How to manage anxiety

Being a teenager can be tough enough without a global health crisis. On a normal day, the challenge of balancing (and trying to stay good at) school, extracurricular activities, family responsibilities, jobs, and personal relationships is already plenty. Throw in a pandemic that adds new stresses while we can’t physically be with those we know, love, and trust, and it’s enough to make anyone stressed out and anxious.

Anxiety is real. It comes in varying shades and affects us all differently. Some of us may have fleeting thoughts of discomfort and then after talking to a friend or doing a soothing activity, we can go back to normal. And some of us may experience anxiety much more deeply as it interferes with our mental health and the ability to do tasks like school, work, or even fun hobbies.

If you feel like you’re struggling with anxiety, here are some helpful resources to check out:

GritX Self-Care Toolkit
https://gritx.org/self-toolkit/

How teenagers can protect their mental health during coronavirus (COVID-19)
https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/how-teenagers-can-protect-their-mental-health-during-coronavirus-covid-19

Coronavirus Anxiety Workbook: A Tool to Help You Build Resilience During Difficult Times
https://thewellnesssociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Coronavirus-Anxiety-Workbook.pdf

If your anxiety has gotten to the point where you feel like hurting yourself, call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.