Anxiety is a feeling of unease we experience when faced with moments of stress, worry or fear. A situation may arise that we find stressful or have some apprehension about; our brains begin assessing the risks. This activates the ‘fight, flight and freeze’ response in our brains, which promotes the release of cortisone giving us that tingly, butterfly feeling in our bodies.
We can also experience a similar feeling during moments of excitement. It is normal to have such feelings, particularly when starting a new school, moving house, changes in friendship groups, and family relationships. These feelings can be made more prevalent during hormonal changes and puberty.
When the feeling of anxiousness begins to affect how you behave and how you think every day, and begins to interfere with school, home and your social life.
If you noticed changes that make you think your friend or child might be experiencing anxiety, it is important to talk to them about their feelings and worries. This is not always easy, and many young people find it uncomfortable and do not know where to start. However, giving the young person the space to talk and offering a loving ear is an important beginning.
There may be a time when, as the listening ear, you become aware that you may need to seek some support. This would be when:
At The Levett School, we would always encourage you to speak to a member of staff, who have already noticed some changes. This could be class teacher, key worker or Safeguarding team. By knowing your experience of the issues, we can make an informed decision in signposting to the most relevant support. We can also discuss what we can offer in terms of in-school support; this may be Mindfulness sessions, Friendship Groups, Mentoring and other tailored interventions. We are student centre and hope to provide the most conducive environment for all our students, where ever they find themselves, to enable them to flourish.
We would also encourage you to visit the family GP. It is important to acknowledge that a young person may feel more comfortable talking about their problem with their GP on their own, and this could be an important beginning to moving forward. They could conversely find it difficult speaking to their GP, and so it may be helpful to go to the appointment with a letter or list they can put together beforehand, describing what they are experiencing. Seeking any help is a massive step, and needs to be welcomed with openness, acceptance and understanding.
Be Calm: Proven Techniques’ – this book dives into the science behind anxiety and your emotions
‘Retrain Your Brain: Cognitive Therapy’ – this book is an introduction into CBT and techniques to practise and use.
‘10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice’ – this book teachers the art of meditation for sceptics to practise inner peace.
Dare: The New Way to End Anxiety’ – this book advocates facing your fears, anxieties, worries and stress.
‘How to be Yourself’ – another CBT book that helps with social fears
‘Don’t Feed the Monkey Mind’ – this book focuses on understanding how our brains work and to look at how we can rewire our brains to manage anxiety in a different way.
