By Krystle J Bailey
“Mommy, there’s a shark in the pool!” cried seven-year-old Lydia Dice, co-author of a new book about childhood anxiety.
“We knew we had a challenge when she said she couldn’t get in the pool because she was truly worried about being bit by a shark,” explains Lydia’s mother, Anne of Egg Harbor Township.
The mother-daughter duo chronicles their experiences with severe adolescent anxiety and their journey to healing through faith and love. The new book, appropriately titled Mommy, There’s a Shark in the Pool, is set to be released on August 11, 2023.
Anne, a retired teacher, went on a mission to help her daughter navigate the life-altering anxiety and the irrational thoughts she was having at a young age. When seven-year-old Lydia expressed that she knew there wasn’t a shark in the pool, but her brain was telling her that there was, Anne headed to a workshop in Massachusetts to equip herself with the tools she knew her daughter would need. Combined with their Christian faith, Anne used Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Exposure Therapy to help Lydia retrain her brain and find peace in her life in the face of nearly debilitating anxiety.
Throughout the book, Anne tells the stories of Lydia’s childhood along with scripture, tools, and resources for other families to prayerfully consider. Following each story, Lydia, who is now 25 years old, offers her unique point of view and perspective.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, often referred to as CBT, was a key component of Lydia’s mental health healing. First, Lydia and Anne changed “CBT” to represent the words “Change Bad Thoughts. Being led by their Christian faith, it ultimately came to mean “Christ Broke Through.”
“The Bible tells us to take every thought captive and line it up with the truth,” explains Anne. “That’s the same thing as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, but with faith.”
With the help of her spirituality and the tools that Anne carefully researched, Lydia began to find an easier way to live her day-to-day. She began attending Atlantic Christian School at her own request, indicating that she needed to be able to pray throughout her day at a young age. Lydia has gone on to graduate college from Lancaster Bible College and works as a teacher in Lancaster, PA.
“She still has those thoughts,” explains Anne about her daughter. “She just now has the tools to handle them when they come up.”
A portion of the proceeds from Mommy, There’s a Shark in the Pool will be donated to two ministries that are meaningful to the Dice family. Building Up, Inc empowers the community of the Dominican Republic with education, income generation opportunities, and the Gospel. Project GIRL, led by Joyce Meyer, is a ministry that exists for every girl who has been mistreated, marginalized, or feels insecure by showing them their limitless potential through faith-based activities.
The highly anticipated book will be available on Amazon on August 11, 2023. Learn more about Anne and Lydia by following them on Instagram at sharkinthepoolbook.
Krystle J Bailey is a published author, multimedia journalist, copywriter, and content creator. She is a regular Shore Local columnist and digital contributor as well as the booking agent and co-host of the radio show Joe’s Table for Two on WOND. Krystle can be reached at KrystleJBailey@gmail.com
