Overpowering Emotions: Tools for Child & Teen Anxiety and Resilience

After talking about why our children and teens are not getting the support they need to manage anxiety last week, I received a lot of questions about what might be causing their anxiety. Today, I delve deeper into this topic and try to understand some of the most important factors that contribute to our kids' anxiety. First of all, it's important to remember that anxiety is a part of our evolutionary heritage. Our ancestors lived in a dangerous world, and anxiety was a useful response to keep them safe. However, the world we live in today is vastly different from what our ancestors experienced. The same anxious response that helped our ancestors might not be as helpful in our modern world. So, there must be something else contributing to our children's anxiety. The number one contributor to anxiety is stress. Stress is a normal part of being human, and we all face it at some point in our lives. However, some unique stressors that we have control over are contributing to our children's anxiety. Understanding these stressors is crucial to helping our children manage their anxiety. In today's episode, we'll explore the most common stressors that our children and teenagers face. By understanding these stressors, we can help our children cope better and reduce their anxiety levels. So, stay tuned for an informative and insightful episode on the common stressors our children and teens face! Want to watch? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4-bDgYC6CY)Enjoying the show? Help out by rating this podcast on Apple to help others get access to this information too! apple.co/3ysFijh Follow Dr. Caroline YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.carolinebuzankoIG: https://www.instagram.com/dr.carolinebuzanko/ LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/dr-caroline-buzankoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrCarolineBuzanko/Website: https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/Resources: https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/resources/articles-child-resilience-well-being-psychology/ Business inquiries: https://korupsychology.ca/contact-us/Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

In today's episode, I discuss why our anxious children and teens are not getting the help they need. Anxiety is the most common mental health concern affecting children and teens. Despite all the books, training, and knowledge out there, anxiety has continued to rise even before COVID and has grown exponentially around the world since. Despite this prevalence, many children are not getting the support they need to manage their anxiety. In today’s episode, I discuss why children and tends are not getting the support they need. Part of the problem is the stigma attached to mental health issues. Some may not want to acknowledge that their child is struggling with anxiety, or they may not know how to talk to their child about it. This can make it difficult for children to seek help or for parents to know where to turn for support. Additionally, adults, including educators and parents, but even other mental health professionals who do not specialize in anxiety do not know how to respond effectively to anxiety. This can leave children feeling unsupported. Thus, all adults who interact with anxious children need to know how to respond to anxiety in helpful ways when it shows up. It is essential to understand what is getting in the way of effectively supporting our anxious children and teens. After all, anxiety is easily preventable and treatable! However, when left untreated, anxiety can have serious consequences for children's and teens' mental and physical health. Anxiety can interfere with their ability to learn, socialize, and enjoy life. It can also lead to physical symptoms like headaches and stomachaches, which can further impact their well-being. Without proper support and treatment, our anxious children and teens are at risk of developing more serious mental health issues later in life. This episode is critical to raise awareness about the prevalence of anxiety in children and teens and address the barriers getting in the way of effective treatment. In doing so, we can ensure they get the support they need to manage their anxiety and thrive. Be sure to listen in!Enjoying the show? Help out by rating this podcast on Apple to help others get access to this information too! apple.co/3ysFijh Follow Dr. Caroline YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.carolinebuzankoIG: https://www.instagram.com/dr.carolinebuzanko/ LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/dr-caroline-buzankoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrCarolineBuzanko/Website: https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/Resources: https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/resources/articles-child-resilience-well-being-psychology/ Business inquiries: https://korupsychology.ca/contact-us/Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

