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How to Stop Freaking Out: The Ultimate Guide to Keeping Cool When Life Feels Chaotic
Fall apart. Flip out. Flip your lid. Break down. Meltdown. Explode. Throw a tantrum. Lose your temper. Come unglued. Go bonkers.
There are so many different names for when we lose our cool because there are so many different ways for humans to lose it when life gets chaotic! This book provides the tips, tricks, and tools to guide young readers through understanding what's happening in their bodies as their big emotions take over. Throughout there are quizzes, truth bombs, freakout facts and more to give young readers a moment to pause, reflect, and most importantly, to find a little humor coming unglued.
There are so many different names for when we lose our cool because there are so many different ways for humans to lose it when life gets chaotic! This book provides the tips, tricks, and tools to guide young readers through understanding what's happening in their bodies as their big emotions take over. Throughout there are quizzes, truth bombs, freakout facts and more to give young readers a moment to pause, reflect, and most importantly, to find a little humor coming unglued.
144 pages, Hardcover
Published September 10, 2024
8 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
About the author
Carla Naumburg
20 books92 followersCarla Naumburg, PhD, is a clinical social worker, writer, and speaker. She is the author of four parenting books, and lives outside of Boston with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 22, 2025
Picked this book up because the author of “How to Raise Kids Who Aren’t Assholes” interviewed the author in her newsletter.
I’m not the target audience, so the potty humor didn’t do much for me, but I thought it was well done. The explanations were clear, and I especially liked the list of strategies to calm down.
I’m not the target audience, so the potty humor didn’t do much for me, but I thought it was well done. The explanations were clear, and I especially liked the list of strategies to calm down.
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June 13, 2024Coming Soon
September 20, 2024
What worked:
It’s remarkable how well the author shares psychological suggestions by making them relatable to young readers. Everyone deals with anxiety and stress and the book reassures readers that freaking out is normal. Everyone freaks out at some time. Information is accompanied by colorful cartoons which adds a little levity to mature concepts. The author constantly provides examples and “what ifs” to give kids specific situations that may resonate with them. Approaching freakouts is compared to getting on a roller coaster as it’s harder to get off as the moment nears. Readers learn about their buttons and how to avoid getting them pushed. Short quizzes are included throughout the book to help readers recall and internalize the information covered.
Almost every page includes humor and amusing ideas to explain the coping techniques. The narrative is written in a conversational tone to make readers comfortable. The author makes jokes when appropriate and paints some amusing mental images. The introduction tells readers that two important strategies to use when freaking out are F.A.R.T.s and BuRPing. Not those kinds of farts and burps! The terms refer to acronym reminders to identify potential freaks outs and ways to de-escalate when they’re happening. “Quack like a duck” is listed as one of the BuRPs! A person’s limbic is always looking for ways to keep them safe and the author compares this part of the brain to a Safety Squirrel.
The author is a clinical social worker and has previously written four parenting books, one of which is about not freaking out. She begins by defining the term freaking out and identifies situations that are examples and non-examples. Young readers learn how their bodies handle stress and anxiety which enables them to better avoid going bonkers (one of her terms). Kids are reminded throughout the book that there’s nothing wrong with them and there’s nothing wrong with their feelings. Again, the author’s writing style will make middle-grade readers comfortable with the material while arming them with useful tools for maintaining their mental health.
What didn’t work as well:
This book is more like a manual or guide (the title says it’s a guide) in that it will be nice to have handy for reference purposes rather than memorizing everything in it. The author shares twenty-six ways to BuRP but readers are encouraged to choose the ones that work for them.
The final verdict:
It’s easy to forget the author is sharing useful techniques for handling stressful situations as she makes the narrative amusing and easy to read. She takes the process step by step so young readers fully understand what’s going on with their minds and bodies. I recommend you give this book a shot!
