It’s a hard, stressful time to be a teenager right now. In 2018, the APA reported that teens were actually the least likely of any age group in America to report having good mental health.
So, it’s no wonder that rates of anxiety in teenagers are so high.
The good news is there are ways we can manage anxiety so that it doesn’t control our lives. Therapy and medication, of course, are wonderful options for this if they are available to you. In addition to therapy, there are anxiety coping skills and exercises–like these grounding techniques–you can do when you feel your anxiety growing.
Along with those, today we’ve put together a list of 5 anxiety workbooks for teens, to help you find doable, creative ways to manage your own anxiety:
The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook by Edmund J. Bourne
“Packed with the most effective skills for assessing and treating anxiety, this evidence-based workbook contains the latest clinical research. You’ll find an arsenal of tools for quieting worry, ending negative self-talk, and taking charge of your anxious thoughts”
This book, written by cognitive behavioral therapist, Edmund Bourne, is one of the standard anxiety workbooks you’ll find on lots of book recommendation lists. And for good reason! It’s now 30 years old and into its seventh edition and still helping people find ways to cope with that debilitating out of control feeling anxiety can make us feel so often.
A Year of Mindfulness: A 52 Week Guided Journal to Cultivate Peace and Presence by Jennifer Raye
“This mindfulness journal is broken out into themed weeks, each with 7 unique prompts that allow you to deepen your practice. Discover how to live in the moment as you reflect on being conscious of your body, connecting with nature, or even cleaning your home.”
Mindfulness is great for managing anxiety. While anxiety can often feel like you are at the mercy of your out of control thoughts, mindfulness is all about releasing your wandering thoughts instead of attaching yourself to them, and staying in the present moment. This mindfulness journal can be a great way to get started with that, especially if you’ve never tried mindfulness before and don’t know where to start!
One Year Wiser: The Coloring Book by Mike Medaglia
“The 52 illustrated meditations within this book will leave readers inspired by the words of thinkers from Mahatma Gandhi to Virginia Woolf, soothed by the meditative act of coloring, and empowered by a more mindful, calm, and creative approach to life.”
Just like the journal above, this is a nice way to dip your toes into a mindfulness practice, which in turn can help quiet some of that anxiety. It’s also just a nice way to relax when your life is jam packed with stress!
Start Where You Are: A Journal for Self-Exploration by Meera Lee Patel
“Featuring vibrant hand-lettering and images that have attracted a large following for her stationery and textile line in boutiques across the country, Meera Lee Patel’s uplifting book presents supportive prompts and exercises along with inspirational quotes to encourage reflection through writing, drawing, chart-making, and more.”
Journaling can be a great practice to quiet some of those out of control anxious thoughts. When we don’t have anywhere to express ourselves and we just bottle it up, those thoughts get louder and stronger until we feel like we have no more control. When we journal, we’re able to release those thoughts in a healthy, exploratory way.
Put Your Worries Here: A Creative Journal for Teens with Anxiety by Lisa M. Schab
“In this first-of-its-kind guided journal for teens, licensed clinical social worker and author of The Anxiety Workbook for Teens, Lisa Schab offers a creative space to help you work through worry and anxiety using fun, engaging, and action-oriented prompts.”
The idea behind this workbook is that you get a space where it is safe to explore your anxiety without giving up your own power. Whether your anxiety is coming from friends, grades, family, relationships, figuring out the future, or not fitting it, there are tools and exercises to help you manage that here. It’s got both space for you to dive into your own feelings, as well guides to help you relieve anxiety in the moments it comes up.
And remember, not everything that works for one person will work for you. These tools can be a great way to try a bunch of things out and build your own anxiety toolkit!
Pivotal Counseling Center has therapists who can help you work through stress and anxiety. We have locations in Woodstock, Illinois, and Lake in the Hills, Illinois. If you are in need of someone to help, please consider giving us a call at (815) 345-3400.
