Anxiety is a normal emotion that has a dual purpose. "It prevents us from doing something dangerous and can motivate us as well, "Children and teens who are experiencing anxiety are often struggling to cope. It can be challenging for them to do well in school, participate in social activities, or make friends.
How does anxiety affect children and teens?
It's easy for anxious children to get overwhelmed. If they're unable to calm down by themselves, their parents may have to help them. It may be necessary to get them some space and give them some time to calm down. It's essential to provide comfort and reassurance so that they know they're not alone. One way to help your child with anxiety is to stay calm. The more you can show you're a reliable partner to your child, the better they will accept your support. If your child starts having panic attacks, remind yourself that it's just another part of growing up. Remember that your child will make it through this tough time in their life, and you'll help them through it.
Kids with anxiety may respond to stress by crying, shaking, refusing to go to school or do homework, or they might be very anxious in general. These types of behaviors are all signs that your child could have an anxiety disorder that needs treatment. Anxious children can also be prone to tantrums and meltdowns. Treatment for kids with anxiety is often a combination of medication and psychological therapy. The following are some simple steps that you can take at home to help your child with anxiety.
Create a haven for your child.
Remember that not everyone has an easy time dealing with anxiety, including your child. They may not be able to articulate it and might not realize how they're feeling. Therefore, create a safe place for your child where they can relax and healthily release their emotions. Here are some ideas:
Have them lie down on the couch or bed.
Play music and allow kids to listen to it without any distractions. Avoid any triggers for anxiety-like video games, specific websites, or super-bright screens.
Allow them to be themselves and let them do things they love, avoid being pushy, and give them some space. Thus avoiding them getting depressed or stressed in what they enjoy doing.
Encourage Physical activity.
Physical activity boosts your child's mood, increases their metabolism, and can even help them improve their self-esteem. Exercise is a great way to help your child's anxiety. It can also help them sleep better at night. According to a study, researchers have found that people who participated in regular physical activity had a 24 per cent lower risk of depression than people who didn't exercise regularly.
Turn off screens at night.
This simple step may be the most important for children dealing with anxiety. Many children use screens at night to escape their anxious thoughts. Turn off the screens at night, even if this means waiting until the kids are in bed or sleeping. If you know a child who stays up late, start by turning off the screens for 30 minutes in the morning.
Sometimes talking about anxious thoughts is the best way to help children deal with the negative thoughts and help them realize that anxious feelings are temporary and that it is okay to feel them. Depending on how your child talks about their anxious feelings, you may want to be a little more specific with your responses. Listen to them without interrupting them.
In this article, we discussed a few strategies to help you manage your child's anxiety. We hope they will help you and your child work through some of their anxiety issues.
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