How to Help Your Anxious Teen

By: Jessica Thompson

Narrated by: Jessica Thompson

If your son or daughter is suffering from anxiety, you probably have more questions than answers: What is causing the anxiety? Is this normal teenage angst or something more serious? What can I do to help?

Jessica Thompson, the mother of three teens, has seen kids struggle with anxiousness. She wants you to understand the issues surrounding teenage anxiety and how our culture, the church, and perhaps even you may be contributing to the problem.

The culture tells kids that it's not okay to be normal, that social media is vital to their well-being, and that athletic, academic, and other accolades are all-important. The church, though well-intentioned, sometimes places undue pressure on teens to "do big things for God" and "be the best Christian you can be." Caring parents may inadvertently overcorrect their teens' behavior and try to control it ("helicopter parenting"). They may also use their kids' accomplishments to build their own identity or try to be their children's best friend. But there is help and hope for you and your teenager. When you equip yourself with truth from the gospel and the rest of God's Word, you can help your child to cope with anxiety, and your family can experience greater freedom and peace.

©2019 Jessica Thompson (P)2019 eChristian

Just What I Needed to Hear

My busy life lessens my ability to read a book so I was thrilled to find this resource on Audible. I enjoyed listening to the author during my commute. I am a parent of a teenager who turns to God for guidance in how to help my teen live out the plan God has for my child’s life. I appreciated the author’s approach in weaving in scripture that is relevant to parenting teens dealing with anxiety through a caring lens. As a result, I am able to view my teen as “a soul to love” and not “a problem to solve.” This resource has so many nuggets for a parent who believes in a higher being to help navigate today’s world. Thank you, Jessica!

Warning: religion preying on those in need

This book contains a great deal of Christian religious content, masquerading as a solution, to a very real problem for many people – anxiety. This represents yet another mendacious attempt to prop up the authors religion as a salve for the anxious. Outside the advice to follow the authors religion. This book is the bereft of any real approach to alleviating anxiety, for which there are many valid and effective modalities. This book is representative of a real danger to teens – when they have doubts about their faith what does that mean for their anxiety? The answer should be readily clear. Since beliefs is not a choice what would it mean for those who do not share her belief? What does her approach mean for those of other religious traditions you would do well to find any other resource aid your team in resolving there anxiety issues.

At no point does the author walk stepwise through the solution she is proffering, so that the reader can discern exactly why her approach is effective for all, how it addresses the root cause of anxiety, or the mechanism by which it might be effective.