9.8 percent of children in the United States are diagnosed with anxiety. Enduring your child feels supported is of the utmost importance, providing them with a safe space and the love and attention they need.
However, having a child with anxiety can be difficult, but it’s important to know that you’re not alone. Knowing how to help your child with anxiety can make both of your lives easier.
Keep reading to learn more about how to help your loved one deal with anxiety.
Listen to Your Child With Anxiety
One of the best things you can do to help anxious children is simply to listen to their concerns with an empathetic ear. Showing your child support and helping them talk out their stress and anxiety is simple but highly effective.
You might even consider attending mindset family therapy where you can learn how to work with your child to deal with their anxiety.
Teach Your Child About Anxiety
One of the hardest parts of dealing with an anxiety disorder is a lack of understanding about why it happens.
Research how anxiety works and how a neurological feedback loop tends to make things escalate. Then, explain this to your child in a way they can understand.
Reassure them that the physical sensations they feel when they are anxious are part of the body’s natural fight or flight response and don’t mean they are in danger.
Talk to Your Child About Worry
Anxiety disorders are often marked by excessive worry. Helping your child understand that worrying is normal can alleviate their anxiety.
Everyone worries and worry serves an important purpose – to keep us safe.
But excessive worrying is counterproductive. Teach your child to acknowledge the worrying voice in their mind, but to understand its limitations.
Teach Your Child Coping Skills
One of the most effective anxiety treatments is learning coping skills for when anxiety strikes.
Research has shown that deep breathing is a highly effective way to stop panic in its tracks. This is because slow, deep breathing calms the nervous system and stops the flooding of stress hormones.
When your child is stressed or anxious, use calming strategies that they enjoy. Giving them a hug can is another great idea.
The more often your child uses these strategies, the more effective they will become.
Prevent Anxiety and Stress in Your Child
What if we told you there are fun and easy things you can do to prevent negative emotions like stress and anxiety in your child?
Encouraging your child to express their emotions is one of the best ways to prevent them from building up. Be empathetic and create a safe space for them to express how they are feeling.
Include lots of play and laughter in your child’s daily life. Spend one on one time with them and schedule times that they can count on to tell you about what might be troubling them.
Stick to routines and build up to anxiety-inducing events slowly.
Does Your Child Have Anxiety?
Having a child with anxiety can be overwhelming, especially if you haven’t experienced it yourself. But you can still learn to understand what your child is experiencing and help them manage their emotions.
For more tips and content on mood disorders, check out the rest of our website.
