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Tag Archives: Just like you

Square Pegs Event this Saturday

April 19, 2013   Darlene Wierski-Devoe   No comments

The Square Peg Kids Family FUNdraising event will take place at the St. Volodymyr Cultural Centre at 1280 Dundas Street West at Fourth Line on Saturday, April 20, from 10 am to 4:30 pm. There will be a vendor market place, a silent auction and a steady stream of scheduled activities for adults and Children.

I will be reading, “Just Like You”. Admission is free but a donation of a new or gently used toy or book for the drop in would be greatly appreciated (no stuffies please). Cash donations are also welcome.
Square Peg Kids is an organization dedicated to providing resources and peace of mind for families and children whose lives have been affected by autism, Asperger’s, AD(H)D, sensory processing disorder, OCD, giftedness, anxiety, and other neurodevelopmental challenges.
If you’re interested in finding out more please visit Square Peg Kids

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Here’s what people are saying about “Just Like You”

April 03, 2013   Darlene Wierski-Devoe   No comments

I LOVE getting feedback. I think it is such an important source of knowledge and connection. I’m sure any author will agree connecting with their audience is an amazing feeling. So you can imagine how excited I was to get this email from a parent who just bought the book for their child. Remember, there is always room on the blog for comments!

“We received your books today. Thank you very kindly for your prompt service!
The book is wonderful in the way it tells the story, and the toolbox journal is a great idea!
The exercises are an excellent way to help put into words the feelings of anxiety and the various daily challenges, as well as helping to establish some coping mechanisms.
We are grateful for your help.”

Beautiful..simply beautiful!

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Join us at Indigo Milton with local author Darlene Wierski-Devoe

March 18, 2013   Darlene Wierski-Devoe   No comments

I am so grateful to Indigo for opening their doors to authors such as myself. I am truly grateful for having a chance to connect with the very readers that inspired me to write this book. I welcome you to join us this Saturday!

When: Sunday March 24th, 2013
What time: 11:00 a.m.
Where: Indigo Milton – 1180 Steeles Ave. E., Milton, Ontario L9T 6C8
A little bit about the book:

“Just Like You” raises awareness around the daily struggles that some children face. Simple things like answering a question, playing in the school yard and going to the library are such struggles for kids who have anxious feelings. This book is written to help others understand what anxious behaviour both looks and feels like. “Just Like You” is a valuable tool for creating awareness and support for families dealing with anxiety.

The book introduces the concept of the “anxiety monster”. It allows children to see anxiety as an “it” or a “thing” that is completely separate from them. The story teaches that worry, fear and panic are feelings that can be managed while reinforcing the fact that despite the main characters’ differences, she really is “Just Like You”.

Young readers are also introduced to the concept of a toolbox which holds numerous ideas and choices for helping to reduce the effects of the “anxiety monster”, allowing them to be successful in everyday tasks.

This is a great story for children with anxiety as well as their peers. It provides great opportunities to help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues as well as raise awareness that these amazing children just need to be heard and helped.

No need to RSVP just come by and join us!

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Thankful Tuesday

January 15, 2013   Darlene Wierski-Devoe   No comments

When we are happy and not full of stress and anger our bodies are in balance and harmony. Those negative emotions dig deeper than you might think so that’s why I have created “Thankful Tuesday“. Although we should be thankful every day I have allotted one day of the week to really pay attention to all that is surrounding us, grounding us and aiding our body, minds and spirits to perform at their utmost potential. When you see the world around you embraced by love and goodness and when you carry that forward there is sheer bliss.
 

So let’s try it today. Take a moment to really think about those things that you are happy for right here and right now.
 
If it’s alright with you I will share some of my “thankful” for the day. Whatever you call it thankful, gratitude, bliss own it and enjoy it.
 
Thankful Tuesday:

My kids – who make me laugh each morning

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Understand and Process Anxiety with the Book “Just Like You”

November 17, 2012   Darlene Wierski-Devoe   1 Comment

I am always so honoured when people review my book. It is amazing to see how my words translate and resonate with others. Well I feel incredibly privileged this morning to have a fellow writer at Special-ism Martianne Stanger review “Just Like You” and I hope you have a moment to read it. Thank you is surely not enough for such a wonderful review.

Understand and Process Anxiety with the Book “Just Like You”
November 17, 2012 By Martianne Stanger

Anxiety. The mere mention of the word can make some folk’s hearts race and their muscles clench. No one likes to be reminded of the disquiet that fear, worry and panic can bring to a day. Fewer still can handle facing high levels of anxiety day in and day out without support. And that is why any child, parent, educator or professional whose life is touched by anxiety might want to thank Darlene Wierski-Devoe, author of Just Like You and the Just Like You Toolbox Journal.
After seeing her own children struggle with anxiety issues which mimic that of her own childhood, Darlene Wierski-Devoe created Just Like You to give a voice to children with anxiety. In doing so, she offered such children tools for treating their anxiety while also giving them a concrete way to share their struggle with others. Through reading Just Like You, people can better understand how to hear and help children with anxiety. They can recognize the reason behind behaviors that anxious children demonstrate, as well as the ways that everyone is the same. Thus, the silence and stigma of anxiety as a mental health disease can be reduced and the ability to celebrate everyone’s desire to be the best person possible can increase.

Read the full article

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Interview with Wanda Lynne Young at Yummy Mummy Club

September 12, 2012   Darlene Wierski-Devoe   1 Comment

I think one of the best parts of this whole book adventure has been connecting with amazing people that are so gracious and are willing to spread the word about “Just Like You“. I thank Wanda Lynne Young so much for this article. I hope that you enjoy it to.

Just Like You by Darlene Wierski-Devoe
HELPING CHILDREN COPE WITH ANXIETY AND MOOD DISORDERS
By Wanda Lynne Young
The easy, breezy days of summer have come and gone and back-to-school mode is now on. Does your child still have back to school jitters or new school nerves? For some children these feelings never subside. For these children life is not such a happy-go-lucky experience and school becomes a constant source of anxiety. They are less carefree and more worrywart when it comes to dealing with social situations in everyday life. The book “Just Like You” helps an anxious child to face their fears and put the power back in their control.

I grew up functioning as an anxious child complete with migraines starting at age seven. I worried about everything and everybody. I recall adults telling me I shouldn’t be such a “nervous Nelly” or children saying “don’t be so shy.” As a teen I developed some skills to deal with stressful situations. I did this by hiding out behind a few social masks that included a goth phase and the whole sk8er girl scene. Eventually I learned to relax about what others thought of me. I started to cope better in social settings and I adopting a different perspective on life. As an adult there’s still a couple of things that can make me anxious but basically I live symptom free. Here’s the kicker though, I did manage to somehow to pass this trait down to my two sons. They both cope with their anxiety in their own unique ways. It all comes down to adopting good coping strategies and not letting the fear control you.

Read the full article

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