The worried child Recognizing anxiety in children and helping them heal

Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Psychologist Foxman (Dancing with Fear) has penned a caring yet straightforward book about helping kids deal with feelings of angst. Noting that one in five children suffers from a mental health problem, Foxman says some experts call today's children the "shell-shocked" generation. Divorce, crime, violence, failing schools, the threat of terrorism and drug abuse are a few of the contemporary issues often magnified for kids by vivid media coverage, and they've contributed to the rise of stress and anxiety among children, says Foxman. The author, who suffered from anxiety as a child and as an adult, melds personal and professional experience as he differentiates between normal and abnormal worrying (the latter involves a degree and frequency that interferes with daily routines). According to Foxman, three factors coincide to create an anxious child: biological sensitivity, personality and stress. Children who are perfectionists, who are overly sensitive to criticism and have difficulty with assertiveness, among other traits, are prone to anxiety, though many of the worried child's personality traits, such as intelligence and a strong sense of responsibility, are positive. In addition to global issues such as war, terrorism and violence, Foxman delves into how personal crises (e.g., divorce, sexual abuse and school-related stress) can affect children, and suggests how parents can help and when they should seek therapy for their child. He rounds out this informative guide with a chapter for children that speaks directly to young readers. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

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Review by Library Journal Review

Psychologist Foxman (director, Ctr. for Anxiety Disorders, Burlington, VT; Dancing with Fear) addresses a problem in which he specializes: anxiety in children. Parents will find an indispensable chapter on the components of childhood anxiety and the personality profile that suggests a predisposition toward it. Drawing on case studies, Foxman describes various types of childhood anxiety disorders in addition to chronicling danger signs which may indicate that a child needs professional help. Moreover, the author devotes a substantial portion of this book to sources of anxiety in children. Biology, family dynamics, sociocultural factors, school, and the media can generate anxiety, which can be counteracted by the biochemical and psychotherapeutic treatment approaches set forth in Part 3. Best of all, Foxman includes a helpful chapter written for anxious young people in language easily accessible to them. This superb book belongs on the shelves of public libraries alongside Katharina Manassis's Keys to Parenting Your Anxious Child and Elizabeth DuPont Spencer's The Anxiety Cure for Kids: A Guide for Parents.-Lynne F. Maxwell, Villanova Univ. Sch. of Law Lib., PA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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