Meet the Monkey: An Introduction to Anxious Monkey Syndrome
Why your ancient brain is trying to save you from modern life
Hello and welcome! 👋
I’m Derek, and I’m writing a book called Anxious Monkey Syndrome - a title that may sound playful, but underneath the mischief lies something deeply serious.
It’s about why so many of us feel so frazzled, overwhelmed and stuck, despite all the gadgets, guidance and mindfulness apps we throw at the problem. Spoiler: it's not (just) your fault. It’s your Monkey.
So… who is the Monkey?
The Monkey is of course a metaphor - but also, in a way, very real.
It’s the part of your brain that evolved hundreds of thousands of years ago to help your ancestors survive on the savannah. Back then, being jumpy, hyper-alert, socially anxious and obsessed with what others thought of you wasn’t a pathology. It was adaptive.
But your Monkey hasn’t evolved as fast as the world around you. So now it’s trying to help you avoid predators… by stopping you from replying to emails. It’s trying to keep you safe from tribal rejection… by avoiding meetings and unnecessary social encounters.
Why I’m writing this book
I’ve spent the last few years (okay, decades) wrestling with procrastination, perfectionism, anxiety, avoidance and all the delicious flavours of modern malaise. And somewhere along the way, I started to picture this evolutionary hangover - this ancient voice in my head (and perhaps yours) - not as a flaw, but more as a feature that’s just a little out of date.
What began as a coping strategy turned into a curiosity. That curiosity turned into research. And now that research is turning into a book.
What to expect from this blog
In here I’ll be sharing thoughts, short chapters, behind-the-scenes notes, and the occasional monkey-fuelled meltdown from the writing process.
Expect posts about:
🐒 Evolution and anxiety
🧩 Demand avoidance and procrastination
🛠 Tools I’m using to challenge (or befriend) my Monkey
🎬 Sneak peeks from the Anxious Monkey screenplay (yes, there’s one of those too!)
🤯 Why neurodivergence might just be another word for ‘neolithic brain in a digital age’
My hope is that this blog becomes more than just a place for me to write; it becomes a space for you to reflect, laugh, comment or nod quietly in solidarity.
If you’ve ever felt like your brain is a chaotic blend of fire alarms, guilt loops, forgotten dreams and spiralling to-do lists…
You might have an Anxious Monkey too.
Let’s meet it together.
—
Derek
🐒 Writer & Procrastinator
📖 Anxious Monkey Syndrome - coming soon
🔔 Subscribe to get updates and Monkey insights directly to your inbox