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Home | Our services | CAMHS | Parents and carers | Dealing with anxiety
Managing your wellbeing
Tips to help you cope during the COVID-19 outbreak
Managing your wellbeing
Tips to help you cope during the COVID-19 outbreak
Managing your wellbeing
Tips to help you cope during the COVID-19 outbreak
Managing your wellbeing
Tips to help you cope during the COVID-19 outbreak
The COVID-19 Pandemic has presented us all with new challenges and it can be a really tough time.

You’re likely to be feeling as though your world has been turned upside down and some of your usual ways of managing anxiety might not be available to you. You and your child might have a lot of extra worries and concerns at the moment.

Anxiety is made up of anxious feelings, worries and physical experiences in the body.

We are running a survey of families who are in with contact us to find out how young people and their families are getting on during the COVID-19 pandemic. To find out more please visit the CAMHS COVID-19 survey page.

Many things can make children feel anxious including a change in routine. This could be seeing something scary, seeing their parents or carers feeling worried, and not knowing what is going to happen in future.
When we are scared, our brains prompt our bodies to enter a ‘fight or flight’ response. Stress hormones are released that can increase our breathing, make us feel shaky or dizzy and increase our heart rates.

You might notice your child becoming more confused and forgetful. These changes in our brains and body means that we can see danger and risk everywhere.

Things that may keep anxiety going for you

  • Checking the news and social media too often
  • Focusing attention on your body for symptoms of illness
  • Avoiding tasks we should be doing
  • Not talking about feelings, which can make children feel alone or unusual for feeling their feelings
  • Using unhelpful coping strategies like drinking more alcohol, or eating more than usual

Things that may keep anxiety going for your child

  • Change in routine or not having any daily routine
  • Too much information about the risks of the Coronavirus
  • Sharing too many worries with your children
  • Changes in parent’s behaviour
  • Avoiding doing things due to fears and worries
  • Thoughts that overestimate the risks and underestimate their ability to cope
Some level of anxiety in children is normal and usual in these circumstances.

Anxiety might become too much for children if it is impacting their sleep and appetite, or if stops them from enjoying things and playing as they would usually.

The biggest thing you can do to help your child’s anxiety is to try to manage your own. You could even include them in this; for example, do some relaxation exercises together.

  • Manage your fight or flight response. Slow down your body by practicing some relaxation or deep breathing
  • Focus on what you can control. Write a list of things you can control and things you can’t control
  • Find ways to distract your children and yourself, and have fun
  • Supervise children’s social media use; this can help them to use it appropriately in the future
  • Encourage your child to write down some affirming phrases which they can read when feeling anxious like, “This feeling will pass”, “I can cope”
  • Talk to your child about their worries; you could dispel myths they may be having
  • Stick to a routine; this can take away some uncertainty
  • Encourage regular exercise, getting out for a walk and contact with friends
You can find more helpful information about how to manage your wellbeing in our resources section.

 LEARN MORE
You can find more helpful information about how to manage your wellbeing in our resources section.

 LEARN MORE
You can find more helpful information about how to manage your wellbeing in our resources section.

 LEARN MORE
You can find more helpful information about how to manage your wellbeing in our resources section.

 LEARN MORE