When we get sick, it’s easy to imagine the worst! Washing our hands, wearing a mask, and social distancing are all useful steps to ensure our safety and the safety of our loved ones. But rather than focusing on anxiety about what could happen, it helps to think about the things we can do instead.

Remember, it’s a normal part of life to get sick now and then! When we do, our family and loved ones will take care of us and we’ll get through it.

Even if you can’t talk to yourself from the future, you can still find someone to discuss your feelings with. A friend, parent, or trusted teacher can help you recognize and cope with your health anxiety.

Caretoons animated series about anxiety for kids

Talk To Kids About Health Axniety

Keep the conversation going! Let kids know that it’s okay to talk about their feelings and give them a safe space to express themselves. Discussing your own anxieties can reassure them that they’re not alone. Share this series with people you know and see if any of them feel the same way. It’s a fun way to share your feelings and may help your friends out, too! Remember, it’s okay to talk about how you feel.

► Have you felt anxious about getting sick?
► Can you think of anyone else who may feel the same way you do?
► What do you think ‘future you’ would say, if they could time travel?
► Who is someone you trust that you could talk to about your feelings?

For specific ideas on using two of our Caretoons series episodes to talk to kids about health anxiety, take a look at our article over here.

 

Caretoons animated series about anxiety for kids

 

 

Take a look at our other Caretoons series, Galaxy Brain with Drexal the Alien, such as Episode 2, where he deals with his own health anxiety.

See all our Caretoons episodes featuring fun characters dealing with their anxieties over here.

Recognizing Anxiety

Time Travelling Pizza is teen animated series focusing on topics such as social anxiety, health anxiety, contamination OCD, and more. Caretoons use humour and heart to normalize anxiety in an entertaining way and encourage youths to seek help from a trusted parent, teacher, or friend.

As a parent, educator, or healthcare provider, talking to pre-teens and teens about mental health can be difficult, especially during uncertain times, like the COVID-19 pandemic. Anxiety Canada created Time Travelling Pizza, and our other animated series Galaxy Brain, to encourage open communication about fear and anxiety so that youths know they’re never alone in how they feel.

Many teens don’t realize that what they’re feeling is anxiety, and you can help them be aware of their symptoms as they face new situations during the pandemic and beyond. Help children with the important steps of naming their anxieties, recognizing anxiety and panic symptoms, and understanding the impact it has on their lives.

 

For more anxiety resources, see our helpful links below, which are useful for teens, parents, educators, or healthcare providers.

Anxiety 101 – Learn to recognize anxiety and how it affects your thoughts, your body, and your life as a teenager.

ABC’s of Anxiety – Read about the basics of anxiety in your child or teen and the six ways it affects their life.

Educator Resources on Health Anxiety – How to recognize health anxiety and help students with their mental health.

Time Travelling Pizza Caretoons Social Anxiety

 

Caretoons, the animated series, was created with the support of British Columbia’s Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions by Point Blank Creative and Anxiety Canada. Voiced by acclaimed comedian and author, Charlie Demers.