What to Do When You Worry Too Much

Has this happened to you? Many children and grown ups experience worry. Grown ups sometimes call worries anxiety or stress. People who worry a lot are said to be nervous or anxious. Have you heard these words before? Whatever we call it, a worry is a thought that upsets us and makes us feel bad inside.

A worry can be a specific thought that makes you feel scared, like getting a FLUTTERY sick feeling in your stomach, even though you aren't quite sure what is upsetting you.

Everyone feels worried sometimes. It's normal to feel worried like before a doctor appointment, or a spelling test, or a new babysitter or meeting a new teacher, or walking into a dark room with no lights on.

Lots of worries don't make sense like worries about monsters, which really don't exist. Or worries about no one liking you, when you know kids play with you everyday.

Whether or not a worry makes sense to other people, it sure seems real to a person who is feeling it, and isn't it nice when a hug or some reassurance makes the worry go away?

But some worries don't go away, and some worries get stuck, even if mom or dad are always there. If you have worries that other people don't understand start making your worries go away.

Things to try to get the worries unstuck.

Keep a journal: write or draw what is worrying you. Use this as a starting point: I felt____________when this happened. I want to feel____________now, so here are two things I will do:

1.__________________________

2.__________________________

Always ask for help and try to talk to someone you trust.