The clouds have parted as quickly as they arrived. After excellent support from school, lots of talking things through at home, the anxieties and the moods have lifted, for now at least.

The thing that people don’t tend to realise (unless they either have anxiety or live with some with anxiety) is that there is no logic about when the anxieties will hit, or what will trigger them.  HUGE things can be a walk in the park, and yet catching an earlier train or the shops running out of a type of cheese can be the biggest thing to overcome.

What can we do to help? Whatever has caused the anxiety needs to be acknowledged, even if, as an onlooker, you think it has been blown out of all proportion. Don’t say you understand, because you probably don’t, so instead say you’re there, you’re listening and ask if there is anything you can do. It may be a hug, it may be to leave them alone for a little while; but if you do leave them alone, keep checking on them, and keep letting them know you’re there if they need you.

Give them time, space and reassurance that they’re not on their own. Listen without judging, but really listen, not just nodding in the right place. And let them know that their normal is ok, even it’s a different normal to yours.