Jul 062012
 

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff for Teens: Simple Ways to Keep Your Cool in Stressful Times (Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff Series)

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Teens: Simple Ways to Keep Your Cool in Stressful Times (Don't Sweat the Small Stuff Series)

Now the #1 bestselling author of the Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff Series, Richard Carlson, Ph.D., offers teenagers simple, helpful wisdom for coping with everyday issuesAnyone who thinks teens have it easy hasn’t been to a high school recently. As the headlines remind us almost daily, America’s teenagers deal with stress in just about every facet of their lives: academics, sports, social situations, family life, money matters, even work. Now Richard Carlson, author of the Don’t Sweat series, with

List Price: $ 12.99

Price: $ 3.00

Yes, Your Teen is Crazy!: Loving Your Kid Without Losing Your Mind

Yes, Your Teen is Crazy!: Loving Your Kid Without Losing Your Mind

Now in paperback! Here is the book that updates the rulebook, giving parents the training and skills they need to transform their teenage children into strong, confident, productive adults.

List Price: $ 14.95

Price: $ 5.10

More Teens Products

  6 Responses to “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff for Teens: Simple Ways to Keep Your Cool in Stressful Times (Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff Series)”

  1. 120 of 120 people found the following review helpful
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    For Teens and Everyone Else, September 11, 2000
    By 
    Beau Thurnauer “Beau” (Coventry, CT USA) –
    (REAL NAME)
      

    This review is from: Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff for Teens: Simple Ways to Keep Your Cool in Stressful Times (Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff Series) (Paperback)

    Every night I sit down with my daughter (11) and son (13) and read. We have read classics, kids stuff, and some current trendy stuff. After reading several other Don’t Sweat books I picked this one up to add to my evening reading with the kids.

    Perfect selection. It deals with issues that every kid wants to talk about and presents them in a way that every kid will listen to.

    My 11 year old comes home often with horror stories about what friend likes her today, what group does what to another group, how one girl hates another girl, and how can she possibly face it all tomorrow.

    I counsel her, listen, feedback, and hug her. But she needs to know that what I am telling her is not unique. So when we read the chapters called “Drop the Drama” and “Check Out these Odds! (The Likelihood that Everyone Will Like You) she looked at me like I was a genius. She actually asked me if I knew the author.

    Don’t get me wrong. This book is great for a wide age range. I read it to my kids. The teen set (and beyond) will devour it.

    Some of the issues in this book are so universal that they need to be taught in college or business school. The chapter that is called “Understand the Law of Focus” should be memorized by every student entering college. This chapter reinforces the basic of ‘never obsess’. Know anybody that is so focused on one thing that they lose sight of everything else? Better read this part first.

    Well written, to the point, and so very very relevant. Good for early grade schoolers to upper teens. It is by far the best Sweat book that I have read.

    Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes
    No

  2. 45 of 46 people found the following review helpful
    4.0 out of 5 stars
    STRESS REDUCTION FOR TEENS, November 4, 2000
    By 
    Dorothy Weiss (ORLANDO, FLORIDA United States) –
    (REAL NAME)
      

    This review is from: Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff for Teens: Simple Ways to Keep Your Cool in Stressful Times (Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff Series) (Paperback)

    If you’re “stressed out” and would like to look at ways to be a happier more contented person, you may find something in these pages that ring true for you. The book title indicates “for teens”, but anyone could benefit from some of the author’s suggestions. For example, when someone is talking, avoid the words, “I know.”; or “dare to show enthusiam. Be a volunteer in your community– find something that you really enjoy doing and do it! – Don’t infect your friends with negative thoughts if you’re in a low mood.– Instead of making unkind, caustic comments, stay away from those close to you until you feel better; that way, you don’t have to feel guilty, make apologies or re-ignite your stress worrying about any inappropriate hurtful words you might have used –Try some meditation or contemplation or yoga exercises to be more relaxed.” Richard Carlson’s hypothesis is- if you don’t get stressed out about the small things, then dealing with more complex issues becomes easier. The book offers advice without lecturing and the topics are brief. One could read a few pages daily. Highly recommended reading. Quite inspirational, and not just for teens. Contains practical information for anyone

    Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes
    No

  3. 22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    We Can All Learn and Benefit From Dr. Carlson’s Philosophy !, October 6, 2000
    By 
    Irvin Goodman
    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)
      
    (VINE VOICE)
      
    (REAL NAME)
      

    This review is from: Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff for Teens: Simple Ways to Keep Your Cool in Stressful Times (Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff Series) (Paperback)

    This is a brand new addition to Dr. Carlson’s books on “not sweating the small stuff.” This one is targeted to teenagers, but we can all benefit. I found that the way the book is set up is quite helpful. Each of the more than 100 topics is short, and you can gain the insight into his teachings on that topic in just a few pages and a few minutes. There are really practical tips for coping with peer pressure, dealing with everyday situations at school, work, play or home. He includes many examples of his own experiences as a teen and the best ways to handle them. He offers advice, but doesn’t preach to you. The advice he presents is simple, full of wisdom for coping with situations the teen must deal with daily. One of his key factors in overcoming the “small stuff” is developing the ability not to be irritated, bothered, and annoyed by the day to day things that happen to all of us. He acknowledges that it’s very tough to be a teen today, considering the numerous outside pressures to set you going down the wrong path. The techniques he offers won’t make the pressures go away, but you’ll be better able to deal with them. He goes into some detail about criticism, and how to handle it. There are tips in gaining self confidence. If you incorporate just a few of his many suggestions into your everyday life it can make a major difference in your life, your success, and those around you. Well worth reading.

    Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes
    No

  4. 174 of 178 people found the following review helpful
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Teenage Trials Viewed as a Temporary Mental Disorder, September 2, 2001
    By 
    Donald Mitchell “Jesus Loves You!” (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 118,000 Helpful Votes Globally) –
    (VINE VOICE)
      
    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)
      
    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)
      

    Before reading this review, you should know that this book contains language and subjects that would cause it to exceed an �R� rating if it were a motion picture. These vulgarities, sexual references, and violence are essential to the book�s content. The author also apologizes for the need to employ them.

    If your teenager had a serious case of the flu, you would be sympathetic and helpful. When the same teenager acts in ways you disagree with, are you inclined to be unsympathetic and challenging? Dr. Bradley argues in this intriguing book that your reaction should be very similar. Both are usually natural occurrences of body dysfunctions from which your teen will recover. Although that may sound like a psychological metaphor, Dr. Bradley points out that research with MRIs shows that the growth of the corpus callosum (which coordinates cross-brain functions) and development of the prefrontal cortex (which civilizes responses that the �old brain� stimulates) are both occurring during the teenage years. Until those brain developments are more complete, your teen will react in bizarre ways that she or he will be unable to explain. I found that way of thinking about teenage behavior to be fascinating.

    My own description of the teenage years experienced by our children was that boys� behavior generally went downhill until age 13 when it bottomed out, to begin gradually improving thereafter. For girls, the decline in behavior seemed to begin around 13, and started to improve after age 20.

    Dr. Bradley points out that teens have always been like this. So what has changed? �We�ve created a world dripping with sex, drugs, and violence and plunked our temporarily insane children in the middle of it.� Parents often treat their teens as though they can handle it. �The fact is that cannot handle �it� and they know this.� �Teens left on their own as small adults not only . . . [make serious mistakes], they become depressed and rageful in the bargain.� Dr. Bradley�s descriptions of the increased exposure to these influences on television, at home, in school, and with friends will leave you convinced that we have a more toxic environment for today�s teenagers. He cites many case histories and statistics to make his points very compelling.

    The solution is for parents to change, and become a more positive influence on their teens. I was especially moved by his observation that parents need to stop mourning for their younger, happy, well-behaved child who will not return any time soon.

    He offers ten commandments for being a good parent:

    (1) Behave and think dispassionately;

    (2) Listen well and support emotionally;

    (3) Say little in a pleasant way;

    (4) Take the time you need to make an appropriate response;

    (5) Forget your personal pride in finding a response;

    (6) Avoid being physical, even friendly gestures can be annoying to teens;

    (7) Apologize for anything you have done wrong;

    (8) Accept the identity your teen is trying out;

    (9) Be true to your own beliefs; and

    (10) Remember that all this will eventually pass.

