Anxiety

Anxiety is your body's response to stress.  It is a normal feeling that most of us experience at some level. Anxiety happens when we have a sense that we have lost control, over our our feelings, our bodies, our lives.  How can we manage this or gain back the feeling that I am in control....that "I've got this?...

As we work through stressful times, it is important to remember that self-care is an important component to feeling more centered. Whether you are a child or an adult, we need to set aside time for self-care.  You are important and you deserve this.  

Here are some ideas for self-care:

1. Take some time to exercise.  Get that heart rate up!  

2. Take some time to focus on favorite hobbies or activities like puzzles, sketching and drawing , cooking. journaling or listening to music.  

3. While it is important to keep up with current events, too much news watching may not be the best thing.  Take some time to read something more entertaining or light or fun.  Google-whisk yourself away!

4.  Try some mindful activities like yoga/stretching or meditation or taking some time as a family to share the things that you are grateful for.  Look around your home for the sights and smells and sounds that are most meaningful to you.  See our Mindfulness Activities section to the left for more ideas.

5.  Treat yourself to something special like a bubble bath or lotion (to keep your hands moisturized after that all-important hand-washing).

For those children, that the anxiety interferes with daily functions, coping skills are invaluable.  Playing games can also he useful to your children, as they help them to cope with uncertain outcomes.  

Here is a list of games that you can play at home:

• Pop the Pig – ages 4+

• Topple – ages 6+

• KerPlunk – ages 5+

• Operation – ages 5+

• Perfection – ages 5+

• Crocodile Dentist – ages 3+

• Uno Attack – ages 7+

• Jenga – ages 5+

• Don’t Spill the Beans – ages 3+

• Poppa’s Pizza Pile-Up – ages 3+

• Pie Face – ages 5+

• Shark Bite – ages 4+

• Don’t Break the Ice – ages 3+

• Don’t Take Buster’s Bones – ages 4+

• Buckaroo – ages 3+

• Pop Up Pirate – ages 3+

• Hot Potato – ages 3+

• Yeti in My Spaghetti – ages 4+

• Slapjack card game – ages 5+

• Bluff card game – ages 8+

• Toilet Trouble – ages 4+

• Musical Chairs – ages 3+