Send Lauren a text!

When your child struggles with anxiety, it’s natural to want to make the anxiety go away. But sometimes our efforts result in making anxiety bigger. In this episode, I'm talking about three common mistakes parents (and sometimes even therapists) make when trying to support children and teens. And most importantly, I'll tell you what you can do instead to help effectively reduce your child's anxiety.

And stay tuned till the end of this episode when I tell you What's Bringing Me More Zen. This week's segment is different than usual because I have actually not been feeling so zen lately. I'll tell you what I've been doing to manage during this difficult time.

1. Reassuring Too Much or Trying to “Fix” the Problem

It’s instinctive to want to ease your child’s worries with plenty of reassurance or by solving the problem right away. But too much reassurance can actually send the message that their fears are too big to manage on their own, which can reinforce anxiety. I'll tell you what you can do instead of overly reassuring or rescuing your child from their fear.

2. Avoiding the Things that Cause Anxiety

When a certain situation—like going to school, joining a sports team, or talking to people—causes your child anxiety, it might feel helpful to keep them away from those triggers. While avoiding these situations might bring relief in the short term, it often makes anxiety worse over time, reinforcing the idea that the fear is too overwhelming to face. I'll tell you how using exposure is the key to decreasing fear and teaching your child that they can handle uncomfortable feelings and uncertainty.

3. Dismissing or Minimizing Their Feelings

Sometimes, in an effort to help your child feel stronger, it’s tempting to say things like “There’s nothing to worry about,” or “You’re fine.” While these statements come from a place of love, they can leave your child feeling misunderstood or even ashamed of their feelings. I'll tell you how it's more helpful to validate emotions—letting your child know that it’s okay to feel what they’re feeling. When kids feel safe and understood, they’re more likely to open up and face their fears with support.

Finding the Right Balance

Helping your child with anxiety isn’t about making the fear disappear; it’s about supporting them in facing their feelings a little at a time. By validating their emotions, encouraging small steps, and being a steady source of support, you can help them build confidence and resilience. This will make a big difference in helping your child thrive!

I'd love to hear from YOU! Send me a question and I might answer it in an upcoming solo episode. Here's how to connect with me:

For information on Lauren's counseling services for kids, teens and families check out: https://www.laurencounseling.com/

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourzenfriend

Email me at: YourZenFriendPod@gmail.com

Find me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/yourzenfriendpod/

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review!

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This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health.

Send Lauren a text!

In this episode, I’m talking about how anxiety often looks confusing in tweens and teens—sometimes appearing as irrational fears or even "bad behavior." Many parents question whether their child’s reactions are actually anxiety or just acting out. Using real stories and examples, I show why these fears may not make sense but are still very real.

Sometimes a kid's fear seems to make no sense. I'll tell you a story of a tween who was only slightly nervous while performing on stage but felt too afraid to buy school lunch. I'll share some of the steps that helped this boy to challenge his fear.

I will encourage you, as a parent, to approach moments like these with compassion. In these anxious moments your kid is not intentionally trying to blow up your day, even though it sometimes feels like it! And I also urge you to have compassion for yourself as well. Parenting a tween or teen with anxiety is challenging, and offering yourself some grace is super important!

And stay tuned for What’s Bringing Me More Zen. Here’s a hint: lately, I’ve been crafting... wait for it... for the holidays! Yes, it’s totally unlike me to be this far ahead of the season. I’ll share what I’ve been working on—and actually finishing!

Mentioned on this episode:
Check out Episode #98: Anxiety Symptoms in Kids and Teens That Might Surprise You. Link in the show notes.

https://www.woolandthegang.com/en/products/can-you-feel-it-cushion?taxon_id=3&_gl=1*1vwhiwu*_up*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjwj4K5BhDYARIsAD1Ly2pAad-drz5ocgSnfpRKSihPbmjmc649-wOOCX44TY8JR5VexOARzVUaAnnVEALw_wcB

I'd love to hear from YOU! Send me a question and I might answer it in an upcoming solo episode. Here's how to connect with me:

For information on Lauren's counseling services for kids, teens and families check out: https://www.laurencounseling.com/

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourzenfriend

Email me at: YourZenFriendPod@gmail.com

Find me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/yourzenfriendpod/

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review!

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health.