t’s relatively easy to spot a kid who’s struggling with anxiety — chewed fingernails, shifty gaze, upset stomach, forgetfulness, irritability, or trouble sleeping. But, a lot of times it’s just below the surface and manifests itself in different ways that aren’t as recognizable.
Frankly, anxiety is a part of everyday life. We all get anxious because there’s plenty to be anxious about. It’s a natural response to circumstances out of our control.
It’s not all bad — healthy anxiety helps us take necessary precautions, and it helps us be on our toes. Anxiety drives a lot of our behavior, actually, and learning how to cope with it and manage it is an essential life skill. However, it’s not always productive, and without recognizing it or managing it, we can do unintended damage.