Anxiety in children and young people

Things like exams, leaving school, job interviews or even changes at home can make you feel anxious. It’s a normal biological reaction.

Signs of anxiety include feeling fearful, finding it hard to concentrate or make decisions, being restless or edgy, or even going to the loo a lot.

You might even find it hard to sleep, eat or concentrate for a little while, but the worries should stop.

For some people, anxiety doesn’t go away so easily. They might experience panic attacks or feel that they’re worrying all the time about everything.

Talk to a trusted adult who can help you to get the right support if your anxiety feels overwhelming. This could be anyone, such as:

A parent, carer, or someone else in your family
A teacher or a member of staff at your school like a school nurse or school counsellor
A sports coach or youth worker
A doctor

All of the above – many of the tips on this page for dealing with anger and stress will also help you to manage your anxiety
Time to talk – talking to a trusted adult or a friend who is a good listener can really help. They might have had the same worries, or know of someone else who did
Read a self-help book – self-help books help a lot of people with their anxiety. Overcoming Anxiety by Helen Kennerley is a good one

Sometimes it’s easier to text someone to say how you’re feeling, even if they’re in the next room!

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