It only took a few months to put a draft manuscript of the first book together. Even though a title had not initially been decided, the objectives of the book were crystal clear:
To discuss anxiety and what anxiety feels like, not just in the brain but also in the body
To use characters and settings that appeal to young people but also to adults who will enjoy reading the book to young people
To introduce effective ways to manage anxiety that can be used quickly and easily
By focusing on what wellbeing tools we wanted to talk about, the story was quickly formed and the characters and setting fell into place like a jigsaw puzzle.
I chose to use anxiety as the basis of the first book for quite obvious reasons but also because it is a phrase well worth exploring. The term anxiety can be used differently across countries, cultures and age groups. I tend to explain anxiety as a feeling of long term worry that prevents us from doing activities we once enjoyed or may enjoy in the future. We all having fleeting thoughts of worry but if they continue to upset set us, keep us up at night or feel really rotten in the body, then it is probably time to tackle them. After all, none of us enjoy feeling rotten do we!
Before we get to the title of this book it's probably worth going over the 'its not magic but it could be' part again. In a nutshell the objective of this website and subsequent books is to provide an understanding into our own body and brain, how they react to periods of stress, low mood and anxiety and how we can can use daily habits and wellbeing tools to quickly and effectively make us think, feel and behave in more beneficial ways. The tools we will be discussing are practical and based on research but if put in place and practised can work like magic i.e. they work! When used collectively i.e. a group of young people together or as a family unit, the results can be extraordinary.
So, back to the book and after playing around with a title I think we are happy with 'Tips, tricks and sciency bits to help manage anxiety'. Inside the book you will clearly see why we chose the title and may well be surprised what you learn in the 'sciency bits' sections of the story.
The setting of the book clearly had to have something combining magic and learning but you will have to wait and see how that idea develops in later blog posts.
If you haven't already done so please check out the live video on Facebook introducing Early Warning Signs and a great way to start managing anxiety at https://www.facebook.com/itsnotmagicbutitcouldbe/videos/1037287953432655
For now, take care and remember, its not magic..........but it could be.
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