01/08/2026
When your anxious child keeps asking "but what if..." - reassuring them feels like the kind thing to do. And it is kind. But it's quietly making the anxiety stronger. π
Every time we confirm the worry or soothe the fear, we're telling their brain that the thought was worth taking seriously.
What actually helps is learning to either minimize the thought or redirect to evidence - so the anxious brain stops getting rewarded for the spiral. It takes practice, but it's one of the most effective shifts families make in sessions.
Save this if you've ever wondered why the reassurance never seems to be enough.