Sometimes I'm Anxious: A Child's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety

by Poppy O'Neill, Amanda Ashman-Wymbs (Foreword)

Does your son or daughter worry too much? Have frequent stomach aches? Become irritable, tearful, angry, or withdrawn? Have problems concentrating? Show a loss of enthusiasm for his or her usual interests? These are signs your child is struggling with anxiety.

This practical guide combines proven cognitive-behavioral therapy methods used by child psychologists in schools with simple activities to help your child overcome anxiety. It’s perfect for children ages 8 to 12 because a lot happens in these years that can impact a child’s emotional well-being, not just now but for years to come.

Your child will be guided, with the help of Fiz—a friendly and supportive character they can identify with—through fun and engaging activities interspersed with useful tips, inspirational statements, and practical information for parents.

Includes 20 fun activities!

Genres: Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

Published November 5, 2019

Reviews

[new_user · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty good, other than one bizarre page that lists everything that a kid can be afraid of... If they weren't anxious before, they will be now! But jokes aside, every other page was pretty good with brief readings paired with activities.

[JENNIFER COOK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and simplistic book to read with kids ages 6-12 would be appropriate.
Used it with several students and they liked it too. Practical and good advice for managing anxiety.

[Michael Sasson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of ideas and exercises told in age appropriate language. This is a book for any child regardless of gender or religious background.

10 When a child is suffering with anxiety, it’s tempting to shield them from the thing they’re worried about. Your instinct might be to say: “if you’re worried about the party, don’t go.” But the message your child receives is that their feelings of anxiety mean they aren’t capable of doing the things they find challenging.

9. signs of anxiety
14, 22, 59. Anxiety definition
55 lying to kids re balance of good and bad things that happen in the world… also, re how social change happens (might be author is naïve and not actively being dishonest)
57 nice strategies like imagining monster’s hygiene routine
63-5 thinking error: begins more explicit and formal and detailed CBT training than other kid-anxiety books I’ve read
Also at 80-83 on evaluating quality of thinking.
Strong section on friendship, bullying, etc.

[Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes I’m Anxious is an amazing little book for little people! It’s full of activities that bring understanding, calm and confidence. From “hand breathing” to creating a battle cry, even I as an adult found helpful tips and understanding. It also has the cutest little monsters illustrated throughout. This would be great for parents, teachers, babysitters or anyone dealing with anxiety that doesn’t have time to sit down with a medical textbook to figure out self-soothing techniques.

[Demigod 3 · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a kid,—— THIS DID NOT HELP!!!for some people taking a mindful minute works but not me. I got this book secondhand hoping it would help with mild stress and anxiety and to be honest, it made it worse. The monsters are cute but you can tell the adult who wrote it clearly did not remember being a kid. If you like to complain into a book this is for you but I personally didn’t prefer it .

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really helped my daughter deal with some big feelings she was having.

[Laura Herrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for kids ages 5-11, the author explains anxiety and ways to help them feel better.