In What If You’re Not As F***ed Up As You Think You Are? author Adriana Popescu offers a deep insight into human psychology backed by credible research and practical tools to apply the concepts she describes. Adriana has structured her writing as an academic text with chapter summaries, takeaways, and practice tools for “homework” concluding each one. This makes the work accessible and usable. While much of what she has written has become familiar in psychological circles, some of her findings are profound. One of these was that our self-sabotaging narrative could begin as early as “in utero” and continue to form until age seven. Of course, the title is somewhat confronting, but I have long wondered about it. I am not disabled nor do I have a tragic life story, yet limiting beliefs control my behavior. It was refreshing to learn that this is quite “normal.”

One of the highlights was Adriana Popescu’s discussion about self-criticism. This may seem obvious with ‘negative’ judgments, but what about ‘positive’ judgments? “The problem is that you can’t have one side of the polarity without the other. If you are seeking validation, positive approval, or reinforcement, then you have already decided that you are bad or wrong. They go together and lead you to swing back and forth between the two poles.” I also enjoyed her description of self-sabotage as “psychological reversal,” explaining it as “being on the verge of getting what you desire then it all somehow falls apart.” What If You’re Not As F***ed Up As You Think You Are? is an excellent text, useful for academics as well as lay people wanting to better understand themselves.

What If You're Not As F***ed Up As You Think You Are? by Dr. Adriana Popescu is a wonderful resource that empowers people to take back control of their lives, feelings, surroundings, and reactions to the world around them. Dr. Popescu explains how we view ourselves in often negative and limiting ways. She provides easy and free tools that we can access and implement daily at home to help us expand ourselves and our viewpoint to become the infinite beings we are capable of being. Interesting topics in this book include the various types of trauma and how it can affect your perspective and physically throughout adulthood unless you address it. Popescu explains how trauma intersects with becoming an empath and how you can use this as a strength. She helps the reader understand that they don't need to absorb the negative energies of the people and environment around them and which tools can help release this.

What If You're Not As F***ed Up As You Think You Are? by Dr. Adriana Popescu is an absorbing and compelling self-help book about the human mind and the impact of our thoughts and emotions on our physical being and our possibilities. Dr. Popescu cites relevant and insightful resources that give people the tools they need to take action and make meaningful progress with their mental health to help overcome the limitations that come with any form of trauma experienced in an individual's life. Dr. Popescu advocates for questioning any limiting beliefs and reframing traumatic scripts that we repeat to ourselves daily that prevent us from becoming the infinite beings we can become. I enjoyed reading this book; Dr. Popescu gave me new insights, tools, and perspectives on responding to surrounding energies.

"What If You're Not As F***ked Up As You Think You Are?" is an invitation to pay attention to yourself, to observe yourself, to know that you can polish (through using the tools provided by the book) the aspects of your life that do not work as you wish.
It is a recommendation to, (and not limited only to that) cultivate the habit of asking questions, by asking questions/ being willing to hear the answers/ knowing what works for you, you create a glimmer of light where it is unknown, and this light will contribute that the unknown to become known.