    The book offers excellent guidance on rule-setting and enforcement that are similar to what worked well with our now grown-up teens.

    The book also has sections on how to deal with common problems like privacy, angry teens, drugs, sex and dating, family problems, discussing legal versus illegal drugs. You are also given a sense of what is normal and abnormal behavior related to acting out, depression, eating disorders, and suicide risk. For any hint of abnormal behavior, get professional help fast (apparently 19% of teens have given serious thought to how they would commit suicide, and the depressed teens are not the ones most at risk). You are also given good ideas for how to get teens to professional help. One of the best parts of this section is pointing out how two parents should cooperate (if you and your spouse are together) and single parents can best cope….

    I particularly liked two final pieces of advice. �It turns out love is the magic, after all.� �Keep your sense of humor!�

    After you finish reading this book, I suggest that you think about where your own behavior as a teen was irrationally impulsive. Dr. Bradley cites a horrible night of misbehavior that he had as a teen. I know I gave into my impulses in various occasions. Now imagine how you would have liked your parents to respond while this was going on, both with and without the house of cards falling in on you. Those recollections may be your best guide to how you can improve, and earn even higher trust and respect from your teen.

    Support emotional messes and illnesses as generously as you support physical ills!

    Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes
    No

  5. 85 of 86 people found the following review helpful
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    from the trenches…, November 10, 2001
    By 
    RLF “RLF” (Doylestown, Pa. United States) –

    Get the book and read it…

    Memorize it and practice Dr. Bradley’s suggestions until they become your first reaction to the teenage craziness around you. I don’t say this casually. I say this because I know, for a fact, what Bradley says works. It works when nothing else seems to and when you are absolutely certain you have no idea where that ex-child, now crazy person, came from. Less humorously…his suggestions work when you are desperately close to watching your son or daughter become a statistic. It works when nothing else has and, believe me, if you are at this point in his or her life, nothing else might. Simply put, Dr. Bradley saved my son. Now, he will say that I did, and I may have been the one who was mouthing the words and acting the part, but the words were his and the role was his, both borne from years of sensitive and insightful counseling of parents and their teenagers.

    I know. I sat on the couch across from his. He watched and listened and I was hysterical. He made the same suggestions (quietly and dispassionately!) to me in my insanity that he shares in his book. He pounded them into my head and I became convinced of a few things: my son was crazy and I was his anchor. It is a few years later and my son and I are emerging from the insanity of those years, but I keep the book close by and I read and reread his words and I hear them echo and I vow always to follow them: “dispassionate cop” “short sentences, few syllables” “apologize (me, not my son).” Of course, I sometimes fail, but teenagers have a generous way of providing more opportunities to practice. I knew I had been given one of those chances and succeeded when I responded calmly, and dispassionately in a short sentence of few syllables and my son said, “Mom…stop that, because…it…it is….working.”

    Bradley’s knowledge in this area is broad and deep, his suggestions are easy to understand, his book is poignant, clear, and frantic-parent friendly. His humor is readily evident and heartening. Reading the book is almost as good as sitting in a session with him…seriously. Read it seriously. Follow it seriously. It works…seriously.

    Thanks, Dr. Bradley.

    Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes
    No

  6. 58 of 59 people found the following review helpful
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Light for the Teenage Tunnel, May 9, 2002
    By 
    Deanna Johnson (San Diego, CA USA) –

    Amazon Verified Purchase(What’s this?)

    I’ve been a long-time Amazon customer and this is the first time I have felt absolutely compelled to write a review. I have a 17 year old son, and I wish I had read this book 5 years ago! The book is written in 3 parts – Part 1 on teens and the issues in their lives, Part 2 on parents, and Part 3 on strategies for dealing with those issues. (He even includes a section on internet obsession – a big issue in our house.) When I finished reading this book, I felt so hopeful. The author provides a guideline for staying sane while dealing with the craziness, and at the same time maintaining a connection with your kids in a way that fosters strength, love, compassion, and most and best of all – mutual respect. Not a small feat, and he does it with a warm sense of humor to top it off. I would have given this book more stars if I could!

    Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes
    No

 Leave a Reply

(required)

(required)

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>