![]() If a child has managed to avoid challenging situations, then he has missed valuable opportunities to learn how to get along with other kids. When you give in to the child’s anxiety - she’s afraid of doing a book report, has a tantrum, and is excused from doing it - her escape behavior is rewarded.Ĭhildhood is the time for developing social skills and managing different situations. It’s important to keep in mind that anxiety will persist if kids avoid what they fear. The Effects of Untreated Childhood Anxiety He may then practice with a teacher, and then a friend, before finally speaking to the class. Similarly, a child who fears speaking in front of his class may start by reading a few sentences to a therapist and working up to longer and more difficult presentations. Over time, the separation may increase (Mom walks to the curb, then down the block, and so on). For a child with separation anxiety, a parent may start exposure therapy by going into another room for two minutes every day for a week. By facing a feared situation in a gradual fashion, children see that the dreaded outcomes didn’t happen. The key ingredient in CBT is behavioral exposure. Over time, these worries lessen in frequency and intensity and no longer interfere with life. CBT aims to help children see that the situations they fear are unlikely to happen and that “anxiety is just making me think this way.” CBT teaches us to differentiate real from excessive worries, and it teaches skills for tolerating worries without having to act on them. Seeking constant reassurance from parentsĬhildhood Anxiety: Treatments and InterventionsĬognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the preferred treatment for child anxiety, and it can be quite effective.Complaining of frequent stomach and headaches.Being upset for no reason or acting out angrily.Missing school and/or refusing to engage in sports or social activities.Crying, tantrums, or overreactions to a situation or event.To diagnose a clinical level of pediatric anxiety that may require intervention, we look for signs of fear that interfere with a child’s daily living, such as: Childhood Anxiety: Distress Signalsĭespite our best efforts, sometimes anxiety cannot be treated at home. Reinforce your child’s brave behaviors with praise, and ignore whining, tantrums, or other unwanted behaviors.Approach anxiety as a family issue so the child doesn’t feel singled out.Use relaxation and mindfulness strategies to manage anxiety together, particularly to help children over a certain age to sleep in their own rooms.Talk to her about what is making her anxious. Never get angry at your child for being anxious or wanting to avoid school, family gatherings, or social events.Don’t accommodate the anxiety by letting your child off the hook for school responsibilities.To help an anxious child, employ positive strategies that build self-confidence and resilience. You may want to try strategies for addressing anxiety at home before seeking professional help. Helping Your Anxious Child: Strategies for Parents Sometimes, it’s hard to tell the difference between stress, anxiety, and fear because they feel similar in our bodies: our hearts pound, our thoughts race, and we’re short of breath. Individuals with childhood anxiety overestimate danger and anticipate bad outcomes to a greater extent than do non-anxious people. Anxiety produces the same fear response but in the absence of a real threat - for example, someone with anxiety may worry about snakes even if none are nearby. If I’m hiking through the woods and stumble upon a snake, that’s a real threat, and I respond by running away. How do I know whether I should seek treatment for him?”Īnxiety is a normal part of life - it’s related to fear, and fear is a natural response to something that’s threatening. Q: “My son has ADHD and anxiety - and living through a pandemic hasn’t helped.
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