Battling Anxiety When It Feels Like the World Is Ending
If you've ever dealt with anxiety, you know how real it is. Conversations can often be heard in our world today about how the "world is ending" and indeed it does seem to get crazier and crazier. When these conversations fall on little ears it can be particularly troublesome.
Anxiety runs ramped in my family and unfortunately I've passed those genes on to my children. My 11-year-old daughter is particularly anxious these days with all of the sudden changes and troublesome talks.
Often times anxiety can be completely irrational. She is terrified we are going to have a tornado here in Idaho, even though we've never had one here that I can find that has resulted in death or any significant damage. It doesn't matter how I try to rationalize with her, the anxiety is still there. If you deal with anxiety, you know how difficult it can be to combat.
I've tried to normalize things like "going to therapy" and "taking anti-depressants" but my children still feel very different from their peers if they partake in these things. I'm left trying to say the right words and do the right things and often times as a parent I feel lost in trying to comfort their fears.
Moug's fiancé's Staci is getting her doctorate in psychology and she shared this book with me that I'm excited to dive into. It contains coping skills to combat anxiety for teens and young adults (I've heard there is a younger kids version as well).
If you have kids who are struggling with anxiety during this unprecedented time or if you yourself are struggling, talk about it, discover coping skills, and don't be ashamed if you have to take medication to feel better. Often times, succumbing to therapy or taking a little pill can help you be the best version you can be, and that makes it all worth it.
Here are some tips for self-care during the pandemic:
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