It’s remarkable how well the author shares psychological suggestions by making them relatable to young readers. Everyone deals with anxiety and stress and the book reassures readers that freaking out is normal. Everyone freaks out at some time. Information is accompanied by colorful cartoons which adds a little levity to mature concepts. The author constantly provides examples and “what ifs” to give kids specific situations that may resonate with them. Approaching freakouts is compared to getting on a roller coaster as it’s harder to get off as the moment nears. Readers learn about their buttons and how to avoid getting them pushed. Short quizzes are included throughout the book to help readers recall and internalize the information covered.
Almost every page includes humor and amusing ideas to explain the coping techniques. The narrative is written in a conversational tone to make readers comfortable. The author makes jokes when appropriate and paints some amusing mental images. The introduction tells readers that two important strategies to use when freaking out are F.A.R.T.s and BuRPing. Not those kinds of farts and burps! The terms refer to acronym reminders to identify potential freaks outs and ways to de-escalate when they’re happening. “Quack like a duck” is listed as one of the BuRPs! A person’s limbic is always looking for ways to keep them safe and the author compares this part of the brain to a Safety Squirrel.
The author is a clinical social worker and has previously written four parenting books, one of which is about not freaking out. She begins by defining the term freaking out and identifies situations that are examples and non-examples. Young readers learn how their bodies handle stress and anxiety which enables them to better avoid going bonkers (one of her terms). Kids are reminded throughout the book that there’s nothing wrong with them and there’s nothing wrong with their feelings. Again, the author’s writing style will make middle-grade readers comfortable with the material while arming them with useful tools for maintaining their mental health.
What didn’t work as well:
This book is more like a manual or guide (the title says it’s a guide) in that it will be nice to have handy for reference purposes rather than memorizing everything in it. The author shares twenty-six ways to BuRP but readers are encouraged to choose the ones that work for them.
The final verdict:
It’s easy to forget the author is sharing useful techniques for handling stressful situations as she makes the narrative amusing and easy to read. She takes the process step by step so young readers fully understand what’s going on with their minds and bodies. I recommend you give this book a shot!
September 10, 2024
E ARC Provided by Netgalley
This short, highly illustrated book helps kids and tweens understand more about why everyone occasionally "freaks out" and what can be done to manage these episodes and to hopefully freak out less. There's a lot of good explanations about things like the various response to challenging situations, where kids might find themselves being Freezers, Fighters, Flee-ers, Flipper-Outers or Fixers. Teen magazine-style quizzers help to determine this, and there are a number of these quizzes throughout the book to bring home lots of different points. There are some acronyms, like FART (Feelings, Automatic, Reactive, Too Far) and BuRPs (Button [pushing] Reduction Practices that will help kids remember what they are facing in times of emotional crisis. There's a great list of reasons why people freak out (no one ever taught you not to, you've had practice, it feels good in the moment, others in your life freak out), as well as solid scientific explanations of brain science. The most useful part of the book is probably the 26 Button Reduction Practices, which range from "breath" to "Yoga". There's even a discussion about mental health days, and I definitely appreciated the admonition that you should only take these if you actually need them. The book is rounded out with a good resource list of other books to consult.
I'll probably buy this for my library for one of the reasons mentioned for freak outs; many of my students appear not to have been taught how to avoid these. My mother's BuRPs pretty much started and ended with "ACT like we did not raise you in a barn"; growing up, I was unaware that freaking out was an option. And no, my mother NEVER lost her temper or had meltdowns. You... just didn't. However, this is much more common today, and I have on many occasions had to sit with kids in the library and remind them how to do box breathing or to tell me five things they can see, hear, etc. Since I am not licensed to deal with emotional crises, having a book like this gives me something to hand students that might be more useful to them than anything I can offer!
