Andrea The Anxiety Expert

30/12/2025

It’s one of the hardest things you’ll ever do….
Walking away from a relationship, job, friendship or family dynamic that is familiar and yet you’ve outgrown.

Deep down you know it’s what you must do but it’s so scary stepping outside the familiar and into the unknown.

We’re tempted many times to turn round and go back and sometimes we do hoping things will change.

Sometimes they do if both parties can communicate, listen, take accountability and accept change.

Often that’s not the case and all you can do is keep walking, stay true to your inner wisdom and listen to its guidance because beyond the fear is growth and a place you’ve never been which is so much better than where you are now.

If you’re walking this path, it can feel lonely.
I’m here to walk alongside you whilst you reconnect with your inner strength ✨

25/12/2025

You don’t have to tell everyone what you’re doing or who you’re doing it with.

You don’t have to tell people where you’re going or what you’re doing.

You don’t have to tell people what you got, what you bought, what you ate and what you drank.

You can CHOOSE..you are your very own Press Release Officer

Take all the pressure off yourself and YOU do YOU ❤️

Nobody is entitled to your private life, just as you’re not entitled to theirs.

Respect your own private life, protect it and show others how much you value you and your precious life 🤗
They may not like it but they will respect you for it x

25/12/2025

4 Calm Christmas Tips (they work for all the family)

1) Take it in turns to hum your favourite Xmas song & see if others can guess it (humming helps your nervous system to regulate)

2) Make a hot chocolate and hold the warm mug (Holding something warm activates our feelings of safety) Hot water bottle, warm cuddly toy, even your pet dog or cat - feeling their heartbeat and listening to them purr is also soooo relaxing😍

3) Put your favourite Xmas socks on, lie down on the floor with your feet up against the wall (this lowers stress hormones, slows the heart rate & relaxes muscles) can you take 5 deep breaths or sighs whilst you’re there?

4) Take a warm bubble bath or have a warm shower (warm water helps relax muscles, reduces stress hormones & activates natural feel good chemicals).

Wishing you and your family a relaxing Christmas time, let me know which one of these is your family favourite & if you’d like to know more about me, please Follow & have a Scroll if my Website:

andrea-sumner.com/home

24/12/2025

When ROUTINES change ANXIETY can amplify.

Routine change at this time of year is a welcome break from the every day for many of us, a chance to step off the hamster wheel for a few days at least and do what we want to do for a change.

For some of our children and teens a change in routine can feel a bit scary and unsafe. They don’t know what to expect, they may feel out of their comfort zones and uncertain about how they’ll cope.

So how can we help? (and avoid the meltdowns as best we can?)

1) Keeping to as many routines as possible helps our children feel safe and secure.

2) Plan routine changes ahead of time if you can and discuss coping strategies with your child/teen.

3) Balance it up with a more routine focussed day or a day where they have more choice in what they’re doing rather than us telling them they have to go here, there & everywhere visiting & socialising.

22/12/2025

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.