"I don't want to go." "Can I just stay home?" "I don't even care about that anyway."

When your anxious child says these things, it can feel kinder (and easier) to let them skip the party, stay home from school, or avoid taking the bus.

But short-term relief often creates bigger anxiety in the long run.

For Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm sharing an episode from Cynthia Coufal's podcast, The Teen Anxiety Maze. Cynthia is a school counselor and teen anxiety coach who has spent more than 25 years helping kids understand and manage anxiety while building confidence and independence.

In this episode, Cynthia breaks down the connection between avoidance and anxiety, why some kids convince themselves they don't care about things they deeply want, and the powerful shift from "I have to" to "I choose to."

At the end of the episode, I share a few of my own thoughts about what stood out to me and how it connects to the work I do with moms.

This episode is packed with practical examples and an important perspective on discomfort, resilience, and what helps anxious kids (and moms) grow.

https://lessdramamoremama.com/406