In this captivating collection of essays, Suzanne Farrell Smith tells the story of her life, not as a linear progression through time, but as a series of encounters, situations, and events that reflect the absurdities and anxieties inherent in living in our world, the “small off things” that can so easily loom large and important. Each section contains six pieces that spring from one of the five major anxiety disorders listed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, all of which are part of the author’s diagnostic history. Funny at times and often heart-stoppingly poignant, Small Off Things: Meditations from an Anxious Mind examines the fight or flight of everyday life. With a keen eye and ironic wit, Smith examines the surprising power even the least of our interactions can have.