The Teen Girl's Anxiety Survival Guide

January 15, 2021
Being a teenage girl can be exhausting and stressful. With stressors from school, social media, family, friends, and more, navigating the teen years can be a lot to handle. Hemmen presents 10 strategies to help manage anxiety, each addressed in a separate chapter. The author, a clinical psychologist who works with teens, has written an accessible and concise guide in which she explains the scientific facts behind each suggestion, provides examples from young people dealing with various issues, and encourages readers to explore their own feelings and experiences. The information is broken up into easily digestible sections, making for a pleasant, informative, and quick read. Among other subjects, Hemmen addresses both the benefits and risks of screen time and social media, different strategies for succeeding in school, and dealing with interpersonal conflicts, troubling feelings, and more. Many readers, especially middle- and upper-middle-class teens, will feel validated by the abundance of examples and success stories from other teens and likely come away from the book with a convenient toolbox for addressing anxious thoughts, practicing self-care, and finding balance in their lives. Readers are encouraged not to self-diagnose but to seek assessment from a professional. While this book specifically addresses girls, the tips that are presented are helpful for all genders. A thoroughly researched and comprehensive guide for teenagers to manage their anxiety and learn to love themselves. (references) (Self-help. 13-19)

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February 1, 2021

Gr 6 Up-This new installment in the "Instant Help Solutions" series focuses on 10 tips for girls to overcome anxiety. Most teens have experienced anxiety at one point or another, but for 25 percent of readers, this anxiety can be extremely debilitating. Hemmen offers strategies that girls can apply in daily life. The text shows readers how to slay negative self-talk, bullies, and other challenges. Hemmen acknowledges self-care as a right, not a privilege, and details how readers can get comfortable with the uncomfortable, such as navigating anxiety in social situations. This resource serves as a suitable general self-help text. Readers will take comfort in knowing that anxiety can happen to anyone and that they are not alone-good coping skills and practical techniques can help overcome stress and anxious feelings. VERDICT Not necessarily a text that teens would independently select from the library shelves, but it could be well used as a desk copy for middle and high school counselors.-Elaine Baran Black, Georgia P.L. Svc., Atlanta

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