If you’re struggling to conquer anxiety as a teen, don’t fret! Coping skills can help ease your anxiety. Here are five coping skills for teens with anxiety:
1) Deep Breathing
2) Exercise
3) Anxiety Screeching Circle
4) Positive Self-Talk
5) Mindfulness Meditation
In this blog post, you will learn the importance of these 5 coping skills for teens with anxiety and how they can help. Let’s get started.
Coping Skills for Teens with Anxiety #1 – Deep Breathing
Taking deep breaths is a great way to calm down when you’re feeling overwhelmed. This is a relaxation technique that will help reduce anxiety and keep your thoughts in check. Try this the next time you feel anxious: close your eyes, breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth, think about something calming (like the beach or a waterfall), and count to eight slowly. Make sure you focus on your breathing.
Coping Skills for Teens with Anxiety #2 – Exercise
Exercise is an excellent way to manage anxiety! It will help release feel-good chemicals in the brain and boost your mood ( 1 ). Another benefit of exercise is that it can lower stress ( 2 ). Exercise doesn’t have to be a vigorous workout – even just taking a 30-minute walk every day can make a huge difference in how you feel.
Coping Skills for Teens with Anxiety #3 – Anxiety Screeching Circle
Anxiety Screeching Circle is a fun, low-key way of coping with anxiety. In this exercise, all you’ll need is a sheet of paper and a pen. Start off by writing out as many different feelings and thoughts that come to mind about anxiety on your sheet of paper. Then put down statements that describe what you think are the best ways to cope with your anxiety by writing in response to each one. It’s almost like giving advice for yourself since it’s my belief the most helpful answers are the ones inside of you. For instance, you might write: “I can really get fired up when I start to feel anxious.” You might also write: “Beating anxiety down is hard, but I can do it; I will find a way to cope with it.” (See Coping Skills for Teens with Anxiety #1 – Deep Breathing).
Coping Skills for Teens with Anxiety #4 – Positive Self-Talk
Positive self-talk is one of the best coping skills for teens with anxiety. This exercise can decrease anxiety and help you feel better. Write down your thoughts about anxiety on a piece of paper. Then, read through it and pick out negative thoughts that give you stress or make you feel uncomfortable. Then replace them with positive statements that will boost your self-esteem, reduce your anxiety, and make you feel great! (See Coping Skills for Teens with Anxiety #2 – Exercise).
Coping Skills for Teens with Anxiety #5 – Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness meditation is a relaxing way to help manage anxiety. During this exercise, you will focus on breathing and relaxing for 2-5 minutes (3). You can find a guide on how to meditate here: https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/how-to-meditate . Just make sure to take your time and do it the way you feel comfortable.
References
1) http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/stress-relief-benefits-of-exercise
2) http://eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-03/uupo-ijd032717.php
Additional effective strategies for teen anxiety is individual counseling as well as teen support groups. To find more teen support group, search for teen support groups near me or contact Christian Hill directly at information below.
For more support and help contact Christian Hill with Alpine Connection Counseling to get specific help with teen anxiety and counseling.
Christian Hill, MA, LPC
719-233-8336 (TEEN)
www.alpineconnectioncounseling.com
