Self-Help Resources

Anxiety and stress information and tools are organized here, with links to additional resources. Children being treated for depression may also be struggling with depression, deployment-related issues, sleep disturbances or any number of other physical and/or mental health conditions. You may find the self-help information posted under other behavioral health categories for children on this web site to be helpful.

Fact Sheets and Handouts

Anxiety

A number of handouts and Fact Sheets provide information about symptoms and treatment of specific Anxiety Disorders:

• Social Phobia
• Specific Phobia
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Panic Disorder
• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
• Separation Anxiety Disorder

About Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety is a normal, natural emotion experienced by most human beings. However, a youngster with an Anxiety Disorder experiences anxiety more strongly and frequently than others, and experiences excessive worry that interferes with daily functioning.

Being Afraid
A resource for children that explains the feelings generated by fear, why we experience fear, and ways to deal with fear.

All About Anxiety
Anxiety is a normal experience for most individuals from time to time. When it becomes excessive or is affecting sleep, it's time to pay attention to the thoughts and feelings. They may be symptoms of an anxiety problem or disorder.

Test Anxiety

Feeling a little nervous and stressed before a test is normal. A touch of nervous anticipation can actually help improve test performance. Too much anxiety over school work can make the life of a student fairly unpleasant. Learn some test taking tips for children and teens:

• When Tests Make You Nervous (Handout for Children)
• Test Anxiety (Handout for Teens)

Stress

Childhood Stress
Being young doesn't always mean being carefree - even for young children. Read this article to find out how to help a child cope with stress.

Stress in Children and Teens
Children and teens notice and react to stress in the family, as well as experiencing their own stress. Learn to recognize stress in children and teens and help them adopt healthy coping strategies that may help them into adulthood.

The Story on Stress
A child-focused web site designed to help teach young people about stress.

Stress
Information for teens that explains the differences between good and bad stress, identifies stress overload, and skills for keeping stress under control.

When to Seek Help for Your Child

Create a Stress Management Plan
American Academy of Pediatrics
A resource for teens to create a personalized stress relief plan.

Children, Teens, and Resiliency
American Academy of Pediatrics
For parents and anyone that cares about children, it’s important to understand the stresses they face and help them learn to cope and adjust successfully. Children need to tap into their strengths, acquire skills to cope, recover from adversity and prepare for future challenges.

Audio Tips

A Minute for Kids
Audio clips by the American Academy of Pediatrics focused on a number of anxiety and stress-related topics, including Panic Disorders.

Books & Workbooks

Freeing Your Child from Anxiety
T. E. Chansky

Helping Your Anxious Child :A Step-by-Step Guide for Parents
R. M. Rapee, S. H. Spence, V. Cobham, & A. Wignall

Seven Steps to Help Your Child Worry Less
S. Goldstein, K. Hagar, & R. Brooks

The Worried Child
P. Foxman

What to Do When You're Scared and Worried: A Guide for Kids
J. J. Crist

Scary News: 12 Ways to Raise Joyful Children When the Headlines Are Full of Fear
L. A. Knox

Web Links

KidsHealth
A resource for young people and parents about a number of health topics, including anxiety and stress.

NYU Child Study Center
Family resources about Anxiety Disorders and stress in children. Includes articles and reading lists for adults and children.

Fast Facts for Families
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychology developed this resource to provide concise and up-to-date information on issues that affect children, teenagers, and their families.

Veteran and Military Family Health
U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health