[Caller] Um… Hi… my, my name’s Erin and I’m calling because well…
More recently I’ve really started to panic about my health and…
that something catastrophic will happen to me or the people around me.
I try to distract myself with music and other hobbies, but it just…
it doesn’t stop me feeling so anxious.
It's gotten so bad that I can't sleep
[Tom] Anxiety is something that I have every day.
It’s something that I need to deal with, every day.
I first experienced anxiety when I was around about 17
And I didn’t know how to deal with it
I didn’t leave the house
Didn’t leave my bedroom
And it wasn’t until I kind of
Got therapy, and I was 17 when I went for my first therapy session
So that’s… really what started to kind of help me
I don’t know, climb out of that place that I was in
But like I say, I still suffer with anxiety every day. It’s just having the tools and
And knowing which way to deal with them
The way that I know that I’m having an anxiety moment
I definitely feel it starting from my belly button and it kind of feels like
There’s a flame been put on, like the gas has just gone like that
It’s a bit like butterflies, but then the butterflies become more intense, and more intense, and more intense
Sometimes I can just be sat down watching the TV and it can just come on
Or I can wake up from being in bed and I’m just like
today is not a good day for me
Exercise for me, has been the life saver
It’s been that, that, thing that kind of
Allows me to have an hour on my own and sweat out the negatives
Or sweat out the things that are going on in my head and I don’t know
Have that battle with myself to be like, do you know what? let’s…
Get out of the things that you’re feeling and knowing that they’re there
But just going, listen, you can be there all you want to be but
I’ve got to get on with what I need to do and I’m not going to allow these thoughts
And these things, dictate the day I’m going to have
When I’m performing and going on stage, it’s probably the only time it doesn’t affect me
For me, performing is where I’m most comfortable
And where I feel at home, I suppose, and understand what I am and who I am
It’s just my escape. Writing really allows me to
I don’t know. Leave everything at the door and go in to the studio and I can
Be like right, I know what I want to write about today
I know that I’ve got these feelings on my chest or in my head that I need to get out
If you’re experiencing anxiety, then there’s loads of steps and exercises for you
To help you deal with it, and Alex, our expert, is going to share some with you
[Alex] If you’re feeling anxious then you might be experiencing some overwhelming feelings
This might include your heart beating really fast, you might feel scared
worried or tense, you might get fidgety or shake after something has happened
feel sick or have a funny feeling in your stomach.
Almost everyone gets anxious sometimes,
but if your anxiety is stopping you from being able to live your life
or do things you normally enjoy then it’s important to get support.
There are lots of reasons that we might feel anxious
When our anxiety takes hold we can have irrational thoughts and it's important
in those moments to try and break them down.
Try to look at what the facts are and challenge any worrying thoughts
It may seem obvious but one of the best things we can do when you’re feeling anxious
Is to talk about things. Saying our thoughts and feelings out loud can
often make us realise what those negative thoughts are
and help us to understand or challenge them
Keeping a journal means you’ll regularly write or record how you’re feeling
Or what’s been happening in your life, you could do it every day or whenever you feel you want to
Try all these steps but it is important to remember if you are still struggling to cope
with your anxiety and it feels too overwhelming then speak to someone you trust
Or visit your doctor. It’s important to get the help that you need.
[Tom] My advice for the person who called with how to deal with their anxiety would be
Just to allow yourself to feel these feelings, because they’re perfectly normal
And every human in the world experiences some sort of anxiety or some sort of stress
And know that there’s loads of people that want to listen
and loads of people that want to help
You should always tell somebody the things that you’re worried about
You can a friend, a parent, a teacher, a guardian or a trusted adult
There’s also links to helpful organisations on the BBC Action Line website.
Video summary
This short film deals with sensitive subject matter and teacher review is recommended before use in class.
This film begins with a young person, Erin, describing her experiences with anxiety. Erin is played by an actor and her story is a reconstruction based on a real call to Childline. She describes how anxiety can grow for her, building from a small worry into an emotionally and physically overwhelming experience.
Musician Tom Grennan then talks about how he manages the anxiety he started struggling with as a teenager. He describes the physical and emotional effect it has on him and shares the techniques for managing his anxiety which include seeking therapy. He offers advice for anyone struggling with anxiety.
Tom describes his physical and emotional response to anxiety. He describes the feeling as being like ‘a flame being turned on.’
Expert Alex from Childline suggests steps to try to relieve the symptoms of anxiety which include:
- Look at the facts
- Talk about things
- Keep a journal
The reconstructions are based on real calls from Childline service users, but are not necessarily direct quotes. All names and potentially identifying details have been changed to protect the identity of the child or young person involved.
Before watching the film
Set up a working agreement or set of group rules before watching the film. Make it clear that there is no pressure on students to share any personal experiences. They can talk about the characters in the phone call reconstructions and the contributors’ experiences instead. Remind students that the classroom is be a safe space to discuss and share thoughts if they wish to, and that they should be aware of and respect others’ opinions and experiences. Remind them also that you cannot guarantee absolute confidentiality but will talk to individuals if you have any concerns. The agreement should include how and where to access support if needed.
People of different genders, backgrounds and cultures may approach their mental health in different ways. Talk about the pressures on young people and whether gender makes a difference. Be sensitive that young people from some cultural backgrounds may not find it easy to talk about mental health and remind them they don’t have to talk about themselves. Use the distancing technique to ensure that the students feel safe and comfortable talking about the issues in the films. Talk about what the contributors say or talk about ‘someone who.’
Open up a general discussion about mental health and as a group come up with words they associate with the topic of the film. Remind the students that if they need any support at any point they can ask, either during or after the lesson.
After watching the film
As a group, create a list of physical and emotional responses someone experiencing anxiety might feel. Physical responses may include sweaty palms, a racing heart and shallow breathing. Emotional responses could include a feeling of hopelessness, not wanting to socialise and seeing everything in a negative light. Talk about how to recognise the signs when they first start and what techniques Alex suggests to manage those feelings. Tom finds that making music and doing exercise helps him to manage his anxiety.
- Which of Alex’s suggestions would feel easy to follow and which would feel harder?
- If you could follow one piece of Alex’s advice today, which would it be?
- What hobbies or activities could help take your mind off feeling anxious?
- What advice would you give a friend who was feeling anxious?
As a group talk about ways that everyone can support each other with their mental health. You may even want to create a class charter around more positive mental health or encourage each student to make a list of three practical things they can do to support their own positive mental health.
Make sure that students are supported in their own mental health and wellbeing by signposting support that is available in school, locally and nationally. Remind them that they can always speak to their GP or local services.
Remind students that if they or someone they know has suicidal thoughts then it is important to get help immediately. This is not something they should have to deal with alone.
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