Does your son or daughter react to situations in a noticeably different way than his or her peers? You’re not alone. We hear parents express this concern often at The Center For Family Unity. Treating anxiety in children is different than treating anxiety in adults.
Anxious children often express their fears to their parents in one or more of the following manners. Do your children:
– Cling to you?
– Expect the worst?
– Clench their fists, look frightened, and tighten their muscles?
– Pretend to be sick?
– Lack energy?
– Forget what they have learned?
– Procrastinate?
– Resist making decisions because they fear they might be wrong?
– Check, re-check, and check again to make sure everything is perfect?
If your child’s fear seems out of proportion to a situation, and if their fear is interfering with their ability to have good relationships with friends and family, you may want to consider having your child treated for anxiety. Meanwhile, we hope you’ll find comfort in knowing there are many ways parents can help their anxious children.
- Tell your child their “fear” is caused by something called “” Explain you are going to help them learn how to send “anxiety” away when they don’t want “anxiety” to visit.
- Ask your child to give their “anxiety” a silly name. It will make it easier for them to talk about their experience.
- Learn to recognize signs indicating your child is starting to feel anxious.
- Develop a bedtime routine practicing ways to relax such as deep breathing. This will enable your child to master the ability to calm themselves.
- Introduce your child to books with a story line about children or animals that master their fears.
- Help your child to learn and use positive self-talk, and to see the connection between their negative self-talk and their anxiety.
- Listen to their thoughts and feelings, without needing to change them. Reflect them back, while comforting them to help them feel safe.
- Explain the physical feelings they experience when they are anxious, are not actually harmful.
- If you suffer from anxiety, get help to manage your own anxiety. What you learn has the potential to help your entire family.
- Read Why Smart Kids Worry and What Parents Can Do To Help, by Edwards, and Monsters Under the Bed and Other Childhood Fears by Garber, Garber, and Spizman.
- Keep a daily routine. Anxious children cope better with structure.
- Maintain a regular bed time. Fatigue increases anxiety.
- Encourage your child to exercise daily so they can relieve stress naturally.
Raising an anxious child can be exhausting and confusing. The Center for Family Unity is available to help you and your child learn ways to firmly shut the door, so anxiety is not allowed to visit. For more information or to schedule your first appointment, call us at 619-884-0601.