Anonymous wrote:My tween went through some anxiety. We *dramatically* increased the amount of exercise she was getting. I also basically made myself into a cruise director. She is very social so I said yes to pretty much every social invitation. I offer to host her friends all the time. We picked up more activities than I would like, but she is happy with something going on all the time, so I put my game face on and go to it.

I have to agree with this and it is by far the cheapest route. When we were seeing someone or going to groups, it only intensified the "I feel different, why can't I just be normal" feeling that starts to increase anxiety even more. When my DC is thinking about it, by herself a lot, talking about it, I see her start to pick at her skin or get moody/stressed. She is in year round sports now, we make her walk the dog with a friend up the street nightly before bed, and encourage lots of socialization on the weekends. I can not believe how much different she is. Not thinking about it makes all the difference. The less anxious they start to feel, the better they realize they can handle it when they do get stressed.

Anonymous wrote:There are mindfulness classes for kids and teens at Circle Yoga in DC.

For a more therapeutic direction, you might seek out an anxiety support group. The Ross Center and Wake-Kendall have both offered therapeutic groups for anxiety in the past.

OP here. Thanks for the suggestions! I will look into these.

Anonymous wrote:There are mindfulness classes for kids and teens at Circle Yoga in DC.

For a more therapeutic direction, you might seek out an anxiety support group. The Ross Center and Wake-Kendall have both offered therapeutic groups for anxiety in the past.

+1 It sounds like the perfect situation for group therapy. She's not in crisis, but could use some support and camaraderie while learning skills to cope with life stresses. Also agree that mindful meditation classes, if she is open to it, are a great idea.

There are mindfulness classes for kids and teens at Circle Yoga in DC.

For a more therapeutic direction, you might seek out an anxiety support group. The Ross Center and Wake-Kendall have both offered therapeutic groups for anxiety in the past.

My tween went through some anxiety. We *dramatically* increased the amount of exercise she was getting. I also basically made myself into a cruise director. She is very social so I said yes to pretty much every social invitation. I offer to host her friends all the time. We picked up more activities than I would like, but she is happy with something going on all the time, so I put my game face on and go to it.

My daughter is prone to anxiety. She saw a therapist for awhile last year, who was reasonably reassuring. I guess I put us in the category of the "worried well."

That said, with the start of the new school year and the increase in anxious behavior I've seen, I'm wondering what might be out there to help her manage stressful situations she is bound to encounter. Mindfulness classes? Yoga? I don't think she needs therapy (at least not at the moment), but instruction in strategies for managing stress and anxiety would be great.

So, is anyone aware of specific programs in Bethesda/DC/Chevy Chase geared toward stress management for tweens/teens?