Social Anxiety Resources CAMHS

Anxiety UK offers services delivered by professionals to support individuals with anxiety, stress, and anxiety based depression and offer:

More information at: https://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/get-help/anxiety-uk-national-infoline-service/infoline-email-text-live-chat-services/self-help-groups-copy/

Social Anxiety UK is a volunteer-led organization that aim to provide information and act as a central hub for the community.

Anxiety Care UK is a community organization based in Redbridge and is run by rained volunteer recovery support workers. Services include: (ONLY FOR PEOPLE OVER 18)

  • Mutual Support Group (CURRENTLY SUSPENDED DUE TO COVID-19)
  • Face-to-face counselling (CURRENTLY SUSPENDED DUE TO COVID-19) – can self-refer
  • E-Counselling service
  • Recovery Information Email service

More information can be found by emailing admin@anxietycare.org.uk or at http://www.anxietycare.org.uk. Telephone: 07552 877219 Address: Living Well Resource Centre, Chadwell Heath, Romford, Essex RM6 4YG

Social Anxiety Self Help (SASH) Groups London has been running groups for people experiencing social anxiety since 2004. They currently offer:

  • Drop in Zoom meetings (£8-10) on Mondays
  • Occasional weekend workshop and mindfulness groups
  • Location: The Open Centre, 188 Old Street, EC1V9FR
  • Email: info@sashgroup.org to arrange Zoom drop-ins

More information can be found at http://www.sashgroup.org/home

The Free Mindfulness Project provides easy and free access to mindfulness meditation exercises. It is based on mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). Free resources to download include:

  • Mindfulness of breath
  • Brief mindfulness practices
  • Body scan meditations
  • Sitting meditations
  • Mindful movement
  • Guided imagery
  • Self-guided mindfulness exercises

They can be downloaded from http://www.freemindfulness.org/download

No Panic helps people who suffer from panic attacks, phobias, OCD, and other anxiety-related disorders. They offer youth helpline and services:

Childline UK is a service for children and young people. They have a Toolbox resource which includes a Calm Zone that may help children and young people who are feeling anxious, panicky, or stressed:

  • Activities and tools to help you feel better
  • Breathing exercises
  • Activities for expressing yourself through drawing and writing
  • Yoga videos
  • Games
  • Ways to cope videos

These can be found at https://www.childline.org.uk/toolbox/calm-zone/ and they also have general information on managing your anxiety.

The Children’s Society provides advice to young people from young people and are grouped according to age (0-5, 6-12, 13-17, and 18-25). Website is https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/mental-health-advice-for-children-and-young-people/the-advice-resource-vault

CLOSEST SERVICES

Therapies East – Empowering Project (by Anxiety UK)

Self-help group to assist participants deal with emotional issues, such as anxiety, depression, anger, etc. (a cost will be incurred, please contact Esther for more details)

Time: Meetings take place on the first and third Thursday of each month at Lily House in South Woodford E18 1BD

Contact: Esther Emanuel Phone: 0208 262 0471

Email: shg@empoweringprojects.org.uk (*depending on the number of young people who are interested, they can cater to 14-17 year olds, so you need to always check in with Esther to check whether a group is currently running)

USEFUL BOOKS/GUIDES:

Overcoming Social Anxiety and Shyness by Dr Gillian Butler

  • Uses real-life examples and cognitive behavioural techniques
  • Attempts to help the reader unlearn bad habits and replace them with healthy ones
  • Available in Redbridge Libraries

Social Anxiety: A Self Help guide by Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust

https://web.ntw.nhs.uk/selfhelp/leaflets/Social%20Anxiety.pdf

Social Anxiety: A Self Help guide (easy read version) by Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust

https://web.ntw.nhs.uk/selfhelp/leaflets/Shyness%20and%20Social%20Anxiety%20ER.pdf

Royal College of Psychiatrists offer information on shyness and social phobia and can be found at: https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/problems-disorders/shyness-and-social-phobia

An interactive social anxiety self help guide by NHS Inform Scotland https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/mental-health/mental-health- self-help-guides/social-anxiety-self-help-guide

Mighty Moe: An Anxiety Workbook for Children

  • Meant for 5-11 year olds
  • Explains in an age-appropriate way what anxiety is and how it affects one’s life
  • A workbook which provides a child with various techniques how to relax, think positively and solve problems.

Link is http://www.socialworkerstoolbox.com/mighty-moe-an-anxiety-workbook-for-children/.

Hole in One: A Children’s Book Dealing with Anxiety Disorder

This is a story about anxiety disorder; specifically school and performance anxiety.

It’s an opportunity for children to identify with the thoughts, feelings and actions of one who suffers from anxiety.

Link is http://www.socialworkerstoolbox.com/hole-in-one-a-childrens-book-dealing-with-anxiety-disorder/.

