Resources to help manage your anxiety
Anxiety is a feeling that everybody experiences. It is thought to have played a big part in our survival and evolution, and still protects us today. Sometimes, though, anxiety becomes too big or overwhelming.
You may notice that your child/young person is experiencing worrying thoughts that are hard to get rid of, and these may trigger physical changes in their body such as a racing heart or ‘butterflies’ in the tummy. With younger children this can present as tummy ache and feeling unwell and changes in behaviour, including angry outbursts.
Worrying thoughts and feelings are generally thought of as unpleasant, so children/young people will tend to avoid them or try to get rid of them. They might do this by stopping doing the things that make them feel worried (e.g. stop going to school or meeting with friends). This can work in the short term, but in the long term this avoidance only makes the anxiety stronger.
Supporting your child/young person to not sweat the small stuff.
It is impossible to get rid of anxiety, and it would be unhelpful to do that anyway. But if you want to learn more about anxiety, and find ways to support your child/young person so that the anxiety does not get in the way of what’s important in their life, then take a look at the following resources:
- Book a place on a parent carer workshop focusing on supporting young people with anxiety or watch a pre-recorded parent carer workshop focussing on supporting young people with anxiety: Supporting our Young People with Anxiety - YouTube (for parents of young people 12 and over) or Supporting your child to manage their big feelings - YouTube (for parents of young people 11 and under)
- For people aged 12+ watch a recorded workshop on Anxiety: Anxiety Workshop - Part 1 - YouTube and Anxiety Workshop Part 2 - YouTube
- Download our anxiety self-help guide: anxiety self-help guide
- Visit the YoungMinds website which is a mental health charity for children and young people in the UK. Visit: Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders | Signs and symptoms | YoungMinds for information on anxiety for young people and families.
- Call the YoungMinds parent helpline on 0808 802 5544 (9am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday)
- Download the Clear Fear app (free) to help children and young people manage symptoms of anxiety using a guided cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approach. https://www.clearfear.co.uk/
- Download the Headspace App which includes guided exercises for mindfulness, meditation, relaxation and sleep. Please find free Headspace videos on Netflix and Youtube