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Strategies to Help Your Child Deal With Anxiety
By John R. Walker
11/7/2014
What is anxiety? Children use different words for anxiety: scared, nervous, worried.
Some children have no words for their anxiety. They just say or show by their actions that they do not want to do an activity that is difficult for them. Many children express anxiety through symptoms such as stomach aches or headaches. Parents and other caregivers may use other words for anxiety: fearful, shy, inhibited, clingy, overly cautious.
Fear and anxiety are basic emotions we all experience. They are important to survival. They signal us to be careful and plan ahead. They help us to stay safe. These emotions tend to pass quickly once the threat has passed.
But in some cases, anxiety may pose more of a problem. Some children and adults may have stronger experiences of fear and anxiety that occur more often and last longer than for most people. For these people, fear and anxiety may get in the way of regular activities.
We consider children to have a problem with anxiety if they experience a high level of emotional distress or interference with normal childhood activities. This anxiety can get in the way of activities such as having a babysitter, going to school or daycare, making new friends and learning new skills.
The problem is not uncommon. It is estimated as many as one in 10 Manitoba children and youth from kindergarten to Grade 12 may experience anxiety. It is important to recognize and address the issue early on, because children who experience high levels of anxiety are at increased risk of developing problems later in life, such as depression and substance abuse. Anxiety may also have a negative effect on progress in school and later in one's career.
Fortunately, there is a great deal parents, schools and health professionals can do to help the child with excessive anxiety. There is also the promise that addressing these problems early in life will reduce the problems young people experience later in life
While many of the early approaches to helping children focused on work with the child, new approaches have developed that focus on supporting parents, especially parents of younger children, in helping their child. Many children (with the help of their parents) overcome problems with anxiety without outside help. This is not just a matter of growing out of the problem. It is more likely due to the learning and problem-solving all children and parents do.
Parents have a key role. Creating good routines around healthy eating, physical activity, a consistent sleep schedule and positive activities with friends and family can help children manage stress effectively.
Encouraging age-appropriate independence can help children be more confident in handling life challenges as they arise.
Here are five key steps you can take to support your child:
By taking these steps and considering the resources described in the box on this page, you can help ensure your child learns to cope with anxieties now, and in the future.
Assistance is available
EXCELLENT resources for parents available in Manitoba include:
John R. Walker recently retired from his position as director of the anxiety disorders program at St. Boniface Hospital. He is now a full time researcher in the field of children's anxiety and a professor in the department of clinical health psychology at the University of Manitoba.
By John R. Walker
11/7/2014
What is anxiety? Children use different words for anxiety: scared, nervous, worried.
Some children have no words for their anxiety. They just say or show by their actions that they do not want to do an activity that is difficult for them. Many children express anxiety through symptoms such as stomach aches or headaches. Parents and other caregivers may use other words for anxiety: fearful, shy, inhibited, clingy, overly cautious.
Fear and anxiety are basic emotions we all experience. They are important to survival. They signal us to be careful and plan ahead. They help us to stay safe. These emotions tend to pass quickly once the threat has passed.
But in some cases, anxiety may pose more of a problem. Some children and adults may have stronger experiences of fear and anxiety that occur more often and last longer than for most people. For these people, fear and anxiety may get in the way of regular activities.
We consider children to have a problem with anxiety if they experience a high level of emotional distress or interference with normal childhood activities. This anxiety can get in the way of activities such as having a babysitter, going to school or daycare, making new friends and learning new skills.
The problem is not uncommon. It is estimated as many as one in 10 Manitoba children and youth from kindergarten to Grade 12 may experience anxiety. It is important to recognize and address the issue early on, because children who experience high levels of anxiety are at increased risk of developing problems later in life, such as depression and substance abuse. Anxiety may also have a negative effect on progress in school and later in one's career.
Fortunately, there is a great deal parents, schools and health professionals can do to help the child with excessive anxiety. There is also the promise that addressing these problems early in life will reduce the problems young people experience later in life
While many of the early approaches to helping children focused on work with the child, new approaches have developed that focus on supporting parents, especially parents of younger children, in helping their child. Many children (with the help of their parents) overcome problems with anxiety without outside help. This is not just a matter of growing out of the problem. It is more likely due to the learning and problem-solving all children and parents do.
Parents have a key role. Creating good routines around healthy eating, physical activity, a consistent sleep schedule and positive activities with friends and family can help children manage stress effectively.
Encouraging age-appropriate independence can help children be more confident in handling life challenges as they arise.
Here are five key steps you can take to support your child:
- Accept your child's anxiety.
- Be a good listener and observer -- to understand your child's pattern of anxiety.
- Help your child to face fears.
- Help your child to think realistically about feared situations.
- Problem-solve with your child.
By taking these steps and considering the resources described in the box on this page, you can help ensure your child learns to cope with anxieties now, and in the future.
Assistance is available
EXCELLENT resources for parents available in Manitoba include:
- The Anxiety Disorders Association of Manitoba has developed a video series on helping the anxious child. It is available at [url]www.adam.mb.ca.[/URL] AnxietyBC has outstanding resources for parents at www.anxietybc.com/parent/index.php
- Your local bookstore or library will have books such as Helping Your Anxious Child, by Ron Rapee.
- Your child's school will have staff familiar with anxiety problems in children including clinical specialists who visit the school regularly.
- The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (and other health authorities around the province) has children's mental health staff familiar with the treatment of anxiety in children. The telephone number for the Centralized Intake for Children's Mental Health Services is 204-958-9660.
John R. Walker recently retired from his position as director of the anxiety disorders program at St. Boniface Hospital. He is now a full time researcher in the field of children's anxiety and a professor in the department of clinical health psychology at the University of Manitoba.
