My Anxiety is Messing Things Up

Oscar is a perfectionist with an anxiety problem.

He puts pressure on himself to excel in everything he does. That’s why he earns good grades, wins awards, plays sports, performs in the band and makes friends easily. But all his accomplishments come at a price.

Oscar is wracked with anxiety.

He’s so afraid of falling short of expectations or disappointing his parents, his teachers and his pals, he can’t sleep. He tosses and turns every night. The more sleep he loses, the moodier and more irritable he becomes. Exhausted and stressed, Oscar lashes out at his best buddies. Now his anxiety is topped with feelings of guilt and shame.

When a caring teacher notices Oscar’s distress, she invites him to join a secretive school group for students who struggle with anxiety. What will he do? Is Oscar too embarrassed to seek help, or is he so tired of being tired, he’ll try anything for some sleep and relief?

My Anxiety is Messing Things Up is a fast-paced chapter book that examines the emotional and physical toll anxiety has on kids, as well as the empowering strategies they can use to calm their worries. Engaging discussion questions and creative activities at the end of each chapter help readers understand the content more deeply and can guide classroom conversations about anxiety, stress and trying your best.

My Anxiety is Messing Things Up is the newest title in author and school counsellor Jennifer Licate’s popular Navigating Friendship series, which includes He’s Not Just Teasing!, Am I Weird? and I Lost My BFF.

"This book is very realistic and believe students can read it on their own or in a small group with a counselor teacher or parent. The strategies are great for any age student even though it is written for ages 9-12. I loved how Oscar was reluctant to join the group but at the end said how much it helped him. This is so true for students who don't want to be different than their peers but know they have anxiety and are struggling. His responses to his friends were good too. Plan to to purchase book as soon as it is available and the book with activities for teachers and counselors. "
- Debbie