Table of Contents
Introduction 11
Chapter 1 Conscious Parenting 13
The Benefits of Conscious Parenting 14
Giving Your Child Full Attention 17
Understanding Behavior 18
Chapter 2 The Anxiety Journey 21
What's Happening for My Child? 22
Some Stress Is Good 22
Worry Makes Anxiety Grow 24
Your Child's Self-Awareness 29
The Stress and Anxiety Connection 30
Is Anxiety Contagious? 32
Important Points to Consider 33
Chapter 3 Causes of Anxiety 35
How Common Is Anxiety? 36
Comparing Boys and Girls 36
Psychological Aspects 37
Biological Aspects 39
Genetic Causes 40
The Role of Temperament 41
Environmental Factors 42
Important Points to Consider 45
Chapter 4 Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety 47
Behavioral Expressions 48
Avoidance 49
Feeling Isolated 50
Skipping School 51
Homework Hassles 53
Friendship Challenges 56
Body Talk 57
Nervous Habits 59
Important Points to Consider 59
Chapter 5 School Days 61
Anxiety about School 62
Expecting Anxiety 63
Test Anxiety 63
Counter Negative Rehearsal 64
Handling Anxiety at School 66
Peers and Peer Pressure 69
Bullies and Gossip 70
Middle-School Meltdowns 71
Staying Connected and Getting Involved 72
Important Points to Consider 73
Chapter 6 Outside Pressures and Influences 75
Coping with Outside Pressures 76
Media 77
Guidelines for Technology and Media 79
Social Media 82
Boundaries 83
Cyberbullying 84
Other Influences 85
Building Face-to-Face Social Skills 86
Important Points to Consider 87
Chapter 7 Building a Supportive Home Environment 89
Open Communication 90
Refraining 93
Teaching Kids How to Feel 94
It's a Family Affair 95
Create a Support Team 95
Connect to Truth 96
Effects on Partnerships and Marriage 98
Parenting Style 99
Important Points to Consider 100
Chapter 8 Parenting and Anxiety 101
The Parents Role 102
Seeing Choices as Tools 102
Thriving Parents Equal Thriving Children 103
Overprotective Parenting 106
When Parents Are Depressed 108
How Is Your Marriage? 109
Separation, Divorce, and Blended Families 111
Important Points to Consider 113
Chapter 9 Conscious Parenting Pointers 115
Consistency and Follow-Through 116
Being Active and Proactive 118
Intentional Planning 118
Patience Really Is a Virtue 119
Defuse Situations 121
Routine Is King 122
Co-Parenting 123
Transform Your Rules Into Empowerment Tools 125
Reframe Language 127
Strengthening Your Right Brain 128
Important Things to Consider 129
Chapter 10 Disciplining Children with Anxiety 131
Self-Regulation over Self-Control 132
Using Logical and Natural Consequences 134
Logical Consequences 135
Natural Consequences 136
How Consequences Are Different from Punishment 137
Parenting Dos 138
Positive Reinforcement 139
Rewards 141
The Resilient Child 141
Important Points to Consider 142
Chapter 11 Self-Love 145
Liberating Anxiety 146
Breathing 147
Meditation 150
Progressive Muscle Relaxation 152
Creative Visualizations 153
Guided Imagery 154
Self-Talk 155
From Worrywart to Worry Warrior 156
Self-Soothing Strategies 157
Important Points to Consider 162
Chapter 12 Self-Love Living; Exercise, Nutrition, and Sleep 163
Simple Ways to Curb Anxiety 164
Foods That Can Increase Anxiety 166
Vitamins and Nutritional Supplements 168
Exercise and Yoga 171
Sleep Routine and Ritual 172
Important Points to Consider 176
Chapter 13 The Case for Natural Healing: Alternative Therapies 179
Massage 180
Acupuncture 182
Aromatherapy 183
Biofeedback 185
Energy Work 187
Important Points to Consider 188
Chapter 14 If it's not Anxiety, Then What? 191
Overlap with Add 192
Overlap with Depression 195
Adjustment Disorders 197
Developmental Transitions 199
Shyness and Introversion 201
The Overextended Child 203
Separation Anxiety 204
Important Points to Consider 205
Chapter 15 Choosing Therapy 207
Individual, Family, and Group Therapy 208
Supportive Approaches 211
Play Therapy 213
Art and Music Therapy 214
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy 215
When to Consider Medication 217
Important Points to Consider 217
Chapter 16 Creating a Promising Future 219
What Is the Goal? 220
Trust Yourself 223
Moving on from Medication 226
Letting Go 227
Appendix: Additional Resources 231
Index 235
