Why We Worry

This insightful guide to childhood anxiety helps young readers understand the science behind their worries, from stomach butterflies before a big event to racing thoughts at bedtime. Melissa Mayer clearly explains how our brains process fear and why middle school years often amplify these feelings, using concrete examples that children will immediately recognize from their own lives. The book transforms abstract anxiety into understandable biological processes, giving names to the physical sensations that often accompany nervousness.

What sets this resource apart is its practical approach to emotional literacy, providing children with actual tools to decode their body's signals and manage overwhelming feelings. Young readers who experience test anxiety, social worries, or nighttime fears will find validation and concrete strategies within these pages. By demystifying the neuroscience of worry, this book empowers children to recognize their anxiety as a normal response rather than something to fear itself.