Anxiety

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health difficulties in young people. In fact, more than half of girls and around a quarter of boys report struggling with it. Many avoid situations to cope e.g. school, social events or even leaving the house. Some turn to “social media DIY” for advice because they don’t know where else to go. And yet… anxiety is also a normal human emotion – yes, I know!

It helps before exams. It motivates us to practice before a performance. It keeps us safe. The problem is not anxiety itself. The problem is when it is triggered at times when we are safe and stays switched on for too long. When your child is exhausted, avoiding more and more, stuck in worry, or no longer living the life they want.

If your child is anxious and you’re wondering, “Is this normal… or is this something more?” – you’re not alone.

What Anxiety Can Look Like

Anxiety doesn’t always look dramatic. Often it looks like:

• Avoiding friends or withdrawing at home
• Refusing or struggling to attend school
• Perfectionism and fear of making mistakes
• Constant reassurance-seeking
• Irritability, tiredness or physical complaints
• Difficulty concentrating — “spaced out”
• Increased screen time as a coping strategy

For neurodivergent young people, anxiety can also show up as masking, shutdowns/meltdowns, an inability to tolerate uncertainty or burnout. What gets labelled as “high functioning” is often just them working incredibly hard to cope – often at an unsustainable level.

Different Types of Anxiety

There are several recognised anxiety disorders, including:

Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) – persistent, uncontrollable worry about many different things.

Social Anxiety – overwhelming fear of being judged, leading to avoidance of social or performance situations.

Health Anxiety – excessive fear of illness, body checking or repeated reassurance-seeking.

Specific Phobias – intense fear of a particular object or situation.

Panic Disorder – recurrent, sudden panic attacks and fear of them happening again.

How I Help

Thankfully, all of the above anxiety disorders are treatable. I use evidence-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – the treatment recommended by the NHS and NICE for anxiety.

CBT helps young people understand how their thoughts, feelings, body sensations and behaviours link together and how certain cycles can form to keep anxiety going. In CBT, we work together to break those cycles. Gradually, at the pace set by the young person.

I work in a fully young person-centred way. Their goals matter. Their voice matters. Parents are supported too — with clear, practical guidance so you know what to do (and what not to do).

Anxiety can shrink a young person’s world. With the right support, it can expand again.