In this companion book to Why Am I Feeling Like This, David Murray offers practical help and support to the parents of struggling teens. This is just the kind of book that can help parents figure out how to help their kids and how to have conversations that will make a difference in their lives.

When I saw this title I thought: no one deserves to feel like that, let alone a teenager, let alone the teens you love. But it happens, more than we can imagine. Do you remember your own struggles during those years? I have seen more resources about these 2 topics because they seem like the newest cultural pandemic. This resource you can pair with the one for the teen (if you are the leader or parent). This guide has the goal of you to understand how depression affects your soul, body, and relationships, I think it is useful for the parent to get it too. I wish as a mom and counselor this problem to diminish, not to rise. I hope all of us could cooperate for that to happen. If our teen is healthy we need to think about his friends.

Parents desiring to understand and communicate with their teen in healthy ways with their teen about anxiety and depression will find a helpful resource in Crossway's Why Is My Teenager Feeling Like This? by David Murray. There's an accompanying teen version so parents and teens can read at the same time and then come together for some honest, transparent discussions. In Why Is My Teenager Feeling Like This? parents of teens will find encouragement and practical direction so they can form a plan to help their teen.

Murray begins with explanations about the causes of anxiety and depression in teens, saying that finding the cause is a key part of healing. Then he focuses several chapters on people like Tense Tom, Panicky Paul, Faithless Flavia, Bullied Luke, and others, showing parents what the various types of depression and anxiety might look like in teens, offering the key to understanding each type, and how to "turn the key" to unlock the door to healing.

While Murray doesn't give any easy answers, he shares much wisdom and practical advice. When taken seriously and prayerfully, parents are sure to find hope for the journey with their anxious and/or depressed teen. The book provides a starting place for open communication and practical steps to healing.

Note: I received a copy of the book in exchange for this honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.

A biblical resource to help your teenager thru anxiety and depression. Each chapter gives a teen battling with some type of depression and what has brought that depression to be. It not only gives theory to depression but practice to learn new habits and problem solving skills. How does your teen think about their problems and how do they take steps to overcome them.

There is a second book that the teen works thru and this book is for the parent to help guide and understand depression on how it affects our soul, body, and relationships. There is a science to depression as well that is not denied but embraced along with the spiritual. A root that needs to be carefully weeded to avoid any damage to the fruit. Depression gives us a false identity as we battle guilt, shame, that leads to destruction. The value of overcoming depression is a fight for your true identity in Christ.

A special thank you to Crossway Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review

First sentence: Why is my teenager feeling like this? Have you ever looked at your adolescent son or daughter and asked this question? You poured your life into your children. You provided for them in every way. You set them up for success. But now they are sinking. They can’t get out of bed. They don’t want to go to school. They can’t function. They spend hours locked in their bedroom. They are nervous wrecks. This was not what you dreamed of. Instead of a confident, independent, happy, hopeful young man or woman, you now see a depressed, anxious, and empty soul.

Why Is My Teenager Feeling Like This? is a companion book to Why Am I Feeling Like This? It is for adults--parents, grandparents, pastors, teachers, etc. Why Am I Feeling Like This? is the book for teens.

I have not read Why Am I Feeling Like This?--at least not yet. I am curious if I'll identify more with that book or the book for parents?! (I am not a parent.)

The topic is anxiety and depression. The book opens with a longer section about anxiety and depression. It asks and answers these three questions: Who Gets Anxiety and Depression? What Causes Anxiety and Depression? What Can We Do about Anxiety and Depression? It encourages parents to read this book while their teens read Why Am I Feeling Like This? The books are designed to be read together and discussed together.

The book features eighteen examples or types. Circular Sarah. Tense Tom. Doomed Dave. Imaginative Imogen. Panicky Paul, etc. You get the idea. Each chapter focuses on a "key" to working through anxiety. One chapter, for example, might encourage kids to exercise and be less sedentary. Another chapter might focus on praying or memorizing Scripture. There is a chapter on seeking medical treatment and taking pills. There are additional activities and tools at the end of every chapter.