Parenting an anxious child can be mentally taxing and it's easy to become a sour grapefruit in their presence. Family members can develop a bitter mood as the child whines and complains. Anxious complaints can restrict a parent's movement, demand a great deal of time, and can suck the life right out of the caregiver. No parent chooses to be negative, it just happens as a consequence of the anxious disorder. When I see this taking place in the families I counsel, I review the four toxic parenting beliefs associated with anxious kids. Four strategies are then offered to cleanse the mental … [Read more...]
How Teachers Can Help Anxious Children
Anxiety is the most common mental health issue in children and adults. In fact, 10% of children are effected with mild forms of anxiety while 2% struggle with extreme forms of anxiety. So chances are you already have or will come across anxious students in the class room. Unfortunately though, signs of anxiety in children can be easy to miss or misdiagnose if you do not know what to look for. Signs of anxiety in the classroom can include: inattention or restlessness, attendance problems, trouble answering questions in class, disruptive behavior, avoiding socializing or group work, and more. … [Read more...]
Do you have a MAP (My Anxiety Plan) for your child’s anxiety?
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health disorders in children. If your child suffers from one of the various forms of anxiety, the good news is that the excessive anxiety can be brought back to normal! You as a parent will play an essential role in helping your child manage their anxiety. A first step to helping your child learn how to do this is to create a specific My Anxiety Plan or MAP.Give Your Child A Plan for When Anxiety AttacksHaving a M.A.P. in place is an effective tool that gives your child a road map for coping with the daily challenges they may face. It can be … [Read more...]
Childhood Anxiety vs. ADHD – Which One Is It?
Children with anxiety and children with ADHD (Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder) can exhibit some of the same characteristics and behaviors so it can be hard to tell the difference. For example, both can have trouble with focusing in class, both can be inefficient, both resort to escapist behavior and both can lead to emotional outbursts or tantrums. All too often, a parent or teacher will seek ADHD treatment for a child, when in reality the child has an anxiety disorder, not an attention disorder. Parents and educators need to understand the subtle differences, so they can get … [Read more...]
Panic Disorder in Adolescents
What is Panic Disorder?Panic disorder is a common and treatable condition. In fact, more than 3 million Americans will experience panic disorder in their lifetime. Panic disorder often begins during adolescence or childhood, and it can run in families. Children and adolescents with panic disorder have unexpected and repeated periods of extreme fear that accelerates to a high intensity in seconds. The fear is typically accompanied by other physical symptoms such as a racing heartbeat, sweating, shaking and feeling short of breath. These panic attacks can last for a few minutes or hours, and … [Read more...]
Separation Anxiety in Children vs Teenagers
Most parents recognize separation anxiety in their young children. When a little child is clinging to a parent or crying when a parent has to leave, everyone easily recognizes the problem. Yet many are not aware that teenagers and older children can also suffer from separation anxiety, though it manifests in a different way. As many as 4 percent of youth will suffer from separation anxiety that is bad enough to consider it a disorder during the school year. It affects boys and girls equally no matter the age. Recognizing the condition in all ages is essential to helping children overcome this … [Read more...]
When Does Fear Become a Phobia?
Almost everyone has a fear of something, and that’s a good thing. Fear keeps us safe. But what about fears that actually stop us from enjoying life and moving ahead? As a parent, it can be difficult to discern if fear is protecting your child or holding him or her back. What is Fear? Fear is a normal human reaction. In fact, it’s an important survival instinct that can protect us from danger and prepare us to deal with it. Even babies are equipped with the instincts necessary to sense and respond to danger. Fear is an acute mental and physical reaction brought on suddenly by a dangerous … [Read more...]
Parenting Everybody: Anxious Kids and Their Siblings
"We need to get in the car. It is time for school.""Mom, I don’t feel good. I don't want to go.""Jordan, You can’t miss another day of school. Go.""Please no, I think I am sick. Just take Alex.""You are fine. You don’t have a fever. You are making yourself sick.""Mom, make Jordan come, I don’t want to be late.""Get in the car now, you heard Alex, it's not fair."Jordan drops to the ground and starts to cry."Mom, I knew it, this is ridiculous, why do I have to be punished because of Jordan?"Ever have a morning like this? If you have a child with an anxiety … [Read more...]
Physical Manifestations of Child Anxiety
Anxiety is, of course, a natural part of life. Everyone experiences anxiety at times, and anxiety is often healthy - being anxious tells you to leave a dangerous situation. But sometimes children (and adults) can develop anxiety that doesn’t go away after a short period of time and may be generalized or specific.Anxiety has many non-physical symptoms, such as excessive worry, but did you know that your child’s anxiety may also be causing physical symptoms?Some of the physical symptoms of child anxiety are:Stomach aches Nausea Headaches Muscle tension Tiredness and … [Read more...]
Can Therapy Dogs Help My Anxious Child?
The benefits of therapy dogs for children with anxiety:Let’s put the studies aside for a moment and look at some anecdotal evidence for why therapy dogs are important for children with social anxieties or disabilities.One example, from Rachel McPherson’s Every Dog Has a Gift, is of children reading to dogs. Whether your child is struggling with trust issues, self-esteem, or lagging literacy skills due to social anxiety, reading to their dog is a wonderful way to improve their confidence, literacy, and social skills.Other anecdotal evidence suggests that children with severe social … [Read more...]