Shyness and Social Anxiety: A Self Help Guide by Northumberland, Tyne, and Wear NHS Foundation Trust

Contains information on anxiety, how to manage it, and further resources. Can be accessed here https://www.mindcharity.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Shyness-and-Social-Anxiety-A4-2015.pdf

What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety (What-to-Do Guides for Kids) by Dawn Huebner

  • guides children and parents through the cognitive-behavioral techniques most often used in the treatment of anxiety
  • recommended by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America
  • designed for 6-12 year olds.

We're All Mad Here: The No-Nonsense Guide to Living with Social Anxiety

by Claire Eastham and Natasha Devon

  • Recommended by Reading-well
  • Guide to beating social anxiety covers everything from surviving university

and the workplace, through to social media and making it through parties and dates

  • ISBN: 9781785920820
  • Available in Redbridge Libraries

Anxiety Canada has a helpful guide on coping strategies for supporting students with social anxiety disorder. It covers:

  • Calming strategies
  • Mindful activities
  • Soothing/Distracting activities
  • Self-reflecting activities
  • Wake me ups/energy boosters and stress relievers
  • Self soothing strategies

It can be accessed here http://anxietycanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/anxiety-bc-coping-strategies-v3-9.pdf?_ga=2.30554559.1097257759.1589387999-699328403.1589387999

Young Minds has a blog on tips for coping with social anxiety at https://youngminds.org.uk/blog/tips-for-coping-with-social-anxiety/

Headspace

Aimed at promoting wellbeing through meditation and mindfulness to cope with social anxiety

More info at https://www.headspace.com/meditation/anxiety

Mindfulness: Finding Peace in a Frantic World
Originally developed for a research programme at Oxford University

Available for both Android and iPhoneFree for first ten days then a one-off small fee

The Worrinots allows children to share their worries and fears in a fun, safe and controlled environmentfor children aged 4-12 year olds and their families and carers.If you are interested in receiving a code to download the app free of charge, please contact Jasmin Atwal at Jasmin.Atwal@miprglobal.co.uk or on 07795255052.

Clear Fear provides ways for children and young people to manage anxietydeveloped by Dr Nihara Krause, a Consultant Clinical Psychologist, together with ideas from young peopleuses a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) framework to help change anxious thoughts and emotions, alter anxious behaviours and calm fear responsestypically for 11-19 year olds but younger children can use it with parent/carer support,MeeTwo.

Award winning free fully moderated app for young people,Provides peer support, expert help, inbuilt educational and creative resources as well as in app links to UK charities and helplines:

  • A neutral space which allows young people to experiment with what it feels like to open up without drawing attention to themselves
  • Positive feedback and social support builds confidence, increases wellbeing and promotes emotional resilience

USEFUL AUDIO CDS

Recommend by Royal College of Psychiatrists, Rays of Calm (Calm for Kids) BY Christiane Kerr Created for teenagers

Has ten tracks ranging in length from three to eight minutes

Leads you through various relaxation techniques and visualisations designed to promote a sense of calm and wellbeing and to help teenagers deal with stress

Smiling Mind (Australia) has a guide for parents and carers to create a mindful home. The guide contains:

An introduction to mindfulness
An overview of the science behind it
Advice on supporting learning at home
Tips on how you can start your own practice
Sign up at https://info.smilingmind.com.au/parentsguide to get it for free.

Young Minds Parents Helpline offer advice to parents and carers worried about a child or young person under 25Call 0808 802 5544 for free Mon-Fri, 9.30am-4pmOr email at https://youngminds.org.uk/contact-us/parents-helpline-enquiries/

RESOURCES FOR PARENTS ON SOCIAL ANXIETY USEFUL BOOKS/GUIDES

Coping with an anxious or depressed child by Dr Sam Cartwright-Hatton (recommended by Anxiety UK) - gives guidance on what you can do to give your child the best chance of recovery, as well as offering insight into the often complicated system of mental healthcare.

  • ISBN: 9781851684823
  • Available in Redbridge Libraries

Can I tell you about anxiety? A guide for friends, family, and professionals

by Lucy Willets and Polly Waite

  • Excellent and helpful summaries about different types of anxiety and suggestions about why some children develop anxiety problems and the type of treatment that might help.
  • ISBN: 9781849055277
  • Available in Redbridge Libraries

Helping Your Child with Fears and Worries, 2nd Edition

By Cathy Cresswell and Lucy Willetts

  • a book for parents based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy on how they can help their anxious child and includes lots of tried and tested strategies.
  • ISBN: 9781472138613
  • Available in Redbridge Libraries

Overcoming Your Child’s Shyness and Social Anxiety by Lucy Willetts and Cathy Cresswell - a self-help guide using cognitive-behavioural technique that explains what causes shyness, how to identify social anxiety in your child (sometimes masked by anger or stubbornness) and how to gradually help your child face their anxieties and develop problem-solving strategies

  • Available in Redbridge Libraries

Anxiety UK has published a guide for parents and carers of children and young people with anxiety and can be downloaded here https://www.moodcafe.co.uk/media/19579/cyp_parents_1_2_web.pdf.

