How to manage Anxiety Lauren Kliest, Master’s Candidate, MSW Tania Forero, Master’s Candidate, MSW

Grounding Look around you Identify and name 5 things you see 4 things you feel 3 things you hear 2 things you smell 1 thing you taste Competing thoughts Multi tasking Relate it to how start support groups Settling into your seat, Why is mindfulness important? Sit in whatever form feels most comfortable, phones away. Speak in your thoughts Language barriers? Accomodation for disabilities? Kids? Debrief- among audience with person next to you, dyads.

Cycle of Anxiety

Things We’ve Heard that don’t help wait for them to grow out of it Pressuring to just “relax” Invalidating the anxiety Assume the problem will go away It’s not a stage your teen is going through What I’ve heard kids say What we think helps is actually causing harm Interruption

Things We’ve Heard that do help Seek guidance Identify what causes anxiety Find healthy coping skills Put your phone down Exercise

Coping strategies Take a time out Eat well balanced meals Exercise Keep a journal Join a support group Get involved- volunteer, stay busy Talk to someone Learn what triggers your anxiety Keep a journal, draw, start a hobby,

Student examples Role play Art therapy Positive affirmations

Community resources Santa clarita valley youth project School counselor/social worker Child & family center- offers mental health treatment in SCV Parents and friends of lesbians and gays (PFLAG)- support groups, workshops, and counseling