In today’s episode of Overpowering Emotions, I address the questions:  What is the difference between normal worry and anxiety? and When should kids get help? Anxiety and worry are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct differences. While both can be unpleasant and unwanted emotions, understanding the differences between normal worry and anxiety is essential for parents to understand so they know how to best support their children’s emotional well-being and resilience. Often, parents wait too long to get their child support. Some of the time it’s because they are told their child will grow out of it. Or they might not even realize that their child is experiencing anxiety. Other times, their child is experiencing normal worries but parents become overly concerned and pathologize the situation.  Understanding the difference between normal worry and anxiety can also help children better manage their emotions – especially when parents know how to respond in helpful ways. Knowing the difference between normal worry and anxiety can also help children, teens, and their families better communicate their feelings to others. If they are experiencing anxiety, they may need to communicate their symptoms and needs to a mental health professional. If they are experiencing a normal worry, they may need to communicate their concerns and seek support or advice from a trusted adult. Be sure to tune in to today’s episode to learn more about normal worries and anxiety and when to get kids' help. Knowing the answer to these questions is critical to help raise emotionally well-adjusted, resilient kids!Enjoying the show? Help out by rating this podcast on Apple to help others get access to this information too! apple.co/3ysFijh Follow Dr. Caroline YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.carolinebuzankoIG: https://www.instagram.com/dr.carolinebuzanko/ LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/dr-caroline-buzankoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrCarolineBuzanko/Website: https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/Resources: https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/resources/articles-child-resilience-well-being-psychology/ Business inquiries: https://korupsychology.ca/contact-us/Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

This podcast first appeared on The Testing Psychologist with Dr. Jeremy Sharp. This is the second episode in a two-part series I did  on the parent experience of the assessment process! In part two today, we continue talking about empowering parents and discuss several concrete changes you can make to your testing approach. Here are a few other topics to look out for across the two episodes: Paradigms of assessment How to gather parent expectations about the assessment process Mistakes clinicians make during the assessment process How to support parents after the evaluation The importance of a second feedback meeting Why our relationship with parents is instrumental in kids’ success Defining values for your practice and bringing those to life with the evaluation process Enjoying the show? Help out by rating this podcast on Apple to help others get access to this information too! apple.co/3ysFijh Follow Dr. Caroline YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.carolinebuzankoIG: https://www.instagram.com/dr.carolinebuzanko/ LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/dr-caroline-buzankoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrCarolineBuzanko/Website: https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/Resources: https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/resources/articles-child-resilience-well-being-psychology/ Business inquiries: https://korupsychology.ca/contact-us/Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

Very excited to share this week's episode of Deep Dive into Practice, which was first seen on The Testing Psychologist, in which I did an interview with Dr. Jeremy Sharp about parents' experiences of their child's assessment process. This is Part 1 where we go through everything you need to know about testing with kids.Enjoying the show? Help out by rating this podcast on Apple to help others get access to this information too! apple.co/3ysFijh Follow Dr. Caroline YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.carolinebuzankoIG: https://www.instagram.com/dr.carolinebuzanko/ LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/dr-caroline-buzankoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrCarolineBuzanko/Website: https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/Resources: https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/resources/articles-child-resilience-well-being-psychology/ Business inquiries: https://korupsychology.ca/contact-us/Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

Welcome to Deep Dive into Practice - our very first podcast! As mental health professionals, we all have incredible potential to create meaningful change in our client's life. But, this work isn't easy; if it were, everyone would be doing it. At the end of the day, clients are only as good as the professionals they work with. Mastering your skills and transforming your practice begins with a conversation. And this podcast is the start, where we deep dive into practice to support your lifelong journey in mastering your skillset and becoming a highly effective mental health professional who works with children, teens, and families. By joining me, you are empowering yourself and your practice while ultimately improving your clients’ success.Enjoying the show? Help out by rating this podcast on Apple to help others get access to this information too! apple.co/3ysFijh Follow Dr. Caroline YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.carolinebuzankoIG: https://www.instagram.com/dr.carolinebuzanko/ LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/dr-caroline-buzankoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrCarolineBuzanko/Website: https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/Resources: https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/resources/articles-child-resilience-well-being-psychology/ Business inquiries: https://korupsychology.ca/contact-us/Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/