Please Explain Anxiety to Me!: Simple Biology and Solutions for Children and Parents

by Laurie Zelinger, Jordan Zelinger, Elisa Sabella (Illustrator)

What's happening to me? This book translates anxiety from the jargon of psychology into concrete experiences that children can relate to. Children and their parents will understand the biological and emotional components of anxiety responsible for the upsetting symptoms they experience. Please Explain Anxiety to Me gives accurate physiological information in child friendly language. A colorful dinosaur story explains the link between brain and body functioning, followed by practical therapeutic techniques that children can use to help themselves. Children

Genres: Childrens, Nonfiction, Picture Books, Parenting

38 pages, Paperback

First published July 23, 2010

Reviews

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ever wonder why we get nervous, worried, stressed, distressed or anxious? Most people do feel that way at some point, but it is not the same for everyone. For children it can be even more difficult to deal with and understanding the reason why may be the first step to helping them get through it. Identifying with a dinosaur, learning that they possibly had the same reactions to worries may help a child understand that they are not the only one. Learning the whys of anxiety are not enough, children and adults alike that suffer through this fear need a way to cope, something that can help them through the worst of the symptoms. Getting certain breathing techniques or exercises that can help to calm yourself may be enough, but knowing you have someone to go to can also help.

In story book fashion, Laurie Zelinger , PhD breaks down the whys of anxiety in easy to understand ways. There are real psychological terminology used as well, but the words are explained in a concise and appropriate ways, and the word is also given phonetically to make the pronunciation easier to get. The large pictures make the dinosaur story feel like a regular picture story book. The story is worded so that it is easy to ask the questions like - “have you ever felt like that” several times which does make the comparison with the dinosaurs more realistic. The helpful suggestions for reducing anxiety and relieving some of the symptoms are easy to understand and feels more like a game than a calming tool, but if it works, even better. The closing rhymes are fun to say and fun to practice. All this information, so much of which was common since, the story was good but not great and the pictures were at times distracting from the “anxiety” topic of the book. Great concept to help children learn to cope with anxiety, I just expected and wanted more.

[Lilith Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes children who are diagnosed with anxiety need a little clarity so they can overcome the diagnosis. This book takes kids on a journey from what have anxiety can do to the body. I like how this book's perspective is from the nervous system. This gives the children a real understanding.

In addition, this book ends off with some tips on how kids can seek comfort from their anxiety. Some of the strategies are very helpful and fun. Feel free to use them alongside your child.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine and were in no way influenced by outside sources. I am a professional blogger at Little Lady Plays

[Tamilyn White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never run into a children's book with illustrations of dinosaurs cuddling. Interesting, that. This book is not a simplification of the neurobiology of anxiety but rather, full on "Here's how this happens in your body and brain." I usually take about 4 sessions with young psychotherapy clients to cover this much information and probably will incorporate this book in that same time frame. My 15 year old read this book (at my suggestion, for her feedback) and found it to be "weird" and "interesting" and "useful for understanding what happens with being anxious." The Rhymes You Can Use section at the back was like reviewing my notes from therapy sessions.

[Mary Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dr. Zelinger, a child psychologist, wrote this non-fiction book to inform children about anxiety. While I do like that it explains the feelings that come with anxiety, it may be hard to keep the children's attention. The illustrations included both dinosaurs and a little boy. The story explained how both experience anxiety. This could be a good resource for a psychologist but not something you would read to a classroom.

[Megan Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this book for explaining anxiety to child and pre-teen therapy clients, along with their parents. It explains the neuro-biology of anxiety and the nervous system in an approachable way with cute illustrations. It's word-heavy, so younger kids might need the info broken up to aid in attention span.

[Melissa Hensley · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a therapist for children I have read this multiple times with kids in my office. It’s best suited for elementary age but honestly it’s such a great way to explain anxiety it could be read with teens who are willing to embrace a slightly immature book that could help them understand what’s going on inside their brain and how to take control.

[Nike Isiba · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will help children that struggles with anxiety and will help children to listen people around them. The long pauses every time the narrator put at the end of the sentence is a way to calm children down

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little wordy for the younger kiddos, but overall a great resource for both parents and kids.

[Ayshea · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not what i expected and lost my kids interest after the dinosaur pictures.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative! A little long and technical. Definitely not a bedtime book.

[The_little_prince · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect

Great book!
Very comprehensiveble.
The kids love it!
Perfect for young readers.
Even a parent can learn something new and regulate your behavior.

[Beth Oehler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the text but not so much the layout.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really good but really wordy

[Heavensent1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Please Explain "Anxiety" To Me! is a early reader for children explaining simple biology and solutions pertaining to anxiety.

The book starts out with dinosaurs roaming the earth. There were many hardships to overcome to survive if you are a dinosaur. Things like the environment, food and predators can make a dinosaur worry. Over time the dinosaur develop their "instincts" and their reactions to certain situations.

One of the reactions being discussed is anxiety. The book describes how our Amygdala (a mig' da la), registers and remembers how we react in certain situations and later, when we need that specific feeling, the Amygdala brings it back up again and has us react as we do.

