Help for Worried Kids: How Your Child Can Conquer Anxiety and Fear by Cynthia G. Last

From the Publisher

Most childhood fears are nothing to worry about. But panic attacks, phobias, and persistent anxiety can darken a child's horizons and lead to disrupted sleep, lower grades, and missed opportunities to make friends and explore the world. Dr. Cynthia G. Last helps parents determine when a child's apprehension is cause for concern. Drawing on 25 years of clinical practice and research, she vividly illustrates the different forms that childhood anxiety can take and offers practical solutions specific to each. For example, Dr. Last shows how to schedule "worry time" to ease generalized anxiety, and explains why reassurance is often counterproductive for kids with obsessive-compulsive disorder. The book emphasizes strategies for preventing episodes before they begin, demonstrates how to intervene when one is in progress, and offers tips on how to keep anxiety from worsening as a child matures. Readers will learn to be consistent and encouraging as their child develops the confidence needed to face--and conquer--worries of every kind.

Publishers Weekly

Mixing case histories with clinical research, Last shows parents how to tell the difference between common childhood fears (e.g., monsters under the bed) and more serious psychological problems (e.g., separation anxiety or obsessive compulsive disorder). The author, a clinical psychologist and expert on anxiety disorders, relies heavily on anecdotes from children suffering from anxiety disorders to illustrate the afflictions and how to handle them (in addition to the disorders mentioned earlier, Last also covers social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and specific phobias). While the sketches are well drawn, they are somewhat repetitive. The book is at its best when it offers parents "hands-on" information, such as the chart outlining ages when common childhood fears begin and another on the differences between children with anxiety disorders and children with ADHD. There is also valuable material on the connection between anxiety and physical symptoms such as headaches and stomach problems; the effects caffeine, sugar and environmental toxins can have on children; and the roles medical problems like allergies, asthma, hypothyroidism and diabetes can play in causing anxiety or making it worse. Concerned parents will find plenty of useful advice here for quelling their children's fears. (Jan. 23) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

These two books build on each other. Written by a clinical psychologist specializing in cognitive-behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders, Help for Worried Kids introduces the topic of childhood anxiety disorders. The text opens with a discussion of the causes of childhood anxiety, its many "faces," and how to identify an anxious child. The second part is dedicated to the disorders themselves, with each chapter offering an in-depth examination that includes prevention, diagnosis, personal narratives, and advice on helping children gain control over fear and anxiety. A good selection of resources, check lists, and worksheets rounds out the text. This book is geared to concerned parents looking for help in determining whether their child's uneasiness is reason for concern. In contrast, Worried No More is geared not only to parents but also to school and healthcare professionals; it reads like a training guide for those with a daily need to understand and help children experiencing serious anxiety. Clinical child psychologist Wagner has a unique approach to making cognitive-behavioral therapy applicable to youngsters. As in the first edition, she begins by identifying normal fears and anxieties and considering when they become problematic. She then addresses the most common anxiety problems and disorders, discussing causes, therapies, and medications and what parents can do to help. Finally, she expands the strategies beyond the family to what schools can do. This book considers challenges and strategies in detail, carefully addressing how a parent can develop a systematic and goal-directed approach with the school to implement an effective action plan for the child there. Though both books are recommended for public libraries, Wagner offers far more tools, practical and well researched, for effectively helping anxious children and is recommended for academic libraries as well.-Kari Ramstrom, MLIS, Plymouth, MN Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Product Details

• Table of Contents

Table of Contents