This short, highly illustrated book helps kids and tweens understand more about why everyone occasionally "freaks out" and what can be done to manage these episodes and to hopefully freak out less. There's a lot of good explanations about things like the various response to challenging situations, where kids might find themselves being Freezers, Fighters, Flee-ers, Flipper-Outers or Fixers. Teen magazine-style quizzers help to determine this, and there are a number of these quizzes throughout the book to bring home lots of different points. There are some acronyms, like FART (Feelings, Automatic, Reactive, Too Far) and BuRPs (Button [pushing] Reduction Practices that will help kids remember what they are facing in times of emotional crisis. There's a great list of reasons why people freak out (no one ever taught you not to, you've had practice, it feels good in the moment, others in your life freak out), as well as solid scientific explanations of brain science. The most useful part of the book is probably the 26 Button Reduction Practices, which range from "breath" to "Yoga". There's even a discussion about mental health days, and I definitely appreciated the admonition that you should only take these if you actually need them. The book is rounded out with a good resource list of other books to consult.
I'll probably buy this for my library for one of the reasons mentioned for freak outs; many of my students appear not to have been taught how to avoid these. My mother's BuRPs pretty much started and ended with "ACT like we did not raise you in a barn"; growing up, I was unaware that freaking out was an option. And no, my mother NEVER lost her temper or had meltdowns. You... just didn't. However, this is much more common today, and I have on many occasions had to sit with kids in the library and remind them how to do box breathing or to tell me five things they can see, hear, etc. Since I am not licensed to deal with emotional crises, having a book like this gives me something to hand students that might be more useful to them than anything I can offer!
July 23, 2024
How To Stop Freaking Out: The Ultimate Guide To Keeping Cooll When Life Feels Chaotic
by Carla Naumburg, PhD, LICSW
Illustrated by Letizia Rizzo
Workman Kids
Workman Publishing
2024
144 pages
ISBN: 9781523518241
Written by a clinical social worker/author of parenting books, this comprehensive guide discusses feelings, emotions, actions, reactions and how to navigate tough situations while maintaining a cool head.
Quick quizzes, text boxes, highlighted texts, lists and clever acronyms like BuRPing which stands for Button Reaction Practices, will help the reader learn to manage stress and tension. There are techniques for each letter of the alphabet; for instance, W is for Walk, take a walk and M is for move your body. These suggestions apply not only to young readers, but make sense for any person any age.
Truth Bombs appear throughout set off in highlighted boxes and offer wisdom and guidance for the reader. Suggestions like taking a nap when worn out seems so logical, but few stressed out people will think of it let alone do it.
Complete with a list of resources, How To Stop Freaking Out is the ultimate self-help book needed by every child ages eight and up (and of course, adults can learn a thing or two as well). Naumburg handles the topic without becoming preachy or condescending. The book, although serious, sets a tone of helpful, enthusiastic and hopeful.
Pub. date: September 10, 2024
by Carla Naumburg, PhD, LICSW
Illustrated by Letizia Rizzo
Workman Kids
Workman Publishing
2024
144 pages
ISBN: 9781523518241
Written by a clinical social worker/author of parenting books, this comprehensive guide discusses feelings, emotions, actions, reactions and how to navigate tough situations while maintaining a cool head.
Quick quizzes, text boxes, highlighted texts, lists and clever acronyms like BuRPing which stands for Button Reaction Practices, will help the reader learn to manage stress and tension. There are techniques for each letter of the alphabet; for instance, W is for Walk, take a walk and M is for move your body. These suggestions apply not only to young readers, but make sense for any person any age.
Truth Bombs appear throughout set off in highlighted boxes and offer wisdom and guidance for the reader. Suggestions like taking a nap when worn out seems so logical, but few stressed out people will think of it let alone do it.
Complete with a list of resources, How To Stop Freaking Out is the ultimate self-help book needed by every child ages eight and up (and of course, adults can learn a thing or two as well). Naumburg handles the topic without becoming preachy or condescending. The book, although serious, sets a tone of helpful, enthusiastic and hopeful.
Pub. date: September 10, 2024
May 30, 2024
Thank you to Workman Publishing and NetGalley for the eGalley to review!
