Understanding Myself: A Kid’s Guide to Intense Emotions and Strong Feelings

Strong feelings and intense emotions are part of every pre-teen’s life. So why does something so common feel so overwhelming or embarrassing?

Understanding Myself: A Kid’s Guide to Intense Emotions and Strong Feelings (American Psychological Association/Magination Press, November 15, 2010) by Mary C. Lamia, Ph.D., is written especially to help kids deal with their intense emotions. It is a guide that will improve their social relationships, decision-making skills, self-control, and their ability to take action and achieve their goals.

 Chock-full of current and relevant psychological research on emotions as well as real-life stories, useful quizzes and fun-fact boxes, Understanding Myself will encourage kids to notice just what their emotions are telling them about themselves, their friends and family.

Studies have shown that emotional learning—being able to recognize, understand, and manage emotions—is linked to academic success. Emotions are the engine of attention and accomplishment: they keep kids alert and provide them with information that can help them to make decisions and take action.

Dr. Lamia is a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst who works with adults, adolescents, and preteens, and she is a professor at the Wright Institute in Berkeley, California. For nearly a decade she hosted a weekly call-in talk show, KidTalk with Dr. Mary on Radio Disney stations. Dr. Lamia blogs for Psychology Today, and her opinion has been sought in hundreds of television, radio, and print media interviews and discussions.