Helping Your Anxious Child: A Step-By-Step Guide for Parents (Paperback)

by Sue Spence (Author), Vanessa, Ph.D. Cobham (Author), Ann Wignall (Author), Ronald M. Rapee (Author, Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
All kids get scared, but some fears can escalate into paranoias with long-term ramifications. This step-by-step guide tackles the why, how, and what now of anxiety disorders. Written in everyday language, it describes in detail strategies and techniques parents can combine into a comprehensive self-help program for managing a child's worry while building confidence and self-control.

From the Publisher
This revised and expanded edition of the best-selling Helping Your Anxious Child offers parents the most up-to-date, proven-effective techniques for helping children overcome anxiety. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: New Harbinger Publications; 1 edition (March 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572241918
• ISBN-13: 978-1572241916
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #162,952 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a terrific book!, January 22, 2002

By	"itbarbara" (Reading, MA USA) - See all my reviews

My teenager suffers from PTSD - his anxiety is so sky high that he was rarely going to school. After a years worth of visits to psychiatrists and medication which was not working, I purchased this book and put it in action the week it arrived. My son had not made it to school on a Monday or Tuesday since the school year began - after one session of "realistic thinking" on Sunday nite - he went to school Monday! He was then able to go all week - even to midterm exams! On the following Sunday nite his anxiety began again and we started another round of realistic thinking - he made it to school. You must try this book - it is excellent!

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Informative and Helpful., November 29, 2001

By	Picky Reader "tweetypez" (Irish Catholic Lady, Wife, Mom, and Part-time Library Clerk in Syracuse, NY USA) - See all my reviews

The chapters were laid out sensibly with straightforward chapter objectives and reviews. The suggestions to help your child were explained clearly, not with psycho babble, and they were practical. It explains why your child might be feeling anxious. The link between thoughts,feelings, and anxiety. How your child can manipulate his or her thoughts to become more realistic and reduce their anxiety. Relaxation techniques. Suggestions on how you as a parent can help your child manage his/her anxiety. How to help your child with a plan to empower him/her.
I found it very helpful to read this book at a time when I was feeling helpless as a mother. They always say parenthood does not come with a manual, but if you face an anxiety problem with your child, this book is the closest thing to a manual I have found. The steps do work. It does get better. Good luck.

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Ideas For Desperate Parents, May 16, 2005

By	Yoga Dad - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

My 8 year old daughter has a lot of issues with anxiety. Fortunately it hasn't gotten to the point where it's extreme but we want to give her tools so that it doesn't get that way. I myself have had issues with anxiety my whole life so I'm sure much of the problems stem from hereditary.

That being said, I as an adult have learned many tools such as Yoga and meditation techniques which have been incredibly helpful. Still, these techniques have been hard for me to translate in a useful way for a child this young.

This book has given me and my wife many tools to help with our daughter's anxiety issues and I am learning a lot to use for myself as well.

It is written in a way that anyone can use it, you don't need to be a therapist. The approach to realistic thinking is very realistic to implement.

One suggestion I have for those wishing to implement relaxation techniques for their children is to also look into the wonderful materials by Lori Lite. Her CD's "Indigo Dreams", "Indigo Ocean Dreams" and "Indigo Teen Dreams" are produced with young children in mind as well as teenagers. They are guided meditations, affirmations,relaxation and visualization techniques that are suitable for kids (and my wife and I have done them also).

While the material in the book is certainly excellent, these CD's by Ms. Lite make it considerably easier for children to relate to. Plus they can be used to help your child sleep more soundly and can help them relax if they have bad dreams. They have very relaxing, healing music and wonderful narration that helps these wonderful stories gently lead children to a more peaceful state of mind and overall being.

The combination of the excellent book plus these CD's are wonderful tools to help you to help heal your anxious child.