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Anxious thoughts are a common problem for parents and children alike - arising from school, work, relationships and uncertainty about the future.

When these thoughts become frequent fixtures in the mind, they can lead to unhelpful coping mechanisms - like avoiding worrying situations, having tantrums and changing eating habits. If these thoughts take over they can even lead to depression.

So, how do you tackle these anxious thoughts as they appear? How do you help your child to do the same? Answering back to your anxious thoughts is one way to stop them from gaining a foothold. Dr Anna Colton shows you how…

Dr Anna's technique

• When we feel anxious, it's because a certain thought has come into our head, telling us there is danger.
• It doesn't have to be immediate, life-threatening danger, but our brain can respond as if it is.
• Identify the anxious thought.
• Come up with as many 'challenges' as you can to contradict that thought.
• For example, if the thought says, "I can't cope", you might say, "I've been through many difficult situations before and come through it all!"
• Write these down, or add them to your phone notes, so they're at hand when you need them.

Try this technique yourself, or, if your child is struggling with anxiety, you could talk them through it step-by-step.

For more ways to tackle anxiety, take a look at the Parents' Toolkit collection.

����ý Action Line has further information and support around mental health for young people and adults

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