I Am Anxious... Megan Abbott
The novelist and screenwriter takes care of herself with strong boundaries, alone time, and a heavy dose of movies and books.
Megan Abbott is the Edgar-winning author of the novels The Turnout, Give Me Your Hand, You Will Know Me, The Fever, Dare Me, The End of Everything, Bury Me Deep, Queenpin, The Song Is You, and Die a Little. She’s also been a staff writer on the HBO series The Deuce, and served as co-creator, producer, and show-runner on the USA Network series Dare Me, which is based on her novel of the same name. You can currently watch it on Netflix.
Abbott’s highly anticipated next novel Beware the Woman hits shelves on May 30, 2023. Laura Lippman calls it “a modern-day Gothic, it is chilling and creepy, feverish and surreal, and compulsively readable.”
You can find her on Facebook.
How long have you been an anxious person?
As long as I can remember!
What is your earliest memory of being anxious?
In first or second grade, my parents overslept and I was late for school. It was so upsetting to me and I remember getting teary in gym class and my teacher (sympathetically) sending me to the nurse.
Have you ever experienced a panic attack?
No.
What are some of your anxiety triggers? What makes you most anxious?
Anything out of my control—or sometimes under my control (ha!). Being forced out of my routine, anything food-related, post-party social anxiety ("why did I say that?"), etc.
How do you feel physically and emotionally when you’re anxious?
Exhausted.
What do you do when you feel anxious? How do you take care of yourself in those situations? Do you have any anxiety management tips or tricks?
Medication. Privacy. Podcast/headphones. Breathing. A drink.
How do you feel your anxiety affects your family, friends, and overall social life?
I have a pretty anxious family and many anxious friends, which can be good (everyone gets it) and challenging (we can ramp up each other's anxiety).
When you're not feeling anxious (simply in your day-to-day life), what do you do for self care?
Boundaries, alone time, movies/books.
How do you feel about the portrayal of mental health and anxiety in Pop Culture (books, movies, music, etc)? Do you feel it's accurate?
I suppose because it's easiest to dramatize, it seems to focus heavily on panic attacks, but that's just a manifestation. I find it mostly unnuanced, vague.
What are some of your favorite examples of Pop Culture that gets anxiety and mental health right?
In general, I feel as though novels are a great form for this because they are so internal, and intimate. But some movies have been incisive and so insightful, especially around trauma—Moonlight, All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, After Sun, even Tár. A lot of great comedy specials and podcasts, too. Atsuko Okatsuka, Kate Berlant and Jacqueline Novak (their specials plus their podcast) and Marc Maron.
What is the best advice you've ever received?
It's okay to say you need to be alone.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thank you for doing this!
Editor’s Note: This interview was edited slightly for length and clarity.
Thank you, Megan, for participating in the I Am Anxious… questionnaire. I truly appreciate it. Megan is not only one of my favorite writers, but she’s also one of my favorite people (and I’m not just saying that because she’s as passionate about Picnic at Hanging Rock as I am 😝). Thanks again, Megan!
If you are interested in being a part of the newsletter in the coming weeks and taking the I Am Anxious… questionnaire, please email me (scott.neumyer@gmail.com) and I’ll get you on the list! I’d love to have folks from all different walks of life.
Be well and keep talking.
DISCLAIMER: I am, by no means, a medical profession. If you need help, please seek qualified medical attention. This newsletter, while informative and fun, is no substitute for the real thing.
That is interesting to read about the different manifestations of anxiety. For instance, I was misinformed in thinking that to have anxiety you should also have panic attacks from time to time, as that was an experience for me and other people I know. You live and you learn!