True or False : Anxiety Trivia
True or False: "Anxiety can make my heart beat faster.
True! Anxiety activates the body’s “fight or flight” system, which can make your heart race.
You're going to a new activity center for a friend's birthday party. You anxious thought says...
"What if I don't know how to do any of the activities?"
How can you reframe or rethink this situation?
"I'll probably know how to do at least one of the activities"
"I won't be the only one who isn't sure how to do something"
"I'll think of this as a new adventure!"
I'm starting tennis practice at a new tennis center and I'm meeting the new coach. My anxious thoughts say...
"What if they are really mean? What if they are too tough?"
How can you reframe or rethink this situation?
"I haven't even met them yet. I just jumping to conclusions."
"Maybe the coach's style is tough love. I can handle that."
You feel a weird pain in your chest. Your anxious thoughts say, 'What if it’s something serious? What if I have a heart problem?'
How can you reframe or rethink this situation?"
"I’ve had this feeling before, and it went away. It could just be muscle tension or something harmless. My body is strong."
What 2 things can you never eat for breakfast?
Lunch and dinner
True or False: If I ignore situations that make me have anxiety, it will just go away.
False! Ignoring anxiety can actually make it stronger. Facing it helps it shrink.
You're family is going skiing on vacation and you've never done it before. You anxious thought says...
"What if I'm really bad at skiing and people laugh at me?"
How can you reframe or rethink this situation?
"Most people will be more concerned with how they are doing than watching me"
"I'll never know how good I'll be until I try."
"If people do laugh, they are just strangers that I'll probably never see again."
It's the first day of the new school year. I don't have any friends in my class. My anxious thought says...
"What if I'm stuck in a class with a bully?"
How can you reframe or rethink this situation?
"This is just a chance to make new friends."
"I don't know if there will be bullies in my class or not. But I do know how to take care of myself."
Your stomach feels weird.
Your anxious thoughts say, 'What if I throw up? What if I’m really sick?'
How can you reframe or rethink this situation?"
"Sometimes stomachaches happen because of nerves, not sickness. I can take deep breaths, drink some water, and see if I start to feel better."
What has hands but doesn't clap?
A clock
True or False: Worrying about something can help prevent bad things from happening."
False! Worrying doesn’t actually stop bad things—it just makes us feel more stressed.
My mom is making me try a new sport. My anxious thought says...
"I know I'm going to be terrible. I'll probably get cut from the team right away."
How can you reframe or rethink this situation?
"Even if I'm not great at it, I'll practice and get better over time."
"I don't have to be great at everything."
"Coaches don't generally cut people after the first day
I'm trying out a new summer camp and none of my friends are going. My anxious thought says...
"I don't know anyone. I'll be all alone."
How can you reframe or rethink this situation?
"I'll probably make some new friends."
"I can practice making new friends."
You have a headache. Your anxious thoughts say, 'What if something is really wrong with my brain?'
How can you reframe or rethink this situation?
"Headaches are super common and usually from things like being tired, thirsty, or stressed. I can rest and see if it gets better."
What has many keys but can't open doors?
True or False: "Feeling anxious means something bad is definitely going to happen."
False! Anxiety makes our brains imagine worst-case scenarios, but that doesn’t mean they will come true.
My family is going out to dinner to a new restaurant. My anxious thought says...
"What if there are too many options? What if I don't like anything on the menu?
How can you reframe or rethink this situation?
"On a scale of 1-10, how bad is this situation really?"
"Even if I don't like anything, it's just one meal."
"I bet they have a kids menu with chicken fingers or a cheeseburger."
My parents are taking me to a party with new friends. I haven't met them before. My anxious thought says...
"What if I make a bad impression?"
How can you reframe or rethink this question?
"It's just one party. I can handle one party."
"I have generally been good at making friends in the past."
You scrape your knee. Your anxious thoughts say,
"What if it gets infected? What if it never heals?"
How can you reframe or rethink this situation?
"My body knows how to heal cuts. I can clean it, put a Band-Aid on it, and trust my body to do its job."
Where does Friday come before Thursday?
The dictionary
True or False: If I feel anxious, it means I’m in danger."
False! Anxiety is sometimes like a false alarm. Just because we feel anxious doesn’t mean something bad is happening.
My friend invited me to a sleepover birthday party and I've never slept away from my parents before. My anxious thought says...
"What if I can't fall asleep? What if I have bad dreams?"
How can you reframe or rethink this situation?
"I can always ask to call my parents if I'm nervous."
"It's a party. I'll probably be tired enough to sleep."
"Even if I can't sleep, I won't be alone. I'll be in a room with all of my friends."
My teacher has gone out on maternity leave. The school hired a new teacher to take her place. My anxious thought says...
"What if they are mean? What if they don't teach as clearly?"
How can you reframe or rethink this question?
"Maybe I'm jumping to conclusions."
"The worse case scenario doesn't happen very often."
"I'm smart and kind. The new teacher will like me."
Your throat feels dry. Your anxious thoughts say,
'What if my throat is closing up? What if I can’t breathe?'
How can you reframe or rethink this situation?
"A dry throat could mean I need water or I’ve been talking a lot. I can take a sip of water and see how I feel."
What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire?
Frostbite