Treating Anxiety Through Writing

Are you noticing anxiety in your teen or young adult and wondering how you can help them manage it? Do you feel like you're constantly in problem-solving mode but wish you could understand their experiences better?

In this episode of Power Your Parenting: Moms of Teens, host Colleen O’Grady invites licensed psychotherapist Duygu Balan to discuss practical strategies for moms navigating their children's anxiety. Together, they explore the unique pressures facing today's youth, including the impact of social media, heightened global awareness, and an unpredictable world. Balan, co-author of Confidently Chill: An Anxiety Workbook for New Adults, highlights how expressive writing can be a powerful tool for self-reflection, stress reduction, and resilience, helping young people externalize their worries and separate genuine concerns from imagined fears. The conversation emphasizes creating an environment where teens feel heard and supported in their journeys toward independence.

Balan’s approach, known as the Balan Method, offers a structured yet flexible way to help teens manage anxiety. It encourages creating a calming environment, grounding the body through breathing exercises, and using writing prompts to explore thoughts and feelings. These techniques help teens transform abstract anxieties into manageable, real-life actions. Through writing exercises, Balan shows how teens can externalize worries, clarify goals, and build confidence. Moms are encouraged to guide teens gently through these practices, keeping communication open and validating their children's experiences without pressure or judgment.

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Find out more about Duygu at https://www.duygubalan.com/

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