What does anxiety look like?
One of the most common things people with anxiety experience...
Lots of worry.
Worry Balloon
You imagine yourself attaching a worry to it, and you let it go and imagine it going into the sky!
Count within 10, forwards or backwards
1, 2, 3...
10, 9, 8...
What is something that causes you to feel anxious or worried?
__________.
What part of the body BEATS fast when someone is worried?
Heart
Deep Breathing
Slow and controlled breaths. Breathe in through your nose and breathe out through your mouth.
Deep Breathing
Inhale, Exhale
What is one thing that someone else might do that can make your anxiety worse?
______.
How might someone look if they are feeling worried?
Quiet, downward eye contact or wide eyes, mouth closed tightly, breathing might slow down.
What is one thing that helps YOU feel calm?
_________.
Stretch
Choose the parts of your body that feel the most tense.
What is an anxiety trigger?
Something that can happen to make our anxiety happen or grow bigger
If someone is anxious at school, would it be harder to focus on class OR play with friends?
Difficulty concentrating or staying focused, but maybe both.
Which helps you feel more calm? Reading, music, tv or talking with a trusted friend/adult?
Great!
Muscle Relaxation
Squeeze and release.
True or False: Avoiding triggers to my anxiety helps me.
False. By avoiding triggers, it allows the anxiety to grow into other areas and then you end up trying to avoid everything. Avoiding does not fix or help you decrease the anxiety it just makes it better, temporarily, in the moment, but then it comes back.
How does your body feel when you feel anxious?
___________.
Visualize
close your eyes and imagine a peaceful place.
Which of these strategies do you think will be most helpful for YOU?
__________.
How do you communicate your triggers to others so they can be aware?
________.