As you have learned, feeling anxiety is a normal part of being human. So even though you have accomplished a lot by facing your fears, it’s important to know that your anxiety levels can increase again. In fact, you can expect that this will happen at times, and that is okay!
When your anxiety levels increase, or when your anxiety is intense, you can use the tools and skills that you have learned about in LUNA. Think about what has helped you on this journey. What has helped you manage your anxiety? How was your plan of action helpful? You may even want to make a new plan of action for any fears you are still dealing with, or for any fears that come up for you in the future.
If you find yourself dealing with anxiety and don’t know what to do next, or if you have tried handling anxiety all on your own, but are still feeling super anxious, you may want to reach out to an adult you trust who can help.
Think about your parent or caregiver who completed LUNA with you. They could be a wonderful person to reach out to about your fears or worries. Your parent has learned many new skills alongside you and has supported you on this journey, so they could be a great source of support in the future as well.
Anxiety can be difficult, and you do not have to deal with it all on your own. As we have talked about before, feeling supported and cared for is important when you are facing challenges or managing emotions like anxiety. Take a moment to think about anyone else you could reach out to for support when you are dealing with anxiety and write their names on the Who to Reach Out to for Support worksheet, or view the instructions below:
If you are struggling to think of people you can lean on for support, and don’t have many names written down- don’t get discouraged! Having even just one person to lean on can be tremendously helpful.
It may also be helpful to focus on finding your circle of support. Try to find a community of people who you feel like you can relate to in some way or who you feel comfortable around. Putting yourself out there like this can be scary and difficult, and it can be hard to even know where to start!
One way you can begin searching for a supportive community, is by looking for people with similar interests and passions. For example, if you are a member of a church, you could try getting involved with their youth group. If you have a specific hobby, try looking for groups or clubs dedicated to that hobby. You might try joining a club or a sports team at your school. You might also try looking for friends who have similar values or experiences as you. Forming friendships with like-minded people who you feel comfortable with is a great way to build a support system you can reach out to when needed.
Planning For The Future
You have been working so hard to overcome your anxiety in LUNA, so it will be very beneficial for you to keep this momentum going! It’s important that you plan out how you will manage your anxiety in the future so that you can continue to make progress.
Take some time to brainstorm. Think about the anxiety-related obstacles that you could face in the future. Then, answer the questions on the Planning for the Future worksheet, or view the questions in the drop-down below.
After thinking about the future, you may want to make a new plan of action to tackle any goals that came up for you. To make new plans, go back to Module 4 and follow the steps to make a plan of action just like you did before. Remember, you will have these modules, worksheets, and videos to come back to if you need them!
