Anxiety explained to a 10 y old

If you had to explain anxiety to a 10-year-old, how would you do it?

Maybe you’d say something like this:

“You know that feeling the night before a big exam? Or when you’re about to try something really scary, like bungee jumping?

Some people just get butterflies in their stomach.

But others worry so much that they go completely nuts.

It’s kind of like having an alarm system inside your body. Except this alarm is broken – it goes off all the time.”

And do you know why you have to explain this feeling to a kid?

Because children rarely get anxious!

They live in the present. And anxiety is a mental state where you constantly worry about a future that may or may not ever happen.

Anxiety feels like being stuck in constant panic.

In this article I explained how anxiety starts in the brain and shared a few tricks to calm it down. You can also read the anti-anxiety diet that’s gonna cure your brain.

Now, you’ve probably already heard of the classic remedies.

Things like yoga, meditation, therapy, and relaxation techniques. And they do work for a lot of people.

But there is a less known remedy, that may succeed where other techniques fail.

Psychologists have recently started studying the effects of video gaming on anxiety.

Some Not-So-Great Side Effects of Gaming

Now, let’s be real- gaming is a strong brain stimulant. Because it affects your brain so much, it does have a few downsides if you overdo it.

Play too much, and it can become addictive.

That addiction can make you lazy about going out, hanging with people, or building real-life social skills. It can mess with your sleep, your physical health, and even your motivation to get things done.

(And if motivation is already something you’re struggling with, check this article: How to Stay Motivated.)

But because video games have such a strong impact on the brain, they can help you battle anxiety in interesting ways…

Hm?

How Gaming Helps Your Brain Grow New Cells

Here’s the cool part – gaming doesn’t just keep your mind busy, it actually shapes your brain.

Strategic games (where a player uses their decision-making skills, strategic thinking, planning, and resource management):

boost your problem-solving skills
improve your concentration
boost your memory
enhance your spatial thinking
even speed up how fast your brain processes things

Gaming keeps your brain from going lazy. It actually forces it to grow new pathways! It’s literally a workout for your mind.

Since your brain is facing novel problems all the time, it has to adapt quickly and solve them.

Action games work differently. They improve your hand-eye coordination, visual attention and spatial awareness. Basically all skills you use in everyday life.

If you suffer from anxiety or depression, video games can ease the pressure, and distract your mind, thus reduce your anxiety and depressive feelings.

They even help with cravings. Quitting smoking? Pick up a controller instead of a cigarette. (See more ways to deal with cravings).

Why You Can’t Game and Be Anxious at the Same Time

When you’re anxious, your brain locks onto one thing: intrusive thoughts of doom.

You feel like something bad is about to happen, even when there’s no real reason to be scared.

These thoughts can get so loud it feels impossible to think of anything else. And when you’re in that state, the usual tricks – yoga, meditation, even reading, don’t always cut it.

But because gaming requires so much concentration,

you basically can’t do a boss fight or solve a puzzle and spiral at the same time!

It’s like your brain only has room for one.

Want to try it yourself?

Here is a list of some engaging adventure video games to try

(And that pull you right into the story and away from worry):

Gaming isn’t just a distraction – it’s an escape hatch for your brain.

Pair it with some outdoor activity, and you’ve got two of the best ways to stay both mentally and physically strong while kicking anxious thoughts to the curb.

See more:

How to live interestingly

Why you can’t concentrate and how to fix that

How to create healthy habits and not get anxious

How to quit smoking and start bettering your life

How to easily achieve all your dreams

TheThinkAbout is a website based on psychology in practice and experience.

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