Raising Children, an Australian parenting website, has a guide for children aged 3-8 years on what is social anxiety and how to help them through a number of ways, such as the stepladder approach. Can be accessed here https://raisingchildren.net.au/school-age/health-daily-care/mental-health/social-anxiety

Mind UK has a guide for parents on anxiety and panic attacks, accessible through https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/anxiety-and-panic-attacks/about-anxiety/

USEFUL VIDEOS

Dan Siegel- a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine and executive director of the Mindsight Institute. In this video he demonstrates the use of Mindsight to nurture a shy child: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChvN2uU0KJM

Anxiety Canada has a video on symptoms and strategies for social anxiety in children and teens: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypHzXOcUQwE

Living Life to the Full teaches a range of life skills based on the cognitive behavioural therapy approach and has been the number one online resource for anxiety and depression recommended by NHS England

FreeOnline courses for teachers/educators supporting young people aged 5-12 (We Eat Elephants) Online courses for teachers/educators supporting young people aged 13-18 (Living Life to the Full for Young People)
More information can be found at https://llttf.com/home/living-life-to-the-full-series/

The Child Mind Institute has provided:

Teachers Guide to Anxiety in the Classroom and can be accessed at https://childmind.org/guide/a-teachers-guide-to-anxiety-in-the-classroom/Anxiety in the Classroom – What it looks like and can be accessed at https://childmind.org/article/classroom-anxiety-in-children/

North Bristol NHS Trust has developed an excellent resource pack for anxiety in classrooms. It covers:

Relaxation techniquesWorries and strengths prompt sheetConfidence skillsWorksheets for self-esteem and other topicsIt can be downloaded from https://www.southglos.gov.uk/documents/Classroom-Resources.pdf

A Guide to Supporting a Child Who is Struggling to Attend School due to anxiety-related problems including social anxiety - by School Refusal Support Services (Nottinghamshire) and can be accessed here https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/media/128383/a-guide-to-supporting-a-child-who-is-struggling-to-attend-school-2017.pdf

Psych4Schools has an ebooklet on difficulty making friends and includes recommendation for how to help:

Build social inclusion
Classroom and group organization, lunch and break times
Playground support plans
Explicitly teach social skills

  • Basic conflict resolution steps
  • Work with the child’s parents
  • When the child is new to the school
  • Toxic friendships/frenemies
  • Children who require additional friendship assistance

A free excerpt can be accessed here https://www.psych4schools.com.au/free-resources/friendship-difficulties/ and the full booklet can be bought for $22.95 (~£12) from https://www.psych4schools.com.au/shop/difficulty_making_friends/

Inner World Work is an online parent and carer support resource center for children who are trauma experienced but their handouts identify many behaviours that children and young people with social anxiety can display, ranging from flight or fight situations. Reference guides include:

  • What Survival Looks like In Primary School
  • What Survival Looks like For Me
  • What Survival Looks like In Secondary School

ADJUSTMENT-RELATED SOCIAL ANXIETY

These can be downloaded for free at http://www.innerworldwork.co.uk/?page_id=45.

Stem 4 supports positive teenage mental health and has developed a guide for friendship and relationship issues during the COVID-19 outbreak. There is advice on:

Keeping connections close onlineHow to overcome getting distant from your friendCan be downloaded from here. They also have a guide on how to cope with cancelled exams (click here) and how to manage your teenager’s mental health for parents (click here).

Anxiety Canada has an article guide for parents on helping your child cope with going back to school https://www.anxietycanada.com/articles/helping-your-child-cope-with-back-to-school-anxiety/

Young Minds has a top 10 tips for parents to help their child cope with change and transitions: https://youngminds.org.uk/media/2957/top-ten-tips-poster.pdf

Succeed Socially is a free social skills guide for adults and older teenagers. It's written by someone who had his own struggles with shyness and loneliness, and who has degrees in psychology and counseling. Core social skill trouble areas covered are:Shyness, social anxiety, insecurities, low self- confidenceMaking conversationsMaking friends

More information can be found on https://www.succeedsocially.com/

Mental Health Foundation provides information on the importance of friendship and mental health and covers: here. 

The Child Mind Institute, an independent non-profit organization in the US, has tips for helping reluctant children join in play and group activities.

How to Help Anxious Kids in Social Situations can be accessed here.What parents can do when kids struggle with social skills can be accessed here

Twinkl has an extensive range of friendship activities for children facing social, mental, and emotional health difficulties to use in your class. Worksheets cover:

Friendship rules
What I would like in a friend
Getting to know you games
Online membership is free for unlimited access to these resources and can be accessed here https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resources/specialeducationalneeds-sen-social-emotional-and-mental-health-difficulties/sen-friendship-and-social-skills/sen-friendship-and-social-skills-friendships/4

Childline has a top tips for making friends page: https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/friends-relationships-sex/friends/top-tips-making-friends/

BBC Bitesize has an article and video on Developing friendships at https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z6mj47h