Sometimes our body tricks us and makes us think we are nervous, anxious or worried, when we're really not. There is a "switch" inside each of us being controlled by the Amygdala which determines how we react. When quick energy is needed for us to respond, this triggers our "Sympathetic Nervous System", which fuels us into action, sometimes having us do feats we would be unable to do otherwise.

The book suggests that we become friends with our inner psyche, reassure it when it gets overactive, remind it that you have been in this situation before and you will respond appropriately. It also reminds you that you can talk to your parents, teacher, pastor, psychiatrist etc. to get the help you need to aid your anxiety fears. You can train your brain to react differently with simple techniques to help encourage it to respond with less indifference instead of over-reaction.

I thought this book was a good early primer for your fussy/anxious child. The simple story is enough for young children to grasp its meaning and perhaps get something from its message. I liked how dinosaurs were introduced and all the problems that occurred to them in their every day lives. I thought that the explanations for the anxiety was explained easily so that your young person can follow and understand.

I didn't think the graphics in the book were spectacular, they were simple enough in their depiction but lacked any "oomph" in their overall appearance, as well, the cover is nondescript and not very "eye-catching".

I did like how they technical lingo of the psychology of the situation was explained well and simply. I enjoyed the biology of the book via the explanation on how the amygdala and the body work together. I didn't know that the amygdala stored so much information for later use, that was interesting to read. I thought the reinforcement that comfort can be found in the fact that no one is alone in their thoughts and feelings and many of us have the same reactions, reminding children to be children and allowing the adults to look after their needs.

Overall, this would be a fairly decent book to help your young person understand their feelings, but I just thought there would have been more for the reader. The suggestions at the back of the book just wasn't what I had expected, I wanted a bit more from this book and found it lacking just a little. But as a 101 primer for the young, this book would be most excellent. Keeping copies of this in centers for children with psychological difficulties or in doctors offices would be beneficial.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was eager to get this book for review and happy that I did. Dr. Laurie Zelinger and son Jordan Zelinger have managed to explain the biological reasons for anxiety in such a simple way that my young children easily understood it. My 6-year-old son and even my daughter loved the use of dinosaurs in the explanation, and I thought the comparison to a switch turning on and off was brilliant. The illustrations are also simple, colourful and age-appropriate.

This is a comforting book, both for children and parents. The therapeutic strategies outlined are uncomplicated and effective, and at the end of the book are summarized in the form of rhymes to make them easy to remember. My children quickly associated with some of the situations that can cause anxiety. It made them realize that they are not the only ones to feel that way at times. Throughout the days after I read them this book, my children on different occasions have said to me, “Mom, my switch is on.” I quickly understood what they meant and was happy they recognized how they were feeling. I asked them if they remembered what they could do to alleviate the feeling of anxiety and they did and put some of those solutions to practice.

Best of all, this is an empowering book. Every parent should read it. It is an essential tool to explain what anxiety is to children but most importantly how to deal with it. And in a society where the medical community tends to overmedicate patients, including children, I cannot stress how good it is to read a book to my children that shows them how they can control how they feel. Kudos to the Zelingers!

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you want to know how to help your children when they get anxiety? Parents can remain calm with the help of this book as it provide families with a description of anxiety that children can understand and suggestions that parents can use when addressing their children’s worries. I remember being a child under the age of five and getting my own tonsils out and adenoids out. The author wants to help other parents by writing this book for kids who have too much anxiety and want to get rid of some of it. Signs of anxiety that are common involve emotions and showing signs of a problem include; stomach aches, tics, eating too little or too much, wants to sleep with a parent, inattentiveness in school, separation issues, self-imposed isolation, repetitive behaviours and sadness. I love that the story starts out explaining all types of dinosaurs and their own wants and needs out in the wilderness. Then the author shows and tells the reader how to help their children with fear, worry and anxiety. This book is for kids but also for parents because the parent will want to buy this book to read to their kids to learn about anxiety. © 2016 Jackie Paulson

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you want to know how to help your children when they get anxiety? Parents can remain calm with the help of this book as it provide families with a description of anxiety that children can understand and suggestions that parents can use when addressing their children’s worries. I remember being a child under the age of five and getting my own tonsils out and adenoids out. The author wants to help other parents by writing this book for kids who have too much anxiety and want to get rid of some of it. Signs of anxiety that are common involve emotions and showing signs of a problem include; stomach aches, tics, eating too little or too much, wants to sleep with a parent, inattentiveness in school, separation issues, self-imposed isolation, repetitive behaviours and sadness. I love that the story starts out explaining all types of dinosaurs and their own wants and needs out in the wilderness. Then the author shows and tells the reader how to help their children with fear, worry and anxiety. This book is for kids but also for parents because the parent will want to buy this book to read to their kids to learn about anxiety. © 2016 Jackie Paulson

[Erik This Kid Reviews Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book because it doesn’t just explain what to do about a problem kids have, it explains why it is happening. It shows there is something going on in our bodies that make us feel sick in the stomach or not wanting to do something. I like how the book also compares what happens when you feel anxiety to a light-switch. The illustrations are really cute and they go with the story magnificently. I love the cartoon-like feel to them. I think a lot of kids would get help from this book!
*NOTE I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Debbi (My Reading Spot) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book really helpful and easy to understand for kids.