Don't Panic! - Aya Wang - Bog

Guess who's stronger - you or your anxiety? It's YOU! And you're about to discover why. Does the idea of going to a party make you break out in a cold sweat? Do you look for reasons to get out of school events or big social gatherings? Perhaps the idea of talking to a new group of people makes your heart race and your hands tremble. If this sounds like you, you might have been called 'shy'... and you might spend most of your life feeling awkward and uncomfortable. But what you're going through is far more common than you probably think. There's a name for it, and there's a lot more to it than simply being shy. You have social anxiety... and while that's not a pleasant experience by any stretch of the imagination, the good news is that you can manage it and unlock a powerful sliver of confidence you had no idea you had. Did you know that Johnny Depp - Captain Jack Sparrow himself - has social anxiety? This is someone who's constantly in the public eye and spends much of his life in high-profile social situations. His secret is that he has developed ways to manage his social anxiety so that it doesn't get in his way... and you can too. This book is your secret weapon... and before you think of school textbooks and feel your heart sinking, don't worry - this book will have you laughing and challenging yourself in the most fun way possible... all the while giving you the tools you need to triumph over your anxiety. Inside, you'll discover: An exciting and enlightening journey with Isa and Jeremy, two teens who face, battle, and overcome a host of social challenges and show you how you, too, can handle social anxiety with ease and confidenceThe science and symptoms of social anxiety - complete with a quiz so you can be sure it's what you're dealing withCommon myths about social anxiety... dispelledHow to recognize your triggers and why it's important to do soWhat your 'safety behaviors' are and how they affect youThe natural superpowers your mind already has - and how you can harness them to gain control over your anxiety (ever heard of CBT?)How you can tell when your mind is playing tricks on you... and how to beat it at its own game with science-based hacksWhy your breathing has a bigger role to play than keeping you alive... and what to do to access its full potentialA powerful self-soothing toolkit - how to use every part of your mind and body to calm you down and reduce your anxiety in any situationWhy it's so important to reframe panic attacks and identify cognitive distortions, so you can respond to triggers more positivelyA panic attack cheat sheet that works every time!How to have a standoff with your anxiety - win every battle through Exposure Therapy!The 4 Rs that will help you get better and better at facing your anxiety every day6 simple yet significant habits you can start building today to make sure Future You is calmer and more confidentHow you can talk to your loved ones about what you're experiencing (and why you should)Practical exercises, quizzes, and quests to make the whole process fun... and a lot more effective than reading a dry textbookPerhaps you've tried reading self-help books and ended up more confused or anxious than you were when you started... This time, it's going to be different. This time, you're going to build your confidence by stealth, all the while absorbing the information that will help you in a fun, engaging, and relatable way. The science is still there, but your experience is at the forefront... and once you've mastered these tools and strategies, you'll never look back!