What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood | Parenting Tips From Funny Moms DEEP DIVE: Dr. Lisa Damour on Helping Kids Manage Anxiety
Mar 9, 2026
Dr. Lisa Damour, clinical psychologist and author focused on adolescent development, discusses kids’ anxiety with clear, practical framing. She explains why anxiety often hides in behavior. Short segments cover why avoidance backfires, the glitter jar metaphor, age‑tailored coping steps, and four pillars for teens. Listeners get concise, reassuring guidance on noticing and navigating childhood anxiety.
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Anxiety Is A Useful Alarm
- Anxiety itself is normal and can be useful as an alarm that alerts us to threats.
- Dr. Lisa Damour reframes anxiety as protective energy that prompts action, not something to be entirely erased.
Anxiety Hides Behind Irritability And Indifference
- Anxiety in children often shows up as behaviors like irritability or indifference rather than verbal reports.
- Amy and Margaret describe how a child’s irritability, shutting down in class, or 'bored' façade were actually anxiety manifestations.
From Head Down To Enthusiasm With One Prompt
- Amy's son sat through a comic-book drawing class with his head down until she prompted idea generation.
- Once he brainstormed a spider who plays piano, he lit up and wanted to buy a special pen to continue the project.
