In Time Travelling Pizza, Episode 1, Chris Crust faces social anxiety: though he loves his friends, he feels anxious about going to see them. He’s so focused on his worries, he wonders if he should go at all!

Just because we really want to do something, like attend a barbecue, doesn’t mean we won’t feel anxious about it. But letting our fears prevent us from joining fun experiences with people we care about isn’t the right move. Try to remember that everyone else is usually focused on themselves, and some of them may be just as anxious as you are!

Even if you can’t time travel, you can still find someone to speak with about your feelings. A friend, parent, or trusted teacher can help you recognize and cope with your anxiety.

 

Caretoons animated series about anxiety for kids

Sharing is Caring

Share this series with people you know and see if any of them feel the same way. It’s a fun way to share your feelings and may help your friends out as well! Remember, it’s okay to talk about how you feel. Keep the conversation going! Let teens know that it’s okay to talk about their feelings and give them a safe space to express themselves. It can help if you discuss your own fears, too, so they know they’re not alone.

► Have you felt anxious about going to an event or doing something with friends?
► Do your anxieties stop you from doing the things you want to do?
► Can you think of anyone else who may feel the same way you do?
► What do you think ‘future you’ would say, if they could time travel?
► Who is someone you trust that you could talk about your feelings with?

For ideas on how to use episodes of our Caretoons series about social anxiety to talk to kids and youth, check out our blog here.

 

Caretoons animated series about anxiety for kids

 

 

Check out our other Caretoons series, Galaxy Brain, where Drexal the Alien also grapples with social anxiety!

See all our Caretoons episodes featuring fun characters dealing with their anxieties over here.

 

Keep the Conversation Going!

Time Travelling Pizza is teen animated series that focuses on topics like social anxiety, health anxiety, contamination OCD, and more. With humour and heart, Caretoons normalize anxiety in an entertaining way and encourage seeking help from a trusted parent, teacher or friend.

As a parent, educator, or healthcare provider, it can be difficult to navigate talking to pre-teens and teens about mental health, especially during the pandemic. Anxiety Canada created Time Travelling Pizza to help youth communicate openly about their fears and know that they’re not alone in how they feel.

Many teens don’t realize that what they are feeling is anxiety, yet they face anxiety-inducing change daily as we all face new situations during the pandemic. You can help teens name their anxieties, recognize the symptoms, and understand the impact anxiety has on their lives through vital conversations.

 

More Resources

 

For more answers on helping children and teens with anxiety, as well as other mental health resources, see the useful articles below.

Social Anxiety in Kids + Youth – What is social anxiety and how can you help?

Anxiety 101 – Learn to recognize anxiety and how it affects your thoughts, your body, and your life as a teenager.

Educator Resources – Take a look at our resources for educators on the Anxiety Canada website.

 

Caretoons animated series about anxiety for kids

Caretoons, the animated series, was created with the support of British Columbia’s Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions by Point Blank Creative and Anxiety Canada. Voiced by acclaimed comedian and author, Charlie Demers.