Anxious with Jesus
A Memoir from the Messy Intersection of Faith and Mental Illness
A special THANK YOU to my Kickstarter backers for helping bring this book to life! <3
Coming to Amazon August 10, 2025!
What People Are Saying about Anxious with Jesus
“What Tiffany has done with this book is something of a marvel. Rather than being 40,000 feet above the topic and therefore inaccessible, or conversely, being so granular in her story that she excludes her readers, she writes her way to a middle space and invites us into the tension that actually marks the relationship between faith and mental health.”
— Justin McRoberts // Author of In the Low, Sacred Strides, It Is What You Make of It and more. Coach, speaker, musician, podcast host.
“By vulnerably sharing her own experience with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Tiffany expresses a profound truth needed for the modern church: Intense mental health struggle and strong faith can coexist. This book is an "I see you" for those suffering with clinical anxiety as well as a guide for supportive people trying to help them.”
— Carrie Bock // LPC-MHSP, Host of the Christian Faith and OCD Podcast
“As a follower of Jesus for the last 30 years, and a mental health professional for 15 of those, I have spent a lot of my life navigating the intersection of faith and mental illness. Tiffany’s book is an inspired melding of the author’s personal experiences with anxiety coupled with clinical best practices she has learned along the way. These experiences are thoughtfully infused with a lot of Jesus, humor, and vulnerability; creating a unique read that shines a light into the darkness and isolation mental illness often creates. Beyond just an interesting read, her book equips readers with actionable strategies to navigate their own anxiety or walk alongside others with greater compassion and understanding.”
— RaeEllen Keeney // Licensed Clinical Social Worker
“Anxious with Jesus is a book today’s Church desperately needs; a complex, nuanced exploration of how faith and mental illness intertwine.
Rather than separating us from Jesus, Tiffany explores how anxiety—and other mental disorders—provide an opportunity to journey with Jesus. Using scripture and personal experience, she challenges us as the Church to see anxiety disorders as “thorns in the flesh,” not spiritual deficiencies.
Through humour, personal anecdotes and spiritual insights, Tiffany shares a strikingly honest story of how her own anxiety shaped her life — and her faith. She peels back the curtain on what happens inside doctor’s offices and therapy rooms, allowing readers a frank look at the reality of believers living with anxiety disorders, as well as their treatment within the Church.
Uniquely positioned to share on this topic, Tiffany strikes the balance between grace and gentle challenge, offering opportunities for reflection and learning about how we all—as the broader Church—can better love and understand those struggling in our midst.
This book should be at the top of your reading list. It’s for anyone who has wondered “What’s wrong with me?” or “Why hasn’t God healed me?” as well as those who love them, and anyone in the Church who wants to understand.
You won’t be able to put it down.”
— Madeleine Schofield // Managing Editor and Podcast Co-host at Anxious Faith, a branch of Our Daily Bread Ministries
“In Anxious with Jesus, Tiffany Ciccone invites us into a journey that is both deeply personal and profoundly needed in the church today. With honesty, wisdom, and faith, Tiffany weaves together her experience with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and her unwavering love for Jesus, offering a voice of solidarity to those who have felt alone in their struggles. This book does not offer quick fixes or easy platitudes—instead, it extends grace, reminding us that anxiety is not a failure of faith but a reality many faithful believers face. As a pastor, I am grateful for her courage in writing what the church desperately needs to hear. And as her friend, I am inspired and moved by her vulnerability. If you’ve ever wrestled with fear, doubt, or the tension between faith and mental health, this book and its author will be worthy companions for your journey towards healing.”
— Danny Quimlat // MA Theological Studies, Lead Paster at Restored Church South Bay
“This book is so engaging—simultaneously informative and animated with personal stories—that I finished it in one sitting. I have an understanding and empathy that I didn’t have before, and I’m thankful that this book will help churches, small groups, and followers of Jesus understand and love all those around them who are living with thorns like Tiffany’s.”
— Luma Haddad // Associate Regional Director of San Diego Metro Young Life
“Reading felt like an inspiring conversation with a close friend. Tiffany has provided an engaging memoir with the incisive punch of cultural commentary: Despite what culture or even some in church might say, you're not crazy nor do you necessarily lack faith if you're a Christian who struggles with your anxiety and mental health.
Tiffany shares example after example where I continually found myself exclaiming, "No way, me too!" From her bodily symptoms of muscle tension to her obsessions over having enough faith, her discoveries are practical for countless others who find themselves navigating problems that are now well known—but often misunderstood. Her story is relatable for Christians, those with anxiety disorders, and anyone considering topics of mental health and the church.
This book promises what is needed most in our current landscape: raw, truthful stories of suffering and overcoming that highlight hope in Jesus despite uncertainty. It shines light on systems of thought that are broken. It calls for what we need: truth and love, faith with works, and real care for the mind, body, and spirit.
As Tiffany states, "Jesus showed up to my therapy sessions and brought some special mud with him." Jesus continues to open eyes spiritually, mentally, and emotionally for those who want to see.”
— Justin Hughes, LPC // Writer, Anxiety and OCD Specialist, Faith & OCD Action Council