Topic – Anxiety

Anxiety

It’s the day before a test at school. You’ve studied, but you feel afraid that you won’t remember what you’ve studied. You’re worried that the test might be really hard. Thinking about the test makes your stomach feel upset. What’s happening? You are feeling anxiety (say it like this: ang-zy-uh-tee).

Everyone feels anxiety sometimes. Anxiety often happens when an event is coming up and you’re not sure how it will turn out. Anxiety affects your emotions, making you worry and feel fearful. But anxiety can also affect your body. It can cause upset stomach, give you a headache, or make it difficult to fall asleep at night. If you have lots of anxiety, you might find that you are breathing faster than normal.

Tips for Dealing with Anxiety

• Do what you can to prepare for an event that might make you feel anxiety. Study for a test. Make sure you know your lines for the school play. If you know you have done everything you can to prepare for the event, you will probably have less anxiety about it.

• Stop imagining the worst outcomes. An outcome is how a situation turns out. Sometimes, people keep imagining that a situation will turn out very badly. What if I don’t know the answers to any questions on the test? What if I get onstage and forget all my lines in the play? Thoughts like these make anxiety worse. Imagine yourself doing okay in the situation.

• Take action to make yourself feel calmer. Being physically active can help make you feel calmer. Taking three or four breaths, breathing in and out slowly, can also help you feel more calm. Discover ways of calming down that work for you.

• Talk about your feelings. Just talking with someone about how you are feeling can help you feel better. Share your feelings with someone you trust, such as a parent or other adult at home, a teacher, or a good friend.

Now, show what you know!

Complete some questions about the reading selection by clicking “Begin Questions” below.

Brain Stretch: Do an Internet search using the search terms “relaxation techniques for kids.” Over time, try a few of these techniques. List the techniques that work best for you.