Whilst I’m an advocate for getting young people to take responsibility, I recognise how knowing a fair bit about mental health and anxiety-related issues make me want to jump in and problem-solve!

I also notice (as I’m sure you have experienced yourselves in other aspects of life) that sometimes giving people the answer instead of giving them an opportunity to figure out their own problems, means that your solution doesn’t make an impact on them. In fact, it may not be heard at all. 

Helping people become effective problem solvers may mean stepping back after presenting a solution and not over-investing or turning someone’s problem into your own project. 

It’s not always the right solution to give people something else to do to help themselves improve. Sometimes the solution is a suggestion about what they should stop doing instead of what they should start. 

Equally, it’s not always the best idea to change your engagement style with someone who has anxiety because it creates an unrealistic expectation that the world will bend to meet their needs (which it most certainly won’t!) and can hold their anxiety ‘in place’ with your new reactions and interaction styles. For many, there’s a pullback to normality when ‘life goes on’ as usual rather than life learning to fit around their anxiety. 

SNAPCHAT – NLP4Kids

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