Once I Was Very Very Scared

故事從一隻小松鼠勇敢承認自己「曾經非常非常害怕」開始，牠驚訝地發現原來自己並不孤單。故事中的每隻小動物都曾經歷過嚇人的事件，但牠們面對壓力的反應截然不同：小烏龜選擇躲起來並肚子痛（僵直反應 Freeze/Flop）、小猴子變得極度黏人、小狗瘋狂大叫（戰鬥反應 Fight），而大象則不願意開口提起。這本繪本透過溫柔的筆觸，向孩子與大人展現了受驚嚇後的各種自然壓力生理反應，並藉由故事中富有愛心的豪豬先生與其他大人的引導，讓動物們重新找到安全感，並學習如何應對巨大的情緒。這是許多國際兒童心理健康與 perinatal 醫療機構高度推薦的心理療癒繪本。

Support your child in talking about their fears
Squirrel bravely announces that he was once very, very scared. To his surprise, he finds that he's not alone. The other animals have also experienced frightening situations, each responding in their own unique way. With the help of a caring porcupine as well as other adults in their lives, they learn to cope with their emotions and find safety and comfort. Through supportive guidance, they discover that their reactions are understandable and learn ways to work through their fear.

This story was designed to help readers understand common PTSD symptoms in a child friendly way. As you read the story, you may notice that the animals show common reactions to stress including fight, flight, freeze, flop, and friend.

Here are some of the ways that the animals react when scared:

*Turtle hides and develops a tummy ache.
*Monkey clings tightly to others.
*Dog barks and growls.
*Elephant avoids talking about it.
*Rabbit can't concentrate and tries to run away.

Key Themes:

*Understanding and managing fear
*Common PTSD reactions
*Emotional resilience
*Importance of supportive relationships

Who Is This Book For?

*Parents: Use this book to help your child understand and express their fears.
*Teachers: A valuable tool for discussing emotions and stress in the classroom.
*Therapists: Perfect for helping young children and parents talk about and manage their feelings. Especially useful for those with difficult histories, including histories of trauma.
*Adults: Essential for anyone involved in the emotional development of children and helpful in supporting your own inner child.