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Unhelpful thinking patterns
Why Anxious Thoughts Feel So Convincing
Why Anxious Thoughts Feel So Convincing
Anxiety often shows up as unhelpful thinking:
“What if something bad happens?”
“They won’t like me.”
“I’ll get it wrong.”
Children don’t choose these thoughts. Anxiety presents them as facts.
Arguing with anxious thoughts can sometimes strengthen them.
What Helps Instead
What Helps Instead
Rather than debating whether a thought is true, it’s often better to:
Name it
Create a little distance from it
Refocus on coping rather than certainty
Parent Tip
Parent Tip
Try saying:
“That sounds like a worry thought, not a fact.”
Then follow with:
“What could help you if that feeling shows up?”
This shifts the focus from getting rid of worry to coping with it.
The resource below is really good in helping children understand the types of thinking patterns
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