Cycle of Anxiety

The Cycle of Anxiety: a cognitive behavioral approach

We will be educating our students on The Cycle of Anxiety, which we adapted from Dr. Donna Pincus' book "Growing Up Brave." This Cycle of Anxiety helps students identify What I Think, What I Feel, and What I Do when we are anxious. The arrows connecting these components go both ways, showing that our thoughts, feelings, and actions can flow in any direction, and there is no one starting point for everyone. Students will also learn that the cycle, "feeds on itself," and they will recognize how their cycle will continue unless they have a strategy to interrupt it. In our lessons with students, we will have them fill out their own Cycle of Anxiety, identify for them which component comes first and the direction it flows, and help them identify how to interrupt their cycle at each step. When they have finished their worksheet, we encourage them to take it home an share with parents as a resource. This can also be a great way to start a conversation on why their anxiety is starting, and look into the deeper root of the problem. If we help our kids look inwards and identify some of these big things, it is an important skill and development for their self identity and control. We encourage parents to explore their own Cycle of Anxiety and be vulnerable with their kids. This process can be validating for children, and help build trust and security between parent and child.