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About Anxiety Canada

Anxiety Canada's mission is to provide accessible, science-based anxiety relief. Learn about our community and who we are.

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Anxiety is one of the most common mental health concerns for children and adults, affecting upwards of 20% of children and adolescents over their lifespan. Everyone experiences anxiety sometimes.

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Building Distress Tolerance

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Children Youth PDF Facing Fears
Download PDF

Children and teens often look to parents, teachers, and trusted adults for reassurance and help when they face anxiety. With the help of adults, they can learn how to face their fears and lean in to uncertainty.

Parents can use this resource to note how they are responding to their child’s needs. Key reminders include:

1) Is my way of “helping” actually “helpful?”
2) Has what I’ve been doing actually been working? If no, why am I continuing to use this strategy?
3) Are my own thoughts and feelings (and resulting distress) not allowing my child to experience distress? Is this removing their chance to building tolerance and coping skills? Can they build a skill if never allowed to practice using it?
4) Am I choosing short-term pain/distress relief instead of working towards long-term relief?

Building-Distress-Tolerance
Download PDF

Related PDF Resources

  • Challenging Negative Thinking
  • How To Address Excessive Reassurance Seeking
  • The STOP Plan Handout

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As of April 30, 2025, AnxietyCanada.com will no longer be updated, refreshed, or monitored. This includes French translations, which may be incomplete or imperfect. The website will remain live and accessible until March 2026.

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