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:
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/
Understanding how stress and anxiety can build up in a person’s life
Oxford Health have produced a series of self-help videos about anxiety for parents and carers
A self-help video by Oxford Health about how parents can help if their child has anxiety
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
Local information about services available to support your own mental health
Local information about services available to support your child’s 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.
