As parents, it's natural to want to protect our children from anything that causes them distress or pain. When our kids struggle with anxiety, our instinct is often to soothe them and try to make the anxious feelings go away. However, what if I told you that this approach can actually reinforce anxiety long-term?

The more we buy into the amygdala's fear narrative and avoid situations that make us anxious, the stronger and more unruly the anxiety becomes - like feeding a misbehaving puppy and allowing it to keep barking incessantly. We reinforce the neural pathways that create those anxious thoughts and feelings.
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​But here's the empowering truth: You have the power to be the master of your brain, not the other way around. You can train your amygdala, and your child's amygdala, to respond more rationally. Imagining the amygdala as a puppy that needs training can be a helpful visualization.

When the amygdala barks and sounds the anxiety alarm, you can self-talk with helpful statements like "My amygdala is confused right now, but I am actually safe.” This is your opportunity to become your own cheerleader instead of overreacting and talking negatively to yourself. Cheering yourself on and powering through anxious situations is key.

Anxiety doesn't need to rule your life or your child’s. You have the power to reshape your brain's automatic reactions.

With patience, courage and the right mindshifts, you can train the amygdala "puppy" to behave better. An "anxious disposition" does not have to become an anxiety disorder. Both you and your child can reclaim the power from primitive brain pathways, so it no longer rules your child.

You’ve got this!

​- Sue 🤗