When your child is anxious, it can feel like their emotions rule the day and nothing you try seems to help. Whether your child is acting out, shutting down, or stuck in constant worry, you’re not alone.
Anxiety is a sign that the brain is in stress mode, not functioning from a calm, regulated place.
That’s why understanding anxiety from a brain-based perspective is so important and it’s exactly what you’ll understand in these best Anxiety Podcasts.
In these Podcast episodes, I break down the science behind anxiety and what tools actually help kids feel safe, calm, and in control again.
Why is my child’s anxiety showing up as bad behavior?
Anxiety doesn’t always look like worry, it often shows up as behavioral issues that get misunderstood or mislabeled. What looks like defiance may actually be a brain stuck in fight, flight, or freeze.
Episode 202: Anxiety and Behavior explains how anxiety impacts behavior and why traditional discipline doesn’t work for kids in distress.
Some of the core concepts in this episode include:
- How anxiety can lead to shutdowns, meltdowns, or avoidance
- Why “bad” behavior is really a sign of nervous system dysregulation
- What tools help calm the brain so behavior improves naturally
This episode helps parents shift from reacting to behavior to supporting regulation.
What’s one simple thing I can say to calm my anxious child?
When your child is spiraling, it can be hard to know what to say—or not say. But one simple mindset shift can help de-escalate their anxiety and bring emotional safety back into the moment.
Episode 318: The #1 Thought-Calming Strategy Every Parent of an Anxious Child Must Know shares a practical script and calming tip that helps reduce anxiety in the heat of the moment.
What you’ll learn:
- The one phrase to avoid (and what to say instead)
- Why validation calms the nervous system
How to help your child feel seen and safe—even during a meltdown
How do I stop my child’s anxious thoughts from spiraling?
When kids are anxious, they often get stuck in a loop of negative thoughts and worst-case scenarios. It’s called cognitive spiraling, and it can fuel emotional outbursts or total shutdown.
Episode 314: Stop the Spiral – How to Help Kids With Emotional Dysregulation and Anxiety teaches parents how to interrupt that spiral and bring kids back to a calm, connected state.
What you’ll learn:
- What cognitive spirals are and how they form
- Tools to stop the anxious loop before it escalates
- How to help your child shift to grounded, rational thinking
What if doctors can’t figure out what’s wrong with my child?
So many parents are told their child’s struggles are “just behavioral”—when in reality, underlying anxiety or neurological dysregulation is being missed. It’s a frustrating medical mystery that leaves families without answers.
Episode 310: Medical Mystery – My Personal Journey walks through my own family’s story of misdiagnosis and the healing that came when we finally looked at the brain.
What you’ll learn:
- How stress and inflammation affect brain function
- Why symptoms get overlooked or mislabeled
- How functional approaches help uncover the real issue
What are things I should not say to my anxious child?
Even with the best intentions, some common phrases can make anxiety worse. Things like “calm down” or “you’re fine” often backfire and make kids feel dismissed.
Episode 311: What Parents Shouldn’t Say to Anxious Kids helps you avoid accidental triggers and gives you alternatives that actually help kids regulate.
What you’ll learn:
- Phrases that escalate vs. de-escalate anxiety
- Why kids need emotional validation—not fixing
- Scripts that build connection and regulation
How can I support my anxious teen without making it worse?
Parenting teens with anxiety is tricky, they often resist help even when they desperately need it. You need tools that support their independence while also calming their brain.
Episode 198: Parenting Anxious Teens – Calm Brain Tools With Nancy McDermott, LCSW offers brain-based strategies that strengthen connection and help teens regulate.
What you’ll learn:
- Why anxious teens often act irritable or shut down
- Tools to reduce emotional reactivity
- How to keep the lines of communication open
Why are transitions so hard for my anxious child?
Whether it’s moving from screen time to homework, going to a new school, or just ending summer break, transitions can trigger major stress in anxious or dysregulated kids.
Episode 312: Why Transitions Are Hard for Anxious Kids explains what’s going on in the brain during transitions and how to make them easier.
What you’ll learn:
- Why the brain resists change when it’s anxious
- How to create predictable routines that lower stress
- Practical ways to make transitions smoother at home and school
Can magnesium really help with anxiety?
If your child is anxious, can’t sleep, or struggles to focus, magnesium could be a game-changer, especially the right form that crosses the blood-brain barrier.
Episode 234: Magnesium for Stress and Anxiety explores how nutrient deficiencies affect the brain and why Magnesium L-Threonate is one of my go-to tools for calming an overactive nervous system.
In this episode, we talk about:
- The role of magnesium in regulating stress and calming the brain
- Why Magnesium L-Threonate works differently than other forms
- When to use it (and how much) for sleep, attention, and anxiety
A must-listen if you want natural, effective support for your child’s brain.
Could my child have anxiety instead of ADHD?
It’s easy to mistake anxiety for ADHD, especially when a child seems inattentive or impulsive. But sometimes what looks like ADHD is really a brain overwhelmed by stress.
Episode 199: Can Anxiety in Children Mimic ADHD? helps parents understand when anxiety—not ADHD—is the root issue.
You’ll learn:
- How anxiety can impair focus, memory, and executive function
- The key differences between true ADHD and stress-based symptoms
- What calming tools support attention without medication
Understanding this overlap is critical to getting your child the right support.
How can I help my child with test anxiety?
So many kids freeze during tests, not because they don’t know the material, but because their nervous system is flooded with stress. And when the stress response kicks in, thinking and memory shut down.
Episode 104: Test Anxiety walks you through why this happens and how to help your child perform better with simple regulation strategies.
Inside the episode, we cover:
- What’s happening in the brain during test anxiety
- Calming tools to use before and during a test
- How to build confidence and reduce school-related stress
A practical listen for any parent whose child struggles with academic performance.
Why does my child refuse to go to school?
When your child resists going to school, it’s not because they’re lazy or manipulative—it’s because something inside them feels unsafe. And forcing them to go won’t fix the root cause.
Episode 214: Behavior Decoded – Unseen Reasons of School Avoidance Anxiety uncovers what’s really behind school refusal and what to do instead.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Common (and often missed) causes of school avoidance
- Why traditional punishments often make things worse
- How to build a step-by-step return plan that feels safe and doable
This episode helps parents and schools create supportive solutions—not power struggles.
Parent Action Steps
Remember, regulation is a process. Stay consistent, and over time, these small steps add up to big changes.
Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge is a licensed mental health expert that is frequently cited in the media:
- The Happy Student (Podcast) Stress and Anxiety 101.
- The Well (Article) How to Cope With Reemergence Anxiety.
- Parade The 10 Best Heated, Weighted Blankets for a Cozy, Anxiety-Free Night.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to give health advice and it is recommended to consult with a physician before beginning any new wellness regime. *The effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment vary by patient and condition. Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge, LLC does not guarantee certain results.
Are you looking for SOLUTIONS for your struggling child or teen?
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