Letting go of anxious thoughts is part of managing anxiety. In this process, a person doesn’t force themselves to ignore or push their thoughts away. Instead, they overcome unwanted thoughts by accepting them and deciding which thoughts they do not have room for.
The Letting Go of Anxious Thoughts worksheet is a therapeutic tool that allows kids and teens to calm their minds and bodies by taking a mental break from the cycle of anxiety. Anytime anxious thoughts pop up, they can write them down in 6 balloons and imagine them drifting into the sky.
Using this handout, the repeated process of letting go of anxious thoughts allows kids and teens to redirect their focus, allowing their minds to relax. Parents and teachers can also encourage their kids or teens to put their thoughts into words using a journal or through an art activity such as painting or drawing.
For instance, they can have a small notebook that they can carry around or schedule a time for a relaxing painting session during the weekend.
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Want more resources like this? Check out our full catalog of anxiety worksheets and handouts.
References:
- Caswell, J. R., Duggirala, A. N., & Verhaeghen, P. (2022). Letting go as an aspect of rumination and its relationship to mindfulness, dysphoria, anxiety, and eudemonic well-being. Behavioral Sciences, 12(10), 369. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12100369
- Frewen, P. A., Evans, E. M., Maraj, N., Dozois, D. J., & Partridge, K. (2007). Letting go: Mindfulness and negative automatic thinking. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 32(6), 758-774. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-007-9142-1
