What are core anxieties?

Core anxieties are big worries that keep showing up in our lives, like a favorite song that keeps playing over and over again.

Imagine you have a toy box full of your favorite toys, cars, blocks, dolls. But there's one toy that always makes you feel nervous when you play with it. Maybe it’s a toy that sometimes breaks or hides from you. That toy is like a core anxiety, it’s not the only thing making you worry, but it shows up a lot and affects how you feel.

Think of core anxieties as a game that keeps repeating itself in your mind. Maybe you worry about being left out, or failing at something important, or not being liked by others. These worries might not always be there, but when they come up, they can make you feel like you’re playing the same game again, and it’s hard to win.

Sometimes, even if you know the rules of the game, you still get nervous every time it starts. That's how core anxieties work, they're big worries that keep showing up, making things feel harder than they really are.