Anxious tweens may have stomach aches, headaches, and crying spells.They may feel worried, dread bedtime, and beg to stay home from school. They may get angry when parents/caregivers say, “Honey, we all have to do things even when we’re scared."
Tweens can’t overcome it on their own, and parents can have no idea how to help, when their tweens:
- Check the weather constantly fearing a natural disaster is coming, or refuse to leave the house fearing a mass shooting
- Panic about insects, spiders, snakes, dogs, coyotes, and even characters that aren't real, like Sirenhead or Cartoon Cat
- Ask parents over and over for reassurance, or feel crushed when when someone might be mad at them, or get frantic when they get a "bad" grade