Anxiety in Children: What's a Parent to Do?
January 29th 2008 04:05
All children experience anxiety. Anxiety in children is expected and normal at specific times in development. For example, from approximately age 8 months through the preschool years, healthy youngsters may show intense distress (anxiety) at times of separation from their parents or other persons with whom they are close. Young children may have short-lived fears, (such as fear of the dark, storms, animals, or strangers). Anxious children are often overly tense or uptight. Some may seek a lot of reassurance, and their worries may interfere with activities. Parents should not discount a child’s fears. Because anxious children may also be quiet, compliant and eager to please, their difficulties may be missed. Parents should be alert to the signs of severe anxiety so they can intervene early to prevent complications. There are different types of anxiety in children.
How Common is Anxiety?
Approximately 1 out of 10 children suffer from an anxiety disorder. Most children experience anxiety purely on the basis of psychological, social and environmental influences. Twin studies of identical twins have shown that anxiety can occur with one twin but not the other. Anxiety disorders are not necessarily inherited although some people appear to inherit a risk or vulnerability for an anxiety disorder from their family. Brain imaging studies have produced minimal data to suggest there is a single defect or problem in the brain that causes or contributes to anxiety.
Symptoms of separation anxiety include:
•constant thoughts and intense fears about the safety of parents and caretakers
• refusing to go to school
• frequent stomachaches and other physical complaints
• extreme worries about sleeping away from home
• being overly clingy
• panic or tantrums at times of separation from parents
• trouble sleeping or nightmares
Symptoms of phobia include:
• extreme fear about a specific thing or situation (ex. dogs, insects, or needles)
• the fears cause significant distress and interfere with usual activities
Symptoms of social anxiety include:
• fears of meeting or talking to people
• avoidance of social situations
• few friends outside the family
Other symptoms of anxious children include:
• many worries about things before they happen
• constant worries or concerns about family, school, friends, or activities
• repetitive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) or actions (compulsions)
• fears of embarrassment or making mistakes
• low self esteem and lack of self-confidence
Severe anxiety problems in children can be treated. Early treatment can prevent future difficulties, such as loss of friendships, failure to reach social and academic potential, and feelings of low self-esteem. Treatments may include a combination of the following: individual psychotherapy, family therapy, medications, behavioral treatments, and consultation to the school.
What Can a Parent Do?
1. Avoidance or minimization of stimulants. No caffeine, minimize use of asthma medications if possible (bronchodilators, theophylline), avoid use of nasal decongestants, some cough medications, and diet pills.
2. Good sleep habits. Getting adequate, restful sleep improves response to interventions to treat anxiety disorders.
3. Reduction of stressors. Identify and remove or reduce stressful tasks or situations at home, school and work.
4. Listen to the child's feelings . Isolation can foster low self-esteem and depression in children struggling with anxiety. The simple experience of being listened to empathically, without receiving advice, may have a powerful and helpful effect.
5. Keep calm when a child becomes anxious about an event or matter . If a child sees a parent is able to remain calm, the child can model the parent's attitude.
6. Reassure the child and gently note that he or she survived prior situations that caused anxiety.
7. Teach relaxation techniques , including deep breathing, counting to 10, or visualizing a soothing place. Teaching children how to relax can empower them to develop mastery over symptoms and improve a sense of control over their body.
8. Plan for transitions . Getting to school in the morning or preparing for bed in the evening may be complicated by fears and anxieties. Anticipating and planning for these transition times may be helpful for family members.
9. Encourage the child's participation in activities that may provide a reprieve from worries
Praise the child's efforts to address symptoms. Young people often feel that they only hear about their mistakes. Even if improvements are small, every good effort deserves to be praised.
10. Encourage the child to help develop interventions . Enlisting the child in the task will lead to more successful strategies and will foster the child's ability to problem-solve. top
If anxieties become severe and begin to interfere with the child’s usual activities, (for example separating from parents, attending school and making friends) parents should consider seeking an evaluation from a qualified mental health professional or a child and adolescent psychiatrist.
How Common is Anxiety?
Approximately 1 out of 10 children suffer from an anxiety disorder. Most children experience anxiety purely on the basis of psychological, social and environmental influences. Twin studies of identical twins have shown that anxiety can occur with one twin but not the other. Anxiety disorders are not necessarily inherited although some people appear to inherit a risk or vulnerability for an anxiety disorder from their family. Brain imaging studies have produced minimal data to suggest there is a single defect or problem in the brain that causes or contributes to anxiety.
Symptoms of separation anxiety include:
•constant thoughts and intense fears about the safety of parents and caretakers
• refusing to go to school
• frequent stomachaches and other physical complaints
• extreme worries about sleeping away from home
• being overly clingy
• panic or tantrums at times of separation from parents
• trouble sleeping or nightmares
Symptoms of phobia include:
• extreme fear about a specific thing or situation (ex. dogs, insects, or needles)
• the fears cause significant distress and interfere with usual activities
Symptoms of social anxiety include:
• fears of meeting or talking to people
• avoidance of social situations
• few friends outside the family
Other symptoms of anxious children include:
• many worries about things before they happen
• constant worries or concerns about family, school, friends, or activities
• repetitive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) or actions (compulsions)
• fears of embarrassment or making mistakes
• low self esteem and lack of self-confidence
Severe anxiety problems in children can be treated. Early treatment can prevent future difficulties, such as loss of friendships, failure to reach social and academic potential, and feelings of low self-esteem. Treatments may include a combination of the following: individual psychotherapy, family therapy, medications, behavioral treatments, and consultation to the school.
What Can a Parent Do?
1. Avoidance or minimization of stimulants. No caffeine, minimize use of asthma medications if possible (bronchodilators, theophylline), avoid use of nasal decongestants, some cough medications, and diet pills.
2. Good sleep habits. Getting adequate, restful sleep improves response to interventions to treat anxiety disorders.
3. Reduction of stressors. Identify and remove or reduce stressful tasks or situations at home, school and work.
4. Listen to the child's feelings . Isolation can foster low self-esteem and depression in children struggling with anxiety. The simple experience of being listened to empathically, without receiving advice, may have a powerful and helpful effect.
5. Keep calm when a child becomes anxious about an event or matter . If a child sees a parent is able to remain calm, the child can model the parent's attitude.
6. Reassure the child and gently note that he or she survived prior situations that caused anxiety.
7. Teach relaxation techniques , including deep breathing, counting to 10, or visualizing a soothing place. Teaching children how to relax can empower them to develop mastery over symptoms and improve a sense of control over their body.
8. Plan for transitions . Getting to school in the morning or preparing for bed in the evening may be complicated by fears and anxieties. Anticipating and planning for these transition times may be helpful for family members.
9. Encourage the child's participation in activities that may provide a reprieve from worries
Praise the child's efforts to address symptoms. Young people often feel that they only hear about their mistakes. Even if improvements are small, every good effort deserves to be praised.
10. Encourage the child to help develop interventions . Enlisting the child in the task will lead to more successful strategies and will foster the child's ability to problem-solve. top
If anxieties become severe and begin to interfere with the child’s usual activities, (for example separating from parents, attending school and making friends) parents should consider seeking an evaluation from a qualified mental health professional or a child and adolescent psychiatrist.
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