Mindfulness for Teen Anxiety: A Workbook for Overcoming Anxiety at Home, at School, and Everywhere Else

Description

Now fully revised and updated, including new and fun activities for dealing with school anxiety, social media overwhelm, bullying, and more. Being a teen is hard enough without anxiety getting in the way. Not only are you changing more than ever before-physically and mentally-you're also facing an increasing number of global issues, such as pandemics, school violence, and climate change. On top of all these big events, if you suffer from panic attacks, chronic worry, and feelings of isolation, it can be very difficult to meet your goals and succeed. The good news is there are real, powerful ways that you can take control of your anxiety-and your life! In this second edition of Mindfulness for Teen Anxiety, psychologist and learning specialist Christopher Willard offers teens like you proven-effective, mindfulness-based practices to help you cope with your anxiety, identify common triggers (such as dating, social media, or school performance), learn valuable time-management skills, and feel more calm at home, in school, and with friends. You'll learn doable skills for dealing with specific situations that cause anxiety, such as public speaking, taking tests, meeting new people, and more. You'll also discover special breathing exercises to help you stay calm in moments of panic, and guided visualization exercises to be cool and collected, even in the tensest situations. If you are ready to move past your anxiety, panic, and worry and start being your best, this workbook will be your guide-every step of the way.

Christopher Willard, PsyD, is a psychologist and educational consultant based in Boston, MA. He has been practicing meditation for twenty years, and has led hundreds of workshops around the world, with invitations to more than two-dozen countries. He has presented at TEDx conferences, and his expertise has been showcased in the New York Times, The Washington Post, mindful.org, and elsewhere. He teaches at Harvard Medical School; and enjoys traveling, hiking, cooking, reading and writing, and being a father.

"Mindfulness for Teen Anxiety provides powerful and practical tools for teens facing everyday challenges in social, academic, or sports settings. The practices and insights are useful for all teens--and adults too! I highly recommend this book." --Jessica Morey, executive director and lead teacher at Inward Bound Mindfulness Education: a national nonprofit that leads mindfulness retreats and school programs for teenagers across the country--Jessica Morey "Mindfulness for Teen Anxiety offers you a practical road map to help your discovery that YOU have the power, NOT your anxious thoughts. By practicing the strategies in this book, you can avoid getting trapped in the anxious stories that your mind creates about the future, and be more at your best in the NOW." --Dzung X. Vo, MD, author of The Mindful Teen--Dzung X. Vo, MD "In teen-friendly language and brimming with easy-to-implement activities, Willard provides simple ways that teens can manage the day-to-day anxiety that often permeates their lives. Interwoven throughout are stories of anxious teens who have faced obstacles and succeeded--whether at home, school, or in their social life. Clearly, Willard knows the territory. What a gift to give to the world of teens!" --Karen Bluth, PhD, professor in department of psychiatry at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and author of The Self-Compassion Workbook for Teens and The Self-Compassionate Teen--Karen Bluth, PhD "It's normal for teens to deal with anxiety, whether it's because of school, social media, or something else. The good news is that there's something we can do about it. This book shows how we can cope with our anxiety in healthy ways. Christopher Willard offers different mindful practices, so you can find one that resonates with you, and you'll be on the path to a happier life." --Adam Avin, mental health education advocate; mindfulness instructor; and creator of Wuf Shanti Children's Wellness Foundation, Mindful Kids Peace Summit, and Kids Association for Mindfulness in Education--Adam Avin "Our recent era of pressure and anxiety affects teens profoundly, but Christopher Willard provides you a down-to-earth, realistic path toward feeling better, happier, and stronger. If you truly want to feel less anxious and more in control of your life, take the time for this classic workbook." --Mark Bertin, MD, developmental pediatrician, author of Mindful Parenting for ADHD and How Children Thrive, and coauthor of Mindfulness and Self-Compassion for Teen ADHD--Mark Bertin, MD "This book is like a supportive conversation with a wise and compassionate friend on a bad day. More importantly, it offers skills to help you become a wise and compassionate friend to yourself." --Amy Saltzman, MD, author of A Still Quiet Place for Teens--Amy Saltzman, MD "With the impact of COVID-19, Chris Willard's book is a much-needed, well-written and highly accessible resource for teens struggling with the uncertainties, disruptions, and general strain leading to growing rates of anxiety. Chris's positive, down-to-earth, and practical language gives teens a thoughtful, kind, and thoroughly;authentic and expert guide to how mindfulness skills can help them learn to sidestep their anxiety. Not only that, but Chris's book also helps teens learn to harness the power of mindfulness for their journey beyond anxiety toward the potential anxiety has been blocking for them." --Mitch Abblett, PhD, psychologist, and author of The Five Hurdles to Happiness and the upcoming Prizeworthy--Mitch Abblett, PhD