Wow, what an awesome book! Even adults can get some use out of this one (I sure did!)! In an age where it's getting harder to regulate emotions due to such a reactionary culture, getting this kind of guide into younger hands is more crucial than ever. This book goes over what freaking out actually is, what it can look like for different people, why we do it, and how to properly work through a freakout. It's not at all patronizing and is a bit funny as well, which will make it feel less clinical for kids to read. There are quizzes to help readers understand what kind of freakouts they're prone to, what their buttons are, and how those buttons get pushed. It's really good!!
I would immediately hand this to a kid who needs help regulating their emotions and properly responding to situations that make them uncomfortable in any way. While it's fairly concise and thorough, it also provides more resources for even better understanding should the reader feel uncomfortable reaching out to another person for help. This list of resources (and the book itself) can also help adults who are teaching kids social-emotional learning. So if you have kids who are prone to freaking out, get this book in their hands!!
Wow, what an awesome book! Even adults can get some use out of this one (I sure did!)! In an age where it's getting harder to regulate emotions due to such a reactionary culture, getting this kind of guide into younger hands is more crucial than ever. This book goes over what freaking out actually is, what it can look like for different people, why we do it, and how to properly work through a freakout. It's not at all patronizing and is a bit funny as well, which will make it feel less clinical for kids to read. There are quizzes to help readers understand what kind of freakouts they're prone to, what their buttons are, and how those buttons get pushed. It's really good!!
I would immediately hand this to a kid who needs help regulating their emotions and properly responding to situations that make them uncomfortable in any way. While it's fairly concise and thorough, it also provides more resources for even better understanding should the reader feel uncomfortable reaching out to another person for help. This list of resources (and the book itself) can also help adults who are teaching kids social-emotional learning. So if you have kids who are prone to freaking out, get this book in their hands!!
December 29, 2025
This book is a very detailed explanation about why we might "freak out." So much information is given like how to know if you're freaking out or reacting appropriately, why we freak out, how to handle it when it happens, and the brain science behind it. This book is very well written and is in very kid friendly terms. Even a pretty young child could understand the information. This book offers many resources and strategies, so children can find one that works for them. I love how it offers the reasons behind why they might freak out and it's never said in a way that would make someone feel bad about it. The illustrations are simple, but go well with the book. I think they help build interest, but don't overshadow the information given. This would be a great book for a school social worker or anyone that works with children's mental health. It offers so many healthy ways to deal with and prevent a freak out. I would purchase this to use in my classroom. This is a topic that is a very big issue in classrooms today.
Thank you Carla Naumburg and Workman Publishing Company for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book via NetGalley! This review was written voluntarily and all opinions are my own.
Thank you Carla Naumburg and Workman Publishing Company for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book via NetGalley! This review was written voluntarily and all opinions are my own.
December 3, 2024
HOW TO STOP FREAKING OUT offers a lot of useful information for kids (and adults) who need help learning how to manage big emotions. Dr. Naumburg starts by reassuring the reader that freak outs are normal and that everyone experiences them. She also assures that while we can't stop them completely, we can learn how to cope with them in better, healthier ways. Not only does Naumburg explain what is happening in a physiological sense when we freak out (giving further reassurance of their normality), but she also offers many and varied techniques for handling them. She uses kid-friendly acronyms to help make them easier to recall. These techniques are easy and healthy and many of them are doable anywhere.
Naumburg writes in a funny, upbeat style that will surely appeal to kids. Her text is broken up by colorful illustrations and information boxes as well as fun, magazine-style quizzes. Back matter includes a list of books for further reading.
All in all, this is a useful guide that should appeal to kids. If I could, I'd give it 3 1/2 stars; since I can't, I'm rounding up.
Naumburg writes in a funny, upbeat style that will surely appeal to kids. Her text is broken up by colorful illustrations and information boxes as well as fun, magazine-style quizzes. Back matter includes a list of books for further reading.
