Hey Warrior: A Book for Kids About Anxiety

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The amygdala only learns from experience - for better or worse. So the more they avoid, the more the amygdala learns that the thing they are avoiding is ‘unsafe’, and it will continue to drive a big fight (anger, distress) or flight (avoidance) response.

Australia is home, and she lives there with her two children and two stepchildren. Experience has taught her that people can do amazing things with the right information, psychology has something for everyone, jargon doesn’t, everyone has a story to tell, short bios are the longest to write, nobody has it all figured out and the best people to be around are the ones who already know this. Publishing Information As much as school can nurture, nourish and build children and adolescents, the very nature of school means that it can also be abundant with anxiety triggers that can significantly compromise their growth and development. Anxiety can be fuelled by anything unfamiliar or any situation that comes with the potential for embarrassment, failure, humiliation, shame, or separation – and school is ripe with all of them. School presents many children with some of the greatest challenges to their mental health, but it also presents some of the greatest opportunities to strengthen against anxiety.

A sleeping buddy. Put your plushie close to you as you are falling asleep. As you feel it against you, pay attention to your breathing – let it be slow and relaxed. Then, imagine that your plushie is trying to fall asleep – try to be as still and as gentle as you can so as not to wake it up. This is a way to practise mindfulness and strengthen an anxious brain. If anxiety has had extra big teeth lately, I know how brutal this feels. I really do. Think of it as the invitation to strengthen your young ones against anxiety. It’s not the disappearance of brave, or the retreat of brave. It’s the invitation to build their brave.

Books such as Hey Warrior can be a useful tool for parents, teachers and carers to broach otherwise difficult topics. A great starting point to help young people when a conversation might otherwise appear awkward. This book is a real gem and would be a great book to keep in the school library or classroom to show those children who are struggling within a school environment that there is hope. Designed specifically for early childhood settings, this workshop explores the recent developments in neuroscience that have given usremarkable insightintothe conditions and experiences that can dramatically influence the growth and development of all young children in positive and enduring ways. Early childhood is a particularly critical time for the developing brain, and the early childhood environment is rich with the necessary experiences and relationships tosupport children in their development, behaviour, learning, and social and emotional well-being. The relationships and experiences children are exposed to in their earliest years, will influence the neural foundations upon which their growth and development is built.This dynamic workshop will explore these conditions, and ways early childhood professionals can translate this knowledge into practice to nurture the holistic development of all children. Between the gorgeous illustrations and the incredible insights, the information provided within this storybook provides a powerhouse of information to help kids develop a growth mindset. Hey Warrior helps kids make sense of their anxiety, while also being encouraged to see it in a positive light. For our little scientists, the role of our brain’s amygdala is described as our personal warrior helping us to be prepared to battle any perceived threats. The author explains that anxiety “is amazing but it doesn’t always feel amazing” because your “fierce warrior is working for you, even at times when you don’t need protecting.” The author goes on to explain that as bossy as your amygdala can be, it works best when you (the child) insist on being the boss. She provides a strategy to help kids practice being ready to keep their warrior in control as needed. Past attempts to solve anxiety are put to one side and the book becomes the new focus and the solution. Beautifully illustrated, Hey Warrior manages to wrap a powerful self-help manual, including an explanation of the science of anxiety, in a children’s bedtime book suitable for kids aged 5-10, and parents of any age!Empower children to manage their anxiety by learning that it comes from a place of protective strength within their brains—the amygdala—a tiny but fierce personal “warrior” that prepares us to fight or flee danger, even when we don’t need or want its protection! Wonderful illustrations and keen insights gently teach children how to be the boss of their brains and let their warriors know when to stand down and relax through positive thinking and breathing exercises. By understanding the physical science of anxiety and why their brains produce it, children can then learn to master it as a positive, friendly superpower. This is because the strengthening against anxiety happens only with experience. When the experience is in front of you, it can feel like bloodshed. I know that. I really do. But this is when we fight for them and with them - to show them they can do this.

She is the author of three books, including the bestselling ‘Hey Warrior’ and ‘Hey Awesome’, which creatively assist children to understand and manage anxiety. The books have been translated into a number of languages and have sold more than 150,000 copies worldwide. Anxiety is the most common child and adolescent mental health concern. Anxiety is a very normal human response, but for as many as 1 in 5 young people in New Zealand the symptoms become so intrusive so as to interfere with day to day living. The effects can ripple from children, to their families, to the classroom, and into friendships. Anxiety can potentially undermine the way children see themselves, the world and their important place in it – but it doesn’t have to be this way. With the right support, children can be empowered with the skills and knowledge to manage anxiety and move forward with courage and resilience. A bravery buddy. Anxiety happens when your amygdala (that fierce warrior) gets a little overprotective and a little too active. Your amygdala wants you to be brave, and it knows you can be, but sometimes you’ll need to believe it enough for both of you. What are the words your amygdala needs to hear? Perhaps, ‘We can do this,’ or ‘Whatever happens, we’ll be okay,’ or ‘We can do hard things.’ Find the words with your plushie, then use those words for yourself when you need to feel brave. They also need to feel us holding the boundary, by not supporting their avoidance. This sends the message that we trust their capacity to handle this.

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This is not ‘rewarding bad behaviour’. To think this assumes that they want to behave badly. They don’t. What they want is to feel calm and safe again, but in that moment they don’t have the skills to do that themselves, so they need us to help them.

Between the gorgeous illustrations and the incredible insights, the information provided within this storybook provides a powerhouse of information to help kids develop a growth mindset. Hey Warrior helps kids make sense of their anxiety, while also being encouraged to see it in a positive light. For our little scientists, the role of our brain’s amygdala is described as our personal warrior helping us to be prepared to battle any perceived threats. The author explains that anxiety “is amazing but it doesn’t always feel amazing” because your “fierce warrior is working for you, even at times when you don’t need protecting.” The author goes on to explain that as bossy as your amygdala can be, it works best when you (the child) insist on being the boss. She provides a strategy to help kids practice being ready to keep their warrior in control as needed. The plushie amygdala is your very own warrior, there to protect you. Measuring 40cm tall, it has super-soft fur, a way-too-cute head, and a heart of pure courage. It hates asparagus, loves blueberries, and isn’t too keen on footwear. It’s brilliant to have around, and not just because it will never steal your shoes. The book goes on to talk about how anxiety forms itself in a part of the brain called the amygdala. The story continues with the amygdala becoming a protective friend, ‘a super hero’. Giving it a name, immediately makes it friendly allowing the reader to feel comfortable. The book takes you on a journey about what to expect when going through an anxious period. Seeing, through clever descriptive text and wonderfully imaginative illustrations, the way in which anxiety can form itself makes the reader feel in control and at ease with their feelings. I love how this storybook helps kids learn about their anxiety in a manner that helps them understand its role in our lives while also learning how to not let it take over our lives. Learning about one’s own internal experiences and how to manage them is the ultimate cognitive behavioural teaching. Young readers will not only learn about their own brains, but understand how they can learn to manage their internal reactions. It’s just brilliant. It’s going to be a staple in my toolkit as a school counsellor. Thank you!” -C.R. on FacebookKaren began her career as a psychologist in private practice. She has worked extensively with children teens and families, and in educational and organisation settings. She has lectured and has a Masters in Gestalt Therapy. It is through her work with children, teens and families, that she learned the power of solid information when it is placed in the solid, loving hands of parents or any important person in the life of a child.