Activity: Help teenagers challenge anxious thoughts

This activity makes it easier to review and release anxious feelings. The aim of the activity is to look at negative thoughts more objectively. It’s a good activity for teenagers to try alone, or you can do it together.

Either way, it’s useful to learn about the link between thoughts and feelings first if you can.

Whenever your child feels anxious, get them to think through these questions:

• How do I know whether the thoughts I’m having are true or not?
• When have I felt this way before? What was the outcome?
• What’s the worst that could happen this time? How would I handle it? Would I be OK?
• How much of my judgement is based on facts, and how much on feelings?

Encourage your child to take a step back from their own thoughts and try to answer the questions from an ‘outside’ perspective. It can help to write out the answers to these questions.

We also have some more advice on how to support your child or teen if they are experiencing anxious feelings.