From Stressed to Best: A Guide to Self-Directed Learning with Anxiety and/or Depression

Over 25% of American teenagers are diagnosed with anxiety or depression. Another 86% are walking around undiagnosed. This is a serious epidemic we ask our school systems to deal with and the can’t. 
 
When your child suffers from anxiety and/or depression due to bullying, learning disabilities or mental illness you will do anything to help ensure their present and protect their future. In 2009, Mary Herrington’s oldest daughter was serious when she said she’d “rather be dead than return to school.” In a desperate measure to save her daughter’s life, Mary brought her daughter home to homeschool her. It wasn’t what Mary had planned. They had tried public school, moving districts and private school. There was no other option left. It was literally try homeschooling or be prepared to plan a funeral for her child. THAT wasn’t an option. Mary would do everything in her power to save her daughter’s life. 
 
Over the next 9 years, Mary learned the in’s and out’s of homeschooling with a mentally ill child. Her oldest daughter suffers from anxiety, depression, bipolar and PTSD. Her other daughter, 9 years younger, suffers from anxiety and multiple learning disabilities. Together, they came across a proven educational method called self-directed learning. This shift in paradigm thinking in regards to education change their entire lives. 
 
From Stressed to Best walks you through the statistics behind the epidemic of anxiety and depression in the American tween/teen. It also dives into the statistics behind homeschooling success. Self-directed learning is more than just homeschooling. It is a proven methodology of education which puts the educational decisions into the hands of the student, educating and empowering them to dive deep into learning. Through this, they achieve peace at home, scholastic growth and the ability to live a life of fulfillment. The parent-child relationship is redesigned and communication opens up. Trust begins to form again and what blooms is an amazing relationship which is lost in the current rush and bustle of today’s educational system. 
 
Here is what others are saying about From Stressed to Best: 
 
“Wow! Wow! Wow! I wish I had read this when we started homeschooling! The line that hit me the hardest was: “Are you homeschooling for others or for your child?” L.S. in NC 
 
“No 7 year old should feel like they’d rather die than go to school. Because of Mary’s book, I know sending him back to school is the wrong choice. I have hope for my child and their future now.” Sheila E. in MS 
 
“I’m truly impressed with your book - its content and the way it’s written. You’ve done an amazing job! It’s full of useful and practical insights and ideas, and I especially love the excellent list of resources of all types at the end.” Katie from Key to Learning 
 
“From Stressed to Best was just what I needed to read as I face the start of my 3rd year homeschooling my son. Thanks to Mary sharing her story about her daughters, I have renewed hope for my 10 year old son’s future.” S in IN 
 
” just read “Our Story” and I know why the universe put your book in my path. My kids are only 5&7 and I stressed myself out the last few years struggling with the fact that after researching different schooling methods, we fell into unschooling. So, it made me smile to realize that you too had chosen that and I can hopefully keep up my confidence when society (and my in-laws) think I’m crazy, lol.” Kimberly Ann 
 
In 2016, Mary’ oldest graduated from an accredited distance high school with a 3.89 GPA. Her youngest skipped 5th grade and went directly into working on 6th-grade work. The ability to cater each child’s education to their specific needs is what has helped each become the independent and scholastically advanced child they became. 
 
If you are already homeschooling or considering homeschooling, From Stressed to Best is a great resource to have on your shelf. It is full of factual statistics and personal stories to make it real.