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Worried No More: Help and Hope for Anxious Children »

Book cover image of Worried No More: Help and Hope for Anxious Children by Aureen Pinto Wagner

Authors: Aureen Pinto Wagner Ph.D., Ph. D. Wagner
ISBN-13: 9780967734798, ISBN-10: 0967734797
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Lighthouse Press, Incorporated NY
Date Published: October 2005
Edition: (Non-applicable)

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Author Biography: Aureen Pinto Wagner

Book Synopsis

About 13% or over 6.5 million children and adolescents in the US suffer from serious anxiety, making it the most common emotional problem in youngsters. Anxiety in youngsters is commonly misdiagnosed as attention-deficit disorder (ADD). The good news is that anxiety is the most treatable emotional problem. Success rates with early recognition and proper treatment are excellent! Countless parents, schools and healthcare professionals have come to rely on Worried No More to help youngsters with anxiety reclaim the joys of childhood. In her landmark and highly acclaimed book, Dr. Aureen Wagner brings scientifically proven and time tested cognitive-behavioral strategies into the everyday lives of children and families. Her creative, warm and user-friendly approach appeals to children and adults alike. She identifies the red flags and early warning signs of anxiety, and how to tell normal from problem anxiety. Worried No More is packed with information and valuable step-by-step guidance to help children cope with worry, school refusal, separation anxiety, excessive shyness, panic, disasters and tragedies, phobias, obsessions and compulsions.

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.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1Children in the shadow11
Chapter 2The many faces of anxiety14
Chapter 3Anxiety: Normal and necessary16
Normal fears and anxieties in children and adolescents17
Normal rituals and superstitions20
Age differences in expression of anxiety20
When does anxiety become a problem?21
When does anxiety become a disorder?22
Chapter 4Anxiety problems and disorders in children and adolescents24
Separation Anxiety Disorder24
Generalized Anxiety Disorder25
Specific Phobias26
Social Anxiety/Excessive shyness27
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder27
Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptoccocal Infections (PANDAS)29
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder30
Panic Disorder32
"School Phobia"32
Which anxiety disorder is this?34
Chapter 5Disorders associated with anxiety35
Depression35
Tourette Syndrome35
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder36
Autism and Asperger's Syndrome37
Trichotillomania38
Body Dysmorphic Disorder39
Delusions, hallucinations and psychosis40
Chapter 6The far-reaching effects of anxiety41
Chapter 7Warning signs and signals44
Chapter 8What causes anxiety disorders in children?47
The Fuel for Anxiety48
The Anxiety Triad48
The Vicious Cycle of Avoidance49
Reactions and responses of parents50
Stress51
Chapter 9Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for anxiety53
Cognitive elements54
Behavioral elements60
Physical elements68
Can young children participate in CBT?69
Social Skills Training71
Chapter 10Medications for anxiety in children74
Chapter 11What parents can do to help77
The 3 P's: Proactive, positive and preventive78
The 3 S's: Security, structure and stability80
Self-reliance82
Communication83
Appropriate attending84
Corrective Learning Experiences86
Setting a positive example91
Unhelpful reactions and responses92
Chapter 12What school personnel can do to help93
Education and training94
Early detection94
Establishment of helping partnerships95
Assessment97
Consultation and appropriate referral98
Provision of a physically and emotionally safe environment99
Management of anxiety in school100
Preventive strategies103
Chapter 13Helping anxious children in school: An action plan105
Identify specific concerns105
Develop helping partnerships105
Conduct systematic assessment106
Consult and/or refer108
Define and prioritize target behaviors and goals108
Design problem-focused interventions110
Cultivate the child's treatment-readiness111
Apply interventions112
Evaluate and modify112
An action plan for School refusal/Separation anxiety113
Chapter 14Finding the right community partners124
Barriers to effective partnerships126
Working through the obstacles129
Engaging reluctant children130
Chapter 15Specific strategies for anxiety-related problems134
Normal anxiety134
Back to school anxiety135
Coping with trauma, tragedy, war and violence136
Separation anxiety138
School refusal/Tardiness138
Reassurance seeking139
Perfectionism140
Obsessions and compulsions140
Writing and reading difficulties141
Inability to complete assignments and homework142
Social anxiety/Excessive shyness142
Panic143
Difficulty shifting gears143
Refusal to speak in school144
Performance/Test anxiety144
Tics144
Meltdowns and explosiveness145
References147
Resources149
Support Organizations151
Forms and tools153
Form 1Corrective Learning Experiences Worksheet155
Form 2Parent-Teacher Log157
Form 3Home Behavior Observations159
Form 4School Behavior Observations161
Form 5My Thoughts and Feelings163
Form 6The Feeling Thermometer165
Form 7My Fear Ladder167
Form 8Exposure Progress Record169
Form 9RIDE Up and Down the Worry Hill Memory Card171
Form 10Facing My Fears173
Index175

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