We’re hearing a lot in the media about the increase in anxiety and mental health challenges for people over the past year. And unfortunately, it’s impacting our children as well. As a parent, this can feel alarming. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to help your child learn to deal with anxious feelings in a healthy way.
1. Learn about anxiety
It will be difficult to help your child with anxiety if you aren’t clear on what it is, what the symptoms are, and how to address it. Reading this is a good first step, but don’t stop here.
Learn how to identify the signs of anxiety in children. While some of the symptoms are the same as anxiety in adults, there are some differences as well. Learn about the different reasons that children can experience anxiety and explore the different treatment options that could be the right solution for your child.
2. Listen to them
Don’t underestimate the importance of listening to your child when they’re feeling anxious. Provide them a safe space to share what they’re afraid of and why. Don’t brush them off with, “It’ll be OK.” Really sit and listen. This can help open the door for you to have conversations with them to address the underlying root cause of the anxiety.
Even if you don’t personally understand why they are anxious about whatever the thing is, take time to validate their feelings. Just because you don’t feel that way doesn’t mean that their feelings are not real.
3. Help them learn to identify anxiety symptoms
It can be difficult for children (and adults) to recognize what they are feeling and experiencing. Help your children learn to recognize the feelings and symptoms of anxiety. Teach them what it feels like when their body is tense or to see what it feels like when they’re breathing faster. Help them identify what their anxiety symptoms feel like so they can tell when it’s happening.
4. Teach them how to relax
There are many different techniques that can help us relax when we’re feeling anxious and the same is true for our children. Deep breathing is a helpful and simple technique that children can use when feeling anxious. They may also benefit from learning how to change their thoughts. For example, instead of thinking about the thing they are worried about, they can focus on counting, naming objects around them, or creating a story in their heads. These types of activities can help distract them and shift their focus.
5. Get professional help when needed
Children can benefit from professional help with their mental health the same way that adults do. Your child may be experiencing symptoms of an anxiety disorder instead of just feeling anxious. If this is the case, a therapist can help you find the right treatment options for your child so they can experience relief from their symptoms.
Even if your child doesn’t have a diagnosable mental health disorder, a therapist can help them work through the anxiety they’re experiencing and learn coping strategies to handle it in a healthy way.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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