Under Pressure

Outline

Under Pressure (2019) explores why stress and anxiety among girls have risen sharply and what parents and teachers can do about it. Lisa Damour explains that some stress and anxiety are normal and even helpful, and shows how to tell the difference between healthy and harmful levels. She offers practical guidance on school pressure, friendships, social media, and helping girls build resilience.

• Some stress and anxiety are normal in girls' lives and can even be helpful, so the goal is not to remove them entirely.
• Parents and teachers can learn to tell healthy levels of stress and anxiety from levels that cause harm.
• Stress and anxiety among girls have risen sharply, and the book explains why this has happened.
• Practical guidance covers school pressure, friendships and social media, the areas where girls often feel the most strain.
• Adults can support girls in building resilience, which brings more confidence and calm when pressure arises.

Lisa Damour is an American clinical psychologist, author, and speaker who specialises in the emotional lives of teenagers. She has written a monthly column for The New York Times and co-hosts a popular parenting podcast. Her books include Untangled, Under Pressure, and The Emotional Lives of Teenagers.