She said "I'm fine." You don't believe her. She's not sure she believes herself. I was that girl in the passenger seat. On the way to a basketball game, stomach churning, so tense I thought I might be sick. My mom, who loved me, gave me a pep talk. I didn't say a word back. I shut down and looked out the window the whole rest of the way. She wasn't wrong to try. It just wasn't what I needed. I didn't need to be motivated. I needed somebody to listen. This one's for both of you at the same time, mom and daughter, right there in the car. Because the problem is almost never that she won't talk. It's when you're asking, how you're sitting, and what words you're using. What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• What "I'm fine" actually means, and why it's usually not a lie
• Why the moment you most want to ask is the worst possible time to ask
• The reason hard conversations go better in the car than across the kitchen table
• Why using her slang closes the door instead of opening it
• What a girl needs before she needs advice

Your one step this week: Mom, take one drive and don't ask her anything. Not one question. Her music, eyes on the road, let the quiet sit. Baby sis, one time this week, swap "I'm fine" for "I don't know how to say it yet." Tuesday, we're talking about the girl who calls herself a perfectionist. High standards, likes things done right. Except she can't turn it off and she's exhausted, and what she's calling a personality trait is anxiety in a cute outfit. xo, Kristen 🎧 Follow the show so the next episode shows up for you. LET'S CONNECT! 🕊️ Free PEACE Playbook: anxiouschristianteen.com/peace 🫶🏻 Free community: anxiouschristianteen.com/community ❓ What Type of Anxious Teen Girl Are You?: anxiouschristianteen.com/quiz

Hey doll - be honest for a second. Are you already dreading the first day of school? And are you doing it quietly, where nobody around you would ever guess? I was that girl. Tenth grade, geometry on my schedule, my bestie in a different class, and a zit on my chin I was convinced the entire school was about to notice. And you'd never have known a single bit of it, because I put on a face. I always wore a mask. Here's what kept me stuck the longest: I thought my face was working, and I thought everybody else's face was real. In this episode I'm walking you through two things - why nobody in that building is watching you as closely as you're watching yourself, and what to do with the parts of your schedule that didn't go your way. What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why the girls who look the most "fine" are often the ones struggling the most
• What's actually running through your head the morning you walk in looking totally normal
• Why the girl you're sure has it all together is doing the exact same math about you
• How to flip the script on the schedule, locker, or lunch period you didn't want
• The baby steps that absolutely count as brave when you're already managing anxiety

This week, pick one baby step for day one. Eye contact. Saying hi first. Answering somebody's question kindly. One - not three. And come back Friday, but bring your mom. We're talking about two words: I'm fine and what you mean when you say them. That one's meant to be listened to together. xo, Kristen 🎧 Loving the podcast? Follow/subscribe so every new episode lands right in your feed - and it helps more anxious girls find their way here. LET'S CONNECT! Free PEACE Plan Playbook: anxiouschristianteen.com/peace Free community: anxiouschristianteen.com/community What Type of Anxious Teen Girl Are You?: anxiouschristianteen.com/quiz

Hey doll, if the night before school has had you lying in bed running through every worst-case scenario - who you're gonna sit with, whether your friend group is even still your friend group, what everybody's gonna think of your fit on day one - you are so not alone. That stomach-drop feeling? I hosted a live training all about it, and today I'm bringing you the recap, straight to your earbuds. In this episode, I'm walking you through the exact framework I taught live: five simple steps you can use anywhere, anytime, and nobody even has to know you're using them. I'm also telling you about The Peace Plan - my brand new group coaching program - for a price that's never gonna be this low again. Grab your spot at anxiouschristianteen.com/b2s before it's gone.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• The PEACE Plan - my five-step, in-the-moment framework for anxious feelings: Pause the Proving, Express the Hard Thing, Anchor in Truth, Choose Your Next Move, and Enter Everyday Peace
• The full scoop on The Peace Plan group coaching - six weeks, ten spots, and a deal that won't come back around

This one's mostly just you and me working through it together - your mom gets looped in for a couple of the steps along the way, but the bulk of it is time between us. This week: Pick one anxious thought that's been running on repeat and try the Express + Anchor steps. Say it out loud or write it down exactly as it is - "God, I'm scared that..." - then answer it back with something true. 2 Timothy 1:7 or Psalm 46:1 are great places to start. That's it. That's your one step. xo, Kristen 🎧 Follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode! LET'S CONNECT!

• The Peace Plan (brand new group coaching!): anxiouschristianteen.com/b2s - 6 live coaching calls plus faith-based tools and teachings, just $197, and you can bring a friend for free (totally optional - split the cost if you want!). Only 10 spots available, and doors close Monday, 8/3/26.
• Free PEACE Plan one-pager: anxiouschristianteen.com/peace