Books To Help Teenagers Struggling With Stress and Anxiety
by Melissa Taylor
Teens are experiencing more anxiety than ever before. The best thing we can do as parents is to compassionately support our struggling teens, letting them know we value their mental health as much as their physical health. We must tell our teenagers that it is not a failure to experience stress, anxiety, or depression, and that it’s okay, brave even, to recognize it and ask for help. We hope these books give your teen practical ideas and encouragement.
We believe in books but realize that sometimes a book is not enough. Consult an adolescent therapist if you need more support.
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Mindful Games
Available from:Playing games with your child or teen is an excellent way to get them to relax and have fun. And in this case, it can also teach them valuable life skills about mindfulness and compassion. Pair this book with the accompanying activity cards, and play your way to happier, kinder, and more self-aware children and teens.
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Where to Start
Available from:Written by Mental Health America, this book offers a safe space to explore mental health conditions for young people. From a straightforward self-assessment to jargon-free details on depression, bipolar disorder, depression, and more, Where to Start brings mental health education and empowerment to the forefront of today’s conversations. An easy to read and essential book for teens and young adults, parents, and educators.
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The Mindful Mandala Coloring Book
Available from:If you’ve ever spent time coloring, you know that it’s an excellent way to wind down and relieve stress. This book of mandalas and guided meditations offers a creative outlet and the opportunity to practice mindfulness. So, bust out the colored pencils, markers, and gel pens, and let your teen color their stress away.
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Share Better and Stress Less
Available from:For kids and teens who are perpetually online, it can be hard to navigate the digital landscape and studies have shown that is having a huge impact on their mental health. Authors and literacy media educators Phillips and Milner want to help kids have the confidence and know-how to make wise decisions, contribute to positive online interactions, and minimize the damage to themselves and others on social media.
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Let's Talk About Anxiety
Available from:It’s not always easy to get kids to open up about their worries, but this book can help. Inside, you’ll find activities, discussion ideas, and exercises to start those conversations and connect with your child on an emotional level. It comes with 20 cards with insightful questions to get kids to open up. This book is an excellent resource for parents, teachers, and mental health professionals.
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Goodbye, Anxiety
Available from:Journaling is one of the best ways to relieve anxiety and stress, and this guided journal takes it one step further. With writing prompts, strategies, and coping tools, teens can pour their hearts into its pages, releasing any pent-up anxiousness they may feel.
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Start Where You Are: A Journal for Self-Exploration
Available from:Use this beautifully designed journal to discover your true self. Prompts and exercises gently guide readers to reflect, look deeper, and get creative through written responses, drawing, and chart-making.
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The Everybody Gets Anxious Activity Book
Available from:In this thoughtful and fun activity book for kids, you’ll learn where anxious feelings come from and strategies for how to handle them. Perfect for anyone who sometimes feels overwhelmed, angry, scared, nervous, or just plain icky — which is everyone!
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DBT Skills for Teens with Anxiety
Available from:Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of talking therapy specially adapted for people who feel emotions very intensely and have been proven effective in helping teens through such a tumultuous time in life. This practical guide, written by a licensed psychologist, shares strategies and exercises to help teens regulate and manage their emotions during periods of high stress.
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Anxiety Relief for Teens
Available from:Teens are under a tremendous amount of pressure, and that can show up through anxiety, stress, and moodiness. Dr. Regine Galanti offers teens advice, coping tactics, quizzes, and mindfulness activities to help them manage stress. Using the proven strategies in this book, teens can take charge of their lives and become happier, healthier people.
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Superpowered
Available from:Help your kid become the superhero of their own story with this informative, bestselling book. Interactive elements combine with illustrations, advice, and tools to help kids recognize their triggers and deal with emotions. It’s an excellent resource for pre-teens or teens struggling with anxiety.
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You Are Not Alone
Available from:Sometimes one of the hardest things about feeling anxious is that you feel like you are the only one experiencing these emotions. Layer in things like social media, and it is easy to get stuck in the comparison trap. Luckily, Jennie Allen is here to help kids form positive habits that will interrupt swirling thought patterns, develop better friendships, and focus on improving their mental and spiritual health.
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Rising Above: Teen Devotional for Girls
Available from:Religious teens will find comfort and peace with help from this devotional book by a licensed Christian therapist. It’s filled with prayers, scripture verses, and devotionals designed to help girls of faith manage modern life’s stresses. If your teen turns to God when times get tough, they’ll love this book.
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Create Your Own Calm
Available from:Thoughtful quotes, inspiring journal prompts, and stunning artwork combine into a fantastic guided journal from the creator of Start Where You Are. As teens fill out the journal, they’ll get to know their authentic selves and what makes them happy. It’s an excellent way to relax and let go of the day’s stress.
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Lastly, don’t forget about fiction books. Stories can help teens know they’re not alone, that they’re not the only person in the world going through anxiety and depression. Consider recommending your teen readthese YA novels about mental illness.
Thanks to Virginia Hood, LPCC; Misha Grodt, MA, LPC; and Angela Wall, Ph.D. for their input on this article.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2018 and updated in 2025.