Understanding Teenage Anxiety: A Parent's Guide to Improving Your Teen's Mental Health

by Jennifer Browne, Cody Buchanan

If you’re the parent of a teenager experiencing chronic anxiety, this book is for you.

Today’s teens are high-strung and socially overextended. We shrug it off as a millennial problem, but is it? In a world that encourages the quick fix, instant gratification, and real-time feedback, can we really expect our children to cope as we did less than two decades ago, in the land of handshakes, eye contact, elbow grease, and grit?

This book is a product of a combination of three very different perspectives: those of the anxious teen, the parent, and the therapist. We need to understand what we’ve created in terms of our current society to gain proper insight on why we’re seeing increasingly rising levels of anxiety in our teenagers. Topics include: Physical and Emotional Symptoms of Anxiety Teens and Self-Harm Anxiety and Gut Health Sports: Concussions and Anxiety Natural Ways to Help Your Teen Cope And much, much more Within each chapter, author (and parent) Jennifer Browne and co-author (Jennifer’s teenage son) Cody Buchanan, who struggles with anxiety and depression, will weigh in on what this affliction feels like, physically, mentally, and emotionally. They share personal experiences to help parents better understand their teens and learn a lot along the way.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction

208 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 20, 2019

Reviews

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really solid book from a non-expert with lived-experience. No broad, sweeping claims contradicting established science, lots of suggestions based on what worked for her, and things to try on conjunction with medical support and/or pharmaceuticals. Reminders for the care givers as well.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have a teenager suffering from anxiety I’m sure you’ll find help in this book written by a mom and her son about their experiences. Hearing Cody’s side on what worked and what didn’t is worth the price of the book. Mom trying tough love and why it didn’t work is also eye opening. It’s good to know that help is out there and steps can be taken that make sense. We’d all be happier if we learned early the connection between eating well and gut issues and mental health . I had no idea concussions can contribute to anxiety.
I think anyone will find something they didn’t know here, and it was brave and kind of Jennifer and Cody to share their stories.

[A. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't impressed with the amount of sources cited for the statements the author was making. For example, the chapter on gut health and anxiety had a single endnote for a reference about the definition of IBS, but the author would later make assertions with no apparent grounding, including the idea that people with anxiety have less gut flora and need extra probiotics--with no research to back that statement up. Some of the content was useful, but as an adult with anxiety who didn't get a diagnosis or help for that until my mid-twenties and who is now seeing anxiety in my kid, I was hoping for something a little more helpful and well-researched.

[Jennifer Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author is not a medical professional nor a mental heath counselor. Very few statements contained citations to back up her claims. While much of the suggestions are helpful, it’s difficult to take seriously due to lack of credentials and/or citations. This is a book about a personal account/experience, not a “self help” reference.

[Pamela Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written from a mothers perspective. I think it could be helpful for parents.

[Marie-Sharrane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was quite helpful with dealing with anxiety. Even though the book is for teenage anxiety, what you learn can be applied to anyone.

[Overbooked ✎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Travis Roark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative and very helpful. This describes my child in a way no other book has been able to. Thank you.

[Rosemarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really helpful book from a parent who has gone through a lot.