Andrea The Anxiety Expert

19/12/2025

19/12/2025

They’re full up with Christmas already, especially if they’re primary age children.

I know I was, as a primary school teacher. By the time we’d finished we were literally on our knees.

And before going home we had to remove all evidence of fake snow, glitter and twinkly lights from our classrooms,

our Teaching Assistants would have been changing reading books like their lives depended on it and would have taken all Christmas displays down, re-backed display boards ready for the new topics of work in January.

Either it this way or go into school mid-holiday and do it then & who wants to do that?!

So please allow your child or young person a few days to decompress because this term in school is like a glittery tornado….let them veg, slouch, rest, have a few duvet days…before we expect anything more of them.

Their nervous system needs to settle before Santa & co set off 🎅🏻🛷🦌

19/12/2025

We don’t want you being a frazzled, burnt-out Elf and You’re not a magical Christmas Elf either….

You’re a caring Human Being, loving parent & family focussed Mamma!

No Christmas is ever ‘perfect’ whatever that actually means anyway??

If you’re hosting Christmas Day, a party, New Year’s Eve, or even if you’re going elsewhere you’ve probably not only been checking one list twice but several lists many times over whilst writing Xmas cards and taking an elderly neighbour shopping (which is what I’m doing tomorrow)!

But here’s the thing, you can’t magically make everyone happy so please don’t turn yourself inside out trying to.

You can only do what you can do.
Ask for help if you need it and try to let go of worrying what others do, say, think or feel because it’s not your responsibility to look after that, it’s theirs.

I know it’s so difficult when we feel we have these expectations on us but if it’s making us ill physically, emotionally and mentally then we’re paying too high a price. I know because I was the same.

I love Christmas but I used to find it so stressful, as mums we’re usually the ones who get asked for ideas of what to buy our children and relatives, which is lovely but it’s another thing to think about on top of working, doing our own Xmas shopping and fighting off the bugs that fly around at this time of year.

So this year, can you let go of the worry of what others think in some small way?

So what if you haven’t bought crackers or you run out of sprouts? 😂
Because whatever happens you can’t control what others think, feel, say or do & it’s not your responsibility to either.

Christmas Day will come and go and whatever happens it will be fine.

If you’re struggling reach out for a chat…Calendly link in my bio (FREE 30 mins) You’re not alone. ✨

16/12/2025

Christmas is often super exciting for children… and also really overwhelming.

Let’s help take some of the stress out of Xmas for them by being mindful of what we’re asking of them.

Do they really want to go and hug and kiss someone they hardly know just because we’re asking them/telling them to?

Do they feel embarrassed in front of other people and are really shy?

Discussing things before the event can really help.

Whilst we can’t control everything, we can make a bit of a plan to help our children feel a bit more relaxed, seen, heard and understood.

Why is this SO important?

It teaches your child :
1) Their body belongs to them.

2) They can choose how physically close they get to someone.

3) Their feelings matter and are being taken seriously.

Follow me for more Xmas stress relieving tips & if you’re a parent thinking things can’t continue as they are & you’re looking to start the new year with more support, take a look at my programme for parents starting on 6 January. You’ll find details on my website here & link in my Instagram bio.

andrea-sumner.com/home

10/12/2025

Are you walking on eggshells around your child?

When your child’s anxious feelings take over your life, it’s exhausting.
You’re walking on egg shells, you’re trying to anticipate everything ahead of time to steady your child’s emotions and smooth the way so you don’t get on the receiving end of their big feelings.

It’s upsetting, energy draining and seriously tests your patience. You’re trying your best to support your child but the issues are upsetting siblings and your partner too.

It’s all building up and you don’t know how much more you can take.

The doors are open to my January Parent group programme - a 6 session online course to empower you to know exact what to do & say in those crucial moments and in daily life too…it’s all about calming things down, understanding where everyone is coming from and finding a way through so that you can bring harmony back home.

I’ve a December discount if you contact me before 11pm today…and secure your place with a £50 deposit.

09/12/2025

As a Mum, I’d do anything to keep my 4 children happy, but what if that meant they weren’t learning how to feel ALL their feelings and cope with them? How would I feel then?

What if by loving them so much I wasn’t helping them learn that feelings like sadness, anger and uncertainty were actually a normal part of life and that deep down they do have the ability to cope (even though they might not feel like it)?

We’ve all done it as parents, maybe we grew up believing some feelings and emotions weren’t welcome in our homes. Perhaps we were shouted at when we expressed those feelings, I know I was.

None of this is about judgement or blame it’s just meeting us all where we’re at; we’re all doing the very best we can with what we’ve got.

If you’re ready to try something different in January (because let’s face it, this can’t carry on much longer) reach out & let’s chat about how we can work together.

If your child is aged 6-12yrs, you might like to hop on the 6 session Jan zoom programme so you can start the new year fully equipped with a new set of tools in your toolkit…

Message me today x

04/12/2025

Today, I’ve been recording a WELCOME message for my new website…I can’t wait to share it with you!
A huge thank you to my youngest son, Shay Menzies .pets for designing it for me whilst creating his own website too ✨

03/12/2025

Do you want to know why your child has tummy ache but the GP says there’s nothing wrong?

…it’s all to do with how your child’s thoughts, feelings, the physical sensations(like tummy aches, headaches and shaky legs) and their reactions to things are all connected.

In my 6-week Parent-Led CBT based Programme, I teach you exactly how to understand and calm these fears and worries before they create further physical issues. Plus you’ll practice strategies that promote a calmer home life too.

We use simple tools you can use at home which are Science backed and rooted in CBT with some compassionate, mindfulness practices incorporated too.

Join the other parents who have already signed up.
🎄Contact me for more info and get access to the December discount (before 10th December). 🤍

01/12/2025

We’re normal human beings, we’re not robots.

If we allow ourselves to feel all the feelings we realise they can’t actually hurt us & they’re nothing to be scared of.

When we see feelings with compassion instead of criticism & acceptance instead of avoidance we allow ourselves to listen to what they’re communicating to us….

Eg, do we need to set a boundary, is there a part of me that isn’t feeling heard or understood, is there a part of me who doesn’t feel safe, or loved?

When we enter a dialogue with them they begin to soften and disperse because we’re paying them attention.

Many of us didn’t learn this when we were growing up…we may have been told off for showing ‘big feelings’ I know I was. If we’re told off, we shut down.

There’s no judgement here on how we were raised, just reflection, awareness and an understanding which helps us be compassionate with ourselves as we learn it’s not only okay to feel our feelings, it’s normal, natural and healthy.

If you’d like some support for yourself to feel your feelings without the guilt and shame or how to help your child, get in touch, I’m here for you.