Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.

Under Pressure

Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • An urgently needed guide to the alarming increase in anxiety and stress experienced by girls from elementary school through college, from the author of Untangled
Dr. Lisa Damour worked as an expert collaborator on Pixar’s Inside Out 2!
“An invaluable read for anyone who has girls, works with girls, or cares about girls—for everyone!”—Claire Shipman, author of The Confidence Code and The Confidence Code for Girls

Though anxiety has risen among young people overall, studies confirm that it has skyrocketed in girls. Research finds that the number of girls who said that they often felt nervous, worried, or fearful jumped 55 percent from 2009 to 2014, while the comparable number for adolescent boys has remained unchanged. As a clinical psychologist who specializes in working with girls, Lisa Damour, Ph.D., has witnessed this rising tide of stress and anxiety in her own research, in private practice, and in the all-girls’ school where she consults. She knew this had to be the topic of her new book.
In the engaging, anecdotal style and reassuring tone that won over thousands of readers of her first book, Untangled, Damour starts by addressing the facts about psychological pressure. She explains the surprising and underappreciated value of stress and anxiety: that stress can helpfully stretch us beyond our comfort zones, and anxiety can play a key role in keeping girls safe. When we emphasize the benefits of stress and anxiety, we can help our daughters take them in stride.
But no parents want their daughter to suffer from emotional overload, so Damour then turns to the many facets of girls’ lives where tension takes hold: their interactions at home, pressures at school, social anxiety among other girls and among boys, and their lives online. As readers move through the layers of girls’ lives, they’ll learn about the critical steps that adults can take to shield their daughters from the toxic pressures to which our culture—including we, as parents—subjects girls.
Readers who know Damour from Untangled or the New York Times, or from her regular appearances on CBS News, will be drawn to this important new contribution to understanding and supporting today’s girls.
Praise for Under Pressure
“Truly a must-read for parents, teachers, coaches, and mentors wanting to help girls along the path to adulthood.”—Julie Lythcott-Haims, New York Times bestselling author of How to Raise an Adult
  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

  • Formats

  • Languages

  • Reviews

    • Kirkus

      January 1, 2019
      New insight into the old issue of teen girls suffering stress and anxiety.Adolescent girls have always struggled with anxiety, but it's even more of an issue now with the rise of social media, cyberbullying, and the cutthroat competition to get into elite universities across the country. Damour (Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood, 2016), an adolescence columnist for the New York Times and director of the Laurel School's Center for Research on Girls, re-examines this problem through real-case scenarios taken from her private practice as a clinical psychologist and her work at her all-girls school. The author helps readers identify key areas where girls may be feeling pressure: home, school, in their relationships with their peers and with boys, and with the culture at large. In readily accessible and easily assimilated prose, Damour first explains how some stress and anxiety is actually good for a girl, as it pushes her out of her comfort zone, forcing her to stretch and reach beyond her safety level to new stages of development. It's when this stress becomes overwhelming that it becomes a problem, and here the author jumps into the many arenas where this is an issue. She discusses the difference between healthy competition and aggressive behavior in school academics, how most girls need more sleep, and how they can protect themselves and each other from sexual harassment. She explains how to build downtime into a hectic schedule so that when things go awry, as they inevitably do, it doesn't lead to a serious mental and emotional collapse. She also makes many other common-sense suggestions to help parents help their daughters in these highly competitive times. Although few of these issues are new, Damour's instructive book pulls them into the limelight yet again, where they can be addressed by a new generation of parents and girls.Practical solutions backed by solid research that will help many girls overcome their high levels of stress and anxiety.

      COPYRIGHT(2019) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • School Library Journal

      March 1, 2019

      According to recent statistics cited in this latest book from CBS News contributor and psychologist Damour (Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood), 31 percent of adolescent girls and young women struggle with symptoms of anxiety, experiencing edginess, fatigue, and changes in appetite, and are three times more likely than boys to be depressed. Damour testifies to similar conclusions drawn from her private practice and work at an all-girls school but states that these emotions can also stretch girls beyond their comfort zones in positive ways. The author addresses areas of strain such as interactions with family, school struggles, social pressures, relationships, and new tensions added by social media. For each of these facets, Damour offers suggestions for parents attempting to help their daughters manage the complexities of life at this age. VERDICT Parents of adolescent girls will find this an excellent choice for assisting their children in navigating day-to-day stress and struggles.Julia M. Reffner, Richmond, VA

      Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Library Journal

      February 1, 2019

      According to recent statistics cited in this latest book from CBS News contributor and psychologist Damour (Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood), 31 percent of adolescent girls and young women struggle with symptoms of anxiety, experiencing edginess, fatigue, and changes in appetite, and are three times more likely than boys to be depressed. Damour testifies to similar conclusions drawn from her private practice and work at an all-girls school but states that these emotions can also stretch girls beyond their comfort zones in positive ways. The author addresses areas of strain such as interactions with family, school struggles, social pressures, relationships, and new tensions added by social media. For each of these facets, Damour offers suggestions for parents attempting to help their daughters manage the complexities of life at this age. VERDICT Parents of adolescent girls will find this an excellent choice for assisting their children in navigating day-to-day stress and struggles. [See Prepub Alert, 8/27/18.]

      Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Library Journal

      February 1, 2019

      Studies show that from 2009 to 2014 the number of girls age ten through college reporting anxiety or fearfulness jumped 55 percent, while the number for boys reporting such feelings remained unchanged. Here, the zNew York Times best-selling author of Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood explains both the benefits of stress and how parents can help their daughters cope with overload.

      Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

Languages

  • English

Loading