Anxiety In Children - How Do We Help Ourselves and Our Kids
Ever feel overwhelmed? Short on time? Overscheduled? Don’t know where to begin?
Children and adults experience anxiety for various reasons. We can learn coping strategies to address expected or anticipated situations. Our children may be stressed about an upcoming test, have difficulty managing homework, or have difficulty in new situations. As adults, it may be starting a new job, parenting kids, or communicating with others.
Unexpected situations catch us by surprise. Death, illness, or financial stress can all cause anxiety to increase. For our kids, navigating friendships and school expectations can increase anxiety.
How do we help ourselves and our kids? Kids learn coping (good and bad) from direct and indirect observations. Therapy can increase self-worth and increase problem-solving strategies. Children and parents can learn and identify their own calming strategies.
Strategies to decrease anxiety include:
Routine and consistency. Knowing what to expect allows an individual to conceptualize the situation. This may look like a weekly calendar for activities and homework for kids.
Learning self-soothing strategies. Does exercise help me relax? Deep breathing? Guided relaxation?
Regular sleep. Working on a sleep routine regulates sleep. Does my child have trouble waking in the morning, falling asleep at night, or staying asleep throughout the night?
Recognizing physiological responses to anxiety.
Parental anxiety influences our kids. Every child is unique and responds in their own way. Therapy helps parents and children learn helpful tools to handle everyday situations and adapt to the unexpected.
