College Counsellor

Worry Stacking

The following is from Dr Justin Coulson’s One-Minute Wellbeing and is used with permission. Find out more at www.happyfamilies.com.au

Have you ever seen a child or teenager lose it over something seemingly tiny?

Having to switch off their screen...

Not having the “right” pencil case...

Another child breathing in their direction…

We’ve all been there!

In the moment, their behaviour may have seemed over the top, but their anxious response may not be as excessive as you think. This is due to the very real result of worry stacking.

Over time, anxiety from minor worries and concerns can accumulate. This compounding effect results in an overwhelming sense of anxiety or stress that is more akin to an emergency. A lost school hat can quite literally feel like life or death.

By learning how to effectively manage each worry as it arises, we can keep the stack from growing too high and maintain a sense of control over their anxiety. This is essentially like hitting the "reset" button on their nervous system.

Let’s talk about it!

• What things help you to regulate after a challenging situation?
• What are ways you can help your students “reset” after a challenging situation?