All in all, this is a useful guide that should appeal to kids. If I could, I'd give it 3 1/2 stars; since I can't, I'm rounding up.
August 10, 2024
TikTok trends prove that tweens are hungry for mental health knowledge. Unfortunately, so much of what youth find in the wilds of social media isn’t backed by science. Enter licensed clinical social worker Carla Naumburg’s book for middle-grade readers, How To Stop Freaking Out.
The psychological science is sound. The metaphors make the knowledge accessible. Illustrations, call-out boxes, and engaging text mean kids won’t zone out partway through. And it’s funny as all get out.
As a mental-health-researcher-turned-writer, this is exactly the kind of book I want my own kids to read. A recommended self-help book for kids who want to know more about how to own and operate their brains -- especially if they find themselves melting down more than they’d like.
Thank you to Workman Publishing/Hachette Book Group for the advance review copy.
Check out my blog for a full recommendation coming soon: https://emilypgerickson.com/blog/
The psychological science is sound. The metaphors make the knowledge accessible. Illustrations, call-out boxes, and engaging text mean kids won’t zone out partway through. And it’s funny as all get out.
As a mental-health-researcher-turned-writer, this is exactly the kind of book I want my own kids to read. A recommended self-help book for kids who want to know more about how to own and operate their brains -- especially if they find themselves melting down more than they’d like.
Thank you to Workman Publishing/Hachette Book Group for the advance review copy.
Check out my blog for a full recommendation coming soon: https://emilypgerickson.com/blog/
March 10, 2025
This week's Friday Favorite comes from Madelyn in Youth Services:
"How to Stop Freaking Out: The Ultimate Guide to Keeping Cool When Life Feels Chaotic" by Carla Naumburg, PhD, LICSW (j155.419 NAU) explains "freak out" feelings, thoughts, and behaviors with humor, illustrations, quizzes, and fun acronyms in an accessible manner. It provides strategies for keeping cool and calming down, even after an eventual explosion. It reassures readers that everyone has buttons that can be pushed, and that flipping out is a normal human behavior that can be tamed with practice. I LOVED this book! My favorite part is when she compares the brain's limbic system to a "safety squirrel"-- too accurate! I think everyone (even adults!) could learn from this text-- I did!
#fridayfaves
"How to Stop Freaking Out: The Ultimate Guide to Keeping Cool When Life Feels Chaotic" by Carla Naumburg, PhD, LICSW (j155.419 NAU) explains "freak out" feelings, thoughts, and behaviors with humor, illustrations, quizzes, and fun acronyms in an accessible manner. It provides strategies for keeping cool and calming down, even after an eventual explosion. It reassures readers that everyone has buttons that can be pushed, and that flipping out is a normal human behavior that can be tamed with practice. I LOVED this book! My favorite part is when she compares the brain's limbic system to a "safety squirrel"-- too accurate! I think everyone (even adults!) could learn from this text-- I did!
#fridayfaves
July 29, 2025
This middle-grade level book provides a framework to understand why we lose our tempers and how to decrease our reactivity. It's full of multiple-choice scenarios to help kids understand how they're feeling and behaving. Unfortunately the author uses acronyms like FART (Feelings, Automatic, Reactive, Too Far) and BuRPs (Button [pushing] Reduction Practices. While this might be a memorable anchor for kids, if you're already working with a kid to manage their big feelings and to reduce their cringeworthy behavior then prompting them with references to farts and burps is probably not the way forward.
February 15, 2025
5 stars (I loved it)
This was great. So much important information that is delivered in an easy-to-understand way. Plus there is so much grace given and reassurances. And there is a lot of humor to keep the book from being dry (example: on a list of thoughts that are helpful, neutral and problematic, the author includes "taco cat backwards is taco cat" as a helpful thought, "my cat's name is purrito" as a neutral thought and "I will never have a cat" as a problematic thought).
