Help with Anxiety

Anxiety is a feeling of worry or fear that is experienced as a combination of physical sensations, thoughts and feelings. All children and young people feel worried sometimes, and this is a normal part of growing up. At certain points, such as on their first day of school or before an exam, young people may become more worried, but will soon be able to calm down and feel better.

Anxiety can become a problem when a young person feels stuck in it, or when it feels like an overwhelming, distressing or unmanageable experience. If this kind of worrying goes on for a long time, it can leave a young person feeling exhausted and isolated, and limit the things they feel able to do.

If your child is struggling with anxiety, there are things you can do to help them – including providing emotional support, working on practical strategies together and finding the right professional help if they need it.

A young person may feel anxious for a number of different reasons, depending on the individual. If your child is feeling unmanageable amounts of worry and fear, this is often a sign that something in their life isn’t right and they need support to work out what the problem is.

You can help to support your child by:

  • Breathe slowly and deeply together
  • Sit with them and offer calm physical reassurance
  • Try using all five senses together
  • Reassure them that the anxiety will pass
  • Encourage them to do something that helps them feel calmer

You can speak with your GP if your child is struggling with anxiety.  They may refer your child to additional support such as Kooth, I-Thrive or Bolton CAMHS. If you would like some support yourself you can access online counselling and self-help support via www.qwell.io or Bolton’s Parent/Carer Peer Support Programme https://bolton-together.org.uk/parent-peer-support-programme-referral-form/

 

Bob_Sat_Down

Articles & Guides

Parent A-Z Guide

Help for parents/carers to support their child with their anxiety

Getting Help for your child

Getting Help for your child

Make a worry box

Tips for parents on how to make a worry box to help them support their child

Video

Stress and Anxiety in a person’s life

Understanding how stress and anxiety can build up in a person’s life

Understanding anxiety

Oxford Health have produced a series of self-help videos about anxiety for parents and carers

How parents can help with their child’s anxiety

A self-help video by Oxford Health about how parents can help if their child has anxiety

Downloads

Produced by Bolton’s Educational Psychology Service and Bolton CAMHS to support parents and carers in helping their children when they are feeling anxious, nervous or worried

Approved apps for your child to access to support their mental health

Anna Freud have developed a guide which details 7 ways in which you can support children and young people who are worried

Bounceback is a 6 week programme to support you to bounce back to give your familys wellbeing a boost.

Local information about services available to support your own mental health

Local information about services available to support your child’s mental health