Anxious Annie

About the Book

Running races was Annie’s favorite pastime until her anxiety got the best of her. Annie’s fear and anxiety began taking away the joy for the sport she once loved. Annie’s number one goal was to make everyone proud by winning a gold medal. Will that goal motivate Annie, or will the pressure she puts on herself become too much? Based on a true story, Annie’s inspiring and relatable journey of competing in her sport might not be the only race she tries to win. Annie learns how to face her fears and anxiety head-on, but will that be enough to win the ultimate race?

About the Author

Cali (Roper) Werner is an athlete and clinician specializing in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Cali’s research focuses on competitive athletes with debilitating anxiety that negatively impacts their performance. Cali’s struggle with OCD began at the young age of four. However, Cali did not receive a proper diagnosis or evidence-based care until she went to college. Cali’s OCD symptoms increased during times of stress. As her successes grew as a Division I distance runner at Rice University, her symptoms worsened. These circumstances made Cali’s love for her sport turn into dread. While at Rice, Cali won 9 conference championships and was named an honorable mention All-American in the 10k. Cali was able to reignite the love for her sport after receiving appropriate evidence-based care. Cali hopes to help others with mental illness know that they are not alone, and that appropriate treatment is available for them to reobtain the joy that mental illness takes away. Cali recently qualified and competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon in 2020 and continues to pursue her passion for running while advocating for those struggling with mental illness through her research, therapy, and her own personal testimony. While obtaining her Ph.D. at Baylor University, Cali also works at the McLean OCD Institute at Houston as a mental health clinician. In her free time, Cali enjoys growing in faith, learning about new cultures through travel, and spending time outdoors with her pups, family, and friends.