Why anxiety can be good for us: Helping your child handle fear, uncertainty, and discomfort with Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary

Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, clinical psychologist, researcher, and author of Future Tense: Why Anxiety Is Good for You (Even Though It Feels Bad), joins me to talk about why anxiety is one of the most misunderstood emotions in parenting.   Together we explore:   The surprising difference between anxiety that helps us grow and anxiety that gets in the way. Why anxiety may be helping your child (and you!) more than you realize. How to tell when anxiety is healthy and when it's becoming a problem. Why some of the most common responses to childhood anxiety can backfire. The surprising connection between anxiety, hope, and resilience. How parents can become a source of calm without dismissing or fixing their child's feelings. The simple shift that can help you stop seeing anxiety as the enemy. Dr. Dennis-Tiwary's three-step framework for responding to anxiety in yourself and your child.   This conversation offers a powerful reframe for parents who want to support their children through anxiety without reinforcing fear or avoidance. It is about learning to see anxiety not as an enemy, but as a normal part of being human, and helping our children develop the confidence to face uncertainty, navigate discomfort, and trust their ability to handle life's challenges.     LEARN MORE ABOUT MY GUEST: 🔗https://www.tracydennistiwary.com/  📚Future Tense: Why Anxiety Is Good for You (Even Though It Feels Bad) – A Psychologist's Paradigm Shift for Understanding and Hope 📱@dr.tracyphd     LEARN MORE ABOUT ME: 🔗 Dr. Sarah Bren  🔗 Check out my group practice, Upshur Bren Psychology Group, offering therapy and coaching for individuals, children, parents, and families  📱IG: @drsarahbren     ADDITIONAL REFERENCES AND RESOURCES:   👉 Looking for support for a child struggling with anxiety or OCD? If your child is struggling with anxiety or OCD, Upshur Bren Psychology Group offers SPACE-based parent support through both a virtual group and individualized care. Go to upshurbren.com/space to learn more or book a free 30-minute consultation with our care team, who will listen carefully and help you determine the best support for your family.   🎧 The mattering gap: Why so many parents feel invisible, overwhelmed, and disconnected with Jennifer Wallace      CHECK OUT ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE: 🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) with Dr. Eli Lebowitz of the Yale Child Study Center   🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about how to find the line between supporting your child and feeding their anxiety   🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about how parents can know when their child's anxiety may require a mental health intervention