42 | Hidden Signs of Teen Anxiety & How to Plan Ahead with Dayna Abraham
Hi Parents!
What if your teen’s moodiness, irritability, or refusal to engage isn’t defiance - but anxiety in disguise?
In this episode, I’m joined by Dayna Abraham, bestselling author of Calm the Chaos, National Board Certified educator, and mom of three neurodivergent kids. With warmth and wisdom, Dayna helps parents uncover the hidden signs of anxiety and offers powerful tools for when typical parenting approaches fall short.
We explore:
- Subtle ways anxiety shows up in teens’ behavior
- Why “acting out” might actually be a sign of distress
- How to meet your teen where they are using the Calm the Chaos framework
- How ahead-of-the-moment plans can prevent anxiety from spiraling
More about Dayna:
As the founder of the Calm the Chaos parenting approach, Dayna blends her background in education with lived experience to support families navigating big emotions and challenging behaviors. She’s been featured on NBC, NPR, and Parents.com and is a trusted voice for parents raising anxious or neurodivergent kids.
🎧 She’s also the host of the Calm the Chaos Podcast, where she shares practical tools and inspiring stories to help parents create more peace at home.
This episode has many practical insights to help you create a calmer, more connected relationship with your teen - starting today.
Big hugs,
Monica Crnogorac
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