Sometimes one of the hardest things about anxiety is finding the words to explain how it feels — especially for children. At just 11 years old, author Gracie Barry created This is Jeff – Anxiety Monst
Navigating the uncertain waters of childhood can sometimes be a nerve-racking experience for many children. Anxiety disorders among children are more common than you'd think, and often, they lack the means to articulate what they're feeling. This is where the ingenuity of 11-year-old author Gracie Barry shines brightly. In a recent episode of the Resilient Kid Podcast, Gracie shares her journey of creating a tool in the form of a book, which provides children experiencing anxiety - a language and a way to express themselves. It's called 'This is Jeff – Anxiety Monster.'
Writing your feelings out can be therapeutic, but it takes it to another level when you can create relatable content for people your age. Gracie's book 'This is Jeff – Anxiety Monster' manifests anxiety as a tangible character, Jeff - a purple slime ball who can sometimes be 'halfway up his ladder' or 'sleeping', offering a creative lens to understand and cope with anxiety.
One of the most relatable elements in Gracie's book is her portrayal of Jeff's character. Unlike many narratives that center around shooing away problems or banishing the villain, Gracie acknowledges that Jeff doesn't entirely disappear - an authentic reflection of living with anxiety. The lingering 'residue of worry' is something even adults struggle to articulate. What's beautiful about this book is the stretch of its audience - from a fellow pre-teen to a college student - navigating through transition periods of their life.
The real power lies in understanding and sharing our struggles, and Jeff's story does that remarkably. Gracie's initiative also fosters a stronger bond between parents and their children by offering a language that encapsulates feelings associated with anxiety. If a child is feeling anxious, they can express their anxiety level by simply saying, 'Jeff is halfway up his ladder' or 'Jeff is sleeping now.'
Gracie's pioneering efforts don't end with writing her book. Plans are afoot to take 'This is Jeff – Anxiety Monster' to schools via workshops led by the book's illustrator, Helen Hill. This move will bring Jeff to life and spread the narrative, helping more kids understand and express their feelings of anxiety. As Gracie poignantly puts it, 'Knowing how other people (experiencing anxiety) feel and probably how you also feel is really powerful.' Indeed, understanding is the first step towards acceptance, and acceptance is the first step towards recovery.
Ashley Costello
Ashley is the founder of The Resilient Kid and The Resilient Academy, an experienced psychotherapist with over 30 years of experience supporting children, young people and families. As an author, TEDx speaker, podcaster and mum of two, Ashley is passionate about helping children understand their emotions, build confidence and develop lifelong resilience. Through her work with families, schools and Resilient Kid Coaches, she is on a mission to make emotional wellbeing support accessible to more children, empowering the adults around them to create environments where they feel safe, connected and able to thrive. Find out more about Ashley and her work: https://theresilienthub.co.uk/trh-coaches/ashley
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