Helping Your Anxious Child
Dr David Lewis
This is a practical book to
help parents solve a widespread problem. The format of the book makes it
particularly easy for the reader to go directly to the specific problem
which is causing concern.
Sadly, as the author reminds
us, many parents do treat their child’s anxieties far too lightly. They
hope that they will be ‘outgrown’ or convince themselves that the
child could overcome them if only ‘he would make an effort.’ At the
same time, in Dr Lewis’ experience ‘excessive anxiety is the greatest
single threat to successful intellectual, social, emotional, sexual,
physical and personal development that any child faces.’
He provides answers to
questions such as ‘How can I tell if my child has an anxiety problem?’
‘Why is my child scared of so many things?’ and ‘Will my child just
grow out of his or her fears?’ And then provides strategies to guide you
in helping your child.
Lewis explains the many causes
of anxiety, and is not afraid to consider that there are times when a
child’s anxieties reflect stresses and tensions within the family as a
whole. In a way, perhaps he does not underline enough the pressure
children are under when there is a family break-up.
Even the most loving parent
needs to be reminded that children often go to great lengths to hide their
anxieties, and this is caused by fear of not being taken seriously or
appearing babyish, incompetent or unmanly and more. Remember, anxiety can
come in many guises, and Lewis gives clear a explanation of what lies
behind avoidance, projection, repression, displacement and denial. Tools
frequently used, in my experience, when there is a parent or sibling with
a disability at home.
There are clear and precise
guidelines about how to help your anxious child, and a chapter dealing
with the most common anxieties, including school phobia, maths anxiety,
exams, and social anxiety.
The extra plus when reading
this book is that it will help you to consider your own anxieties, and
there is advice about ways to help you reduce your own levels of stress.
So, apply Dr Lewis’ straightforward advice and rid your life of anxiety,
and help your child to be a happy, confident person.
 published by
Vermilion price £7.99
ISBN: 0091884330
and
available from
Review
published 18 June 2002 © Jill Curtis
2002
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