As children, we are anxious about many things. We have to be concerned about how we are going to get to school, how we are going to get home, and what our parents are going to think of us. Sometimes, we are the ones with too much worry because we don’t know what to do about something.
It is often a hard thing for an adult to hear. We are afraid that our parents will think we are being silly or they will think we are foolish for worrying so much. We may even feel that if we let them know what we are worrying about, it will make them resent us.
If you are a parent with a child who has anxiety, the last thing you want to do is worry about it. Often, anxiety runs in families and we all feel it in some way or another. So, the first thing you should do is to help your child.
If you are around when he or she has an episode, make sure you do what you can to reduce the symptoms. A quick trip to the store is always a good idea for many children. Let him or her go to the bathroom without you having to be there. Let them use the phone for a few minutes until they feel better.
Sometimes, the only way to make a child feel better is to make them aware of his or her fears. Let them know that they can stop worrying about anything that they want.
Teach your child to take deep breaths. Take control of the situation by telling him or her that everything will be OK and that it’s okay to be afraid. Your child may not believe you but if you want to help him or her feel better, you will.
Being around an anxious person for long periods of time can be difficult. You may feel that you can’t get through to your child. Yet, the same feeling of embarrassment you feel in other situations will not be there with your child.
Even though your child is the one with anxiety, it can easily be passed from parent to child. The difference is that you will do whatever you can to help them.
One of the most important things you can do when your child has an anxiety problem is to try to work on the causes. This means looking at what causes anxiety. For many children, this might include allergies or fear of social situations.
To help a child cope with this type of anxiety, provide him or her with activities. Try to find activities where the child has to interact with other people and see how the anxiety goes away.
If the anxiety doesn’t go away after a few attempts, it may be time to consult a doctor to see if a panic attack could be a problem. Don’t hesitate to ask for help when your child has an anxiety problem, it is never a good feeling to deal with.
