is the best accessory.”
“Do your best and keep it movin’, every day.”
Conclusion
I think everyone will find something beneficial in Chrissy Metz’s This is Me and I’d highly recommend it to friends and clients.
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Sounds like a great read!
Thanks for reading, Ashley! It’s a quick read too