Combatting Anxiety in Children
Jan 02, 2019
Effectively dealing with anxiety ensures better lives for sufferers. It is imperative to learn to cope with the uncomfortable emotional and physical effects of the condition as early as possible. Teach your children to manage anxiety before it becomes chronic. Here are some methods your kids can employ to successfully quell uncomfortable feelings. Also, many children can benefit from anxiety therapy from a professional counselor.
Children must learn self-awareness. Teach your kids to acknowledge fears as soon as they arise. When someone recognizes one or more symptoms of anxiety such as stomach tightening, sweating, fast heartbeat and dry mouth they understand they are beginning to panic. At the first sign of "fight or flight", they can put an action plan into place to deal with the situation and resulting emotions.
Teach the child who is becoming anxious to take a few concentrated breaths to help settle nerves and ready his brain for clear thinking. If possible, the youngster should take a time out and remove himself from the circumstance causing the bad feelings. Taking a few moments alone by walking outside, going to the restroom or simply retreating to another area of the room allows feelings to settle some. The physical act of walking also helps relieve tension in the mind and body.
When simple measures of focused breathing and removing himself from a situation are not enough, a child needs a solid back-up plan. Help your child put together a support system for dealing with anxiety attacks. He needs to have several people he can contact when needed such as a family members, friends and/or teachers. These are individuals who will listen, give positive feedback and pitch in whenever needed.
Many children suffer from anxiety that we typically associate with adults. Be attentive to your child's emotions and the circumstances that cause him angst. Teaching him techniques to help manage the negative feelings will equip him to deal with present and future concerns. Consider professional anxiety counseling when your child shows signs of excessive anxiousness. For those in the Fresno region, please contact us for assistance in gaining help for your family.