Read an Excerpt
Help Is Here for Facing Fear!
By Molly Wigand, R. W. Alley Abbey Press
Copyright © 2000 Molly Wigand
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4976-9663-1
CHAPTER 1
Everybody's Afraid Sometimes
Being human means having many different feelings. Sometimes we're happy. Sometimes we're sad. Sometimes we're friendly. Sometimes we're angry. Sometimes we're very brave. And sometimes we're afraid.
When you're a kid, lots of things can seem scary. The world can seem big and loud and dark and confusing.
Grown-ups have fears, too. Movie stars and presidents, football players and ballet dancers, teachers and coaches — everyone in the world is afraid once in a while. But guess what? We can get the help we need to get past our fears and worries.
What Does Fear Feel Like?
When you're afraid, your body does weird things. Your palms may get sweaty. Your heart may beat really fast. You might even get a stomachache or a headache. Fear can make you feel dizzy or shaky. It might be hard to breathe. Fear can even make your hands and feet tingle. These are all normal human feelings, and everybody has them at certain times.
When you feel this way, talk to a parent or grown-up friend. Sharing your fears can make you feel safer and help your fears to fade away.
Are You Afraid of the Dark?
Your imagination can make you feel scared at nighttime. Shadows look creepy. Noises seem spooky. You may be afraid something is hiding under the bed. It might seem like monsters are in your closet.
Maybe you and your mom or dad could bake a special batch of "courage cookies" for an evening snack. You might want to ask your parents if they were scared of the dark when they were little — and what made them feel less afraid. Let your parents help you look under the bed and search the closets. Pretend that your favorite teddy bear will protect you as you sleep.
And when you say your bedtime prayers, remember that God is right there with you and will stay with you through the night.
What's Real and What's Pretend?
Some movies, TV shows, and books can make you feel scared. It's easy to get mixed up about what's real and what's pretend. The scary things you see or read during the day can make you have bad dreams or scary thoughts at night. Let your family help you choose books and movies that aren't scary.
If a TV show or book does scare you, don't keep your fears inside. Let a grown-up know. Together, try to fill your house with peaceful, happy feelings. Laughter works wonders to chase fears away.
The Whole World in God's Hands
It's scary to hear about bad things that happen in the world — like tornadoes, earthquakes, and wars.
But God's love is like an umbrella that can protect us from fear. Even when bad things happen, God's love is there. And even when we feel afraid, the world is still a beautiful place.
When you're scared or worried, think about the family and friends who love you. Enjoy the colors and sounds of nature. Think about all the good things in your life.
If Other Kids Tease You
Have you ever been called a "chicken" or a "fraidy cat"? It's no fun to be teased about your fears.
Remember — we're all brave in different ways. One person may be afraid of deep water, but very brave about going to the dentist. Maybe you're afraid of big, barking dogs, but you aren't scared of monsters at all.
You have a right to all your feelings, even your fears. You're doing your best and being as brave as you can. That's all anyone can expect. Ask some grown-ups how they handled teasing when they were kids. Would their ideas work for you?
One Day at a Time
Sometimes people worry about things that haven't even happened yet. You may worry you'll forget your homework. Or you might be afraid you'll get lost on your way to school.
Worrying about tomorrow takes the fun out of today. Look for the good things in every day. God gives you the courage you need to get through this day. Nobody knows exactly what will happen tomorrow, but God will always watch over and care for you.
Draw a Picture! Write a Story!
Your fears may look and feel less scary when you put them on paper.
If you're afraid of monsters, draw a picture of a scary creature. Can you find something silly about the monster? Draw a picture of yourself next to the monster. Show that you and the monster are friends.
Is bedtime scary for you? Write a story about a special, happy nighttime land. Tell how the moon and stars smile down on you and give you happy dreams.
What stories and pictures can you make to help you with your own special fears?
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Help Is Here for Facing Fear! by Molly Wigand, R. W. Alley. Copyright © 2000 Molly Wigand. Excerpted by permission of Abbey Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
