Dr. Krista Kiiffner, C. Psych. Supervising Psychologist, CDSBEO Don’t Fear Anxiety Dr. Krista Kiiffner, C. Psych. Supervising Psychologist, CDSBEO

“ Knowledge is power” Eleanor Roosevelt

What is Anxiety “It is fear in the absence of no danger” Anxiety is a normal emotional state that we all experience at various times in our lives (e.g., when faced with a difficult situation). Anxiety is usually associated with fear about future events.

Anxiety is… “.. a State of being uneasy, apprehensive or worried about what may happen; concern about a possible future event.” (Webster’s Dictionary)

Anxiety Equation Threat/Fear Ability to Cope

Common Factors in Anxiety Disorders Themes: Danger and Threat Self as vulnerable and weak Thoughts: Catastrophic Thinking and Imagery Behaviour: Avoidance Safety Behaviours Give example of my phobia of spiders, imagery and safety behaviours (swiffer)

Common Pitfalls BIG BAD WORRY Reassurance (asking repetitive questions regarding certainty and comfort) Accommodation Content Trap (focus on specific event vs. common pattern) BIG BAD WORRY

Change is possible-

How Anxiety Presents Physiological (arousal, fight-flight- freeze) Cognitive (cognitive distortions, negative self-talk, rumination) Behavioural (avoidance, reassurance seeking, anticipation)

Manage and Tolerate Anxiety What Anxiety wants…. Certainty (know everything all of the time) Comfort (feel comfortable all of the time) When you change what anxiety wants = Worry gets bossy!

Teaching Anxiety Management 3 E’s of Anxiety Expect/Educate/Empower Externalize/Empathize Experiment/Expose Group discussion on ways to increase bravery and bridge. Bravery journal- Bridge- of their past successes Flexibility- write on a wall

Expect Anxiety The Times When Kids Often Worry Trying something new Unsure about plans Lots of “what if” questions Performance Something scary happens

Normalizing Anxiety and Expecting Worry to Show Up Talk about the routine times when anxiety shows up Look for opportunities to point out when someone is successful at doing something, but also acknowledge nervousness in the process (e.g., athletes, teachers, actors) Being surprised by something normal and expected doesn’t make much sense

Educate Alarm System If you tell yourself there is a threat, even though there is no threat = your body and mind sound the alarm

Externalize Anxiety Personify worry an as object outside of yourself. Attribute purpose and motivation of anxiety (e.g., it lies, and catastrophes so you avoid) Perceive yourself as in a relationship with anxiety. Learn to hear and talk back to worry.

Worry Bug

Talking Back To Anxiety

Experiment/Exposure We learn by doing Move children towards uncertainty Gotta Get a Want-To (Find a goal that is truly important to the child) Talk down the Alarm system Problem solving

Problem Solving

Do the Opposite of GCPs Global Thinking = Break it down Catastrophic = Problem Solve Permanent = Temporary

The 4 Bs Body (calm down the amygdala) Brain (talking back to anxiety, problem solving) Bravery (be wiling to feel unsure and uncomfortable and step into the unknown) Bridge (bridge back to success to counter amnesia)