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How to Help Your Anxious Teen: Discovering the Surprising Sources of Their Worries and Fears by Jessica Thompson

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About the Book

Help Your Teen Find Joy and Peace
 
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.     

About the Author

Jessica Thompson has authored or coauthored several books, including the bestseller Give Them Grace. A popular conference speaker and guest blogger, Jessica grew up in Southern California where she and her husband of 22 years have raised their three kids, two of whom are teenagers.

Book Reviews

“There are books that calm our anxious souls, books that illumine paths of practical wisdom, and books that re-anchor us to immovable biblical truths. This book does all three—and it does so with exemplary grace. If you’re a parent, especially one with a teen, these pages are Jessica’s priceless gift to you.”
—Chad Bird, author several books, including Your God Is Too Glorious

“Wise, clearheaded, and gospel-focused—Jessica Thompson has done us all a great service by providing answers for how to help our children experience real peace in a world where fear and anxiety are being stirred up every day. There is real hope here.”
—Bob Lepine, cohost of FamilyLife Today

“As a mama who will parent four teenagers in this lifetime, I appreciate the wisdom on the subject of anxiety that Jessica brings to this book. Every page is soaked in humor, real-life examples, and eye-opening ideas about what anxiety looks like for today’s teenagers, all while pointing us back to our God, who loves us and asks us to cast our anxieties on Him.”
—Jamie Ivey, host of The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey podcast and author of If You Only Knew

“How to Help Your Anxious Teen is the unfussy parenting guide I didn’t know I needed. With her signature blend of grace and humor, Jessica Thompson shakes us awake, urging us to pay attention and ask the hard questions. Fear and inadequacy wither as we lean on the unshakeable goodness of God through it all. What a relief! I’ll return to this one again and again.”
—Shannan Martin, author of The Ministry of Ordinary Places and Falling Free

“If you are parenting an anxious child, Jessica’s gospel-centered perspective is just what you need! Jessica equips us with a preventative and pressure-free approach to ensure we don’t become another source of anxiety in our teens’ already pressure-filled lives. And best of all, Jessica continually points us to the power of God’s Word and the hope we have in Jesus.”
—Jeannie Cunnion, author of Mom Set Free

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