Anxiety is one of the most common mental disorders today. Although it has varying causes, the fact is that anxiety affects everyone, including children. These days, it’s common for children to experience anxiety symptoms. The major signs of anxiety among children include excessive fear, crying or clinginess; physical complaints (headaches, stomach ache); eating disturbances; poor memory and concentration – among others.
If your child faces major anxiety, it’s recommended to take them to a professional. Certified counselor Colleen Brigid Fitzpatrick offers counseling for children to help them alleviate anxiety. She is unique in that she offers Play Therapy for children in a relaxing environment.
Alternatively, you can help your child deal with anxiety with the following tips:
Communicate with your child
Communicate with your child more often if they are anxious. Encourage them to express their fears and worries. Do not be dismissive of their anxious feelings and thoughts. Understand their situation and let them know that you are there for them.
A parent’s support is crucial to reduce their kid’s anxiety. If you have an open dialogue with your child about their anxiety, they will trust you enough to share their worries.
Encourage your child to face their fears
Talk to your child about facing their fears. It’s understandable to be afraid of certain situations, but avoiding them is going to aggravate your child’s anxiety.
If your child can confront their fears, they will realize that they have control over anxiety. They can reduce it over time by facing their fears.
Reward your child
If your child faces their fears, remember to reward them. Rewarding a child for their bravery will motivate them to confront their anxiety. It’s not necessary to give them something tangible, sometimes a hug is all that an anxious child needs.
Tell your child that it is okay to be imperfect
All parents want their children to succeed in school, sports and other areas, but don’t push your child too hard. Instead, encourage your child to work hard. High grades and being involved in every sport should not be their only goals in life. Allow them to be a kid, make mistakes, and learn from them.
Focus on your child’s positive attributes
Anxiety can take a toll on a child’s self-esteem. Perpetual self-criticism can hamper their confidence level. Therefore, it is essential for you to focus on your child’s positive attributes to give a boost to their self-esteem. Be vocal about their good attributes.
Allow your child to engage in relaxing activities
Children need time to relax. Make sure your child engages in fun activities to give some rest to their tired, anxious mind. Let your child play outdoors and with toys, paint or do anything that gives them a break.
Setup an appointment with Colleen Brigid Fitzpatrick from Instrumental Change, LLC