3. Anxiety Thermometer

Now you know your first facts about anxiety, it’s time to put them to use on the Anxiety Thermometer.

On the Anxiety Thermometer, write down some of the things you may notice as a young person experiences increasing anxiety. The table below should give you some guidance on where to start and we have given you an example. Begin with the first things someone may feel, then move across the thermometer, writing down what they might notice as their anxiety increases.

You can print a thermometer on the worksheet here, or if you cannot print, simply draw out the table below.

LOW ANXIETYMEDIUM ANXIETYHIGH ANXIETY
THOUGHTSe.g. My friend might be cross with mee.g. My friend is going to stop being my friende.g. All my friends will hate me and I will be left on my own
FEELINGSe.g. Feeling frightened or panicky


e.g. ‘Short fuse’ - getting irritable and angry easilye.g. Other people’s emotions affecting you more easily
PHYSICALe.g. Taking longer to drop off to sleepe.g. Getting up lots of times in the night worryinge.g. Very disrupted sleep
BEHAVIOURSe.g. Avoidance of doing things that create anxietye.g. Getting into arguments more oftene.g. Checking behaviours
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