I can see this book really helping kids (and adults)
This was great. So much important information that is delivered in an easy-to-understand way. Plus there is so much grace given and reassurances. And there is a lot of humor to keep the book from being dry (example: on a list of thoughts that are helpful, neutral and problematic, the author includes "taco cat backwards is taco cat" as a helpful thought, "my cat's name is purrito" as a neutral thought and "I will never have a cat" as a problematic thought).
I can see this book really helping kids (and adults)
June 17, 2024
This book was fantastic! It takes evidence based and clinically proven information and makes it accessible to kids. This will help so many kids understand their emotions, body, and help them build coping mechanisms. I’ll definitely be using some of the imagery and explanations this book gave in my therapy groups with kids.
July 28, 2024
Affirmations to help kids cope with big emotions. With acronyms like FART for the 4 signs of a freak out (Feelsing, Automatic, Reactive, and Too Far), WAIT, and BuRPP, kids will have tools they can use to try to self-regulate.
November 11, 2024
This common sense guide to anxiety and emotions is a valuable resource for school and public libraries. The book clearly explains what a “freak out” can look like (freeze, fight, flee, flip out fix), why it might happen, what is happening in your body and brain, and how to reduce and deal with freak outs. The greatest strength of this book is the way it constantly normalizes big emotions and acknowledges how awful freak outs can feel. The author, a Massachusetts social worker, emphasizes that freakouts can help you learn more about yourself and learn things you can do to manage your emotions. Nonfiction elements like “the most important thing to remember” at the end of each chapter quick quizzes, frequent sidebars, etc help keep the text interesting for readers. My favorite text element in this book are the “truth bombs” scattered throughout the text such as: “take a nap” and then you’ll probably feel better. Acronyms like FART (signs you’re freaking out: feelings, automatic, reactive, too far), WAIT (What Am I Thinking?) and BURPs (ideas to reduce freakouts: button reduction practices) increase the stickiness of the information, especially for kids. Illustrations depict kids of different races freaking out, comforting each other, and accessing the ABCs of BURPs (26 ways to reduce freakouts). Overall this is well written, accessible, and useful. Backmatter includes a resource list. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
November 11, 2024
Graphical and easy to read, this is a positive, upbeat book for helping any of us face the fact that sometimes it's hard to keep cool. No shame, just great tips for helping us understand and work toward managing our emotions. Seeing a therapist? Maybe the worst thought for someone frustrated with their "freak outs." A colorful and engaging book they can work through on their own? Just right for the right kids. Naumburg teaches skills most adults still need lots of help working through. A wonderful beginner approach for learning to calm down our complicated emotional systems.
Read as a nomination in the nonfiction book award category as a panelist for Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards (Cybils Awards).
Read as a nomination in the nonfiction book award category as a panelist for Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards (Cybils Awards).
April 28, 2024
“How to Stop Freaking Out” is a good primer for emotional regulation techniques. Author Carla Naumburg explains step-by-step what is happening in your body when you lose your cool and how to get your body and mind back on track with clear guides and choices to find what works best for each person.
Letizia Rizzo’s illustrations are playful and charming. The design of the book includes soothing color and a somewhat modular feel so you don’t always have to start at the top of the page. Periodic “quizzes” to think more about your own feelings or to check for understanding add an interactive element to the book.
Classroom considerations: This would be great to have in an introductory psychology classroom and in the middle school or high school library.
Although “How to Stop Freaking Out” is designed for middle schoolers, it would also be good for high school students and adults who work with young people.
I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and Workman Publishing Company, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Letizia Rizzo’s illustrations are playful and charming. The design of the book includes soothing color and a somewhat modular feel so you don’t always have to start at the top of the page. Periodic “quizzes” to think more about your own feelings or to check for understanding add an interactive element to the book.
Classroom considerations: This would be great to have in an introductory psychology classroom and in the middle school or high school library.
Although “How to Stop Freaking Out” is designed for middle schoolers, it would also be good for high school students and adults who work with young people.
I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and Workman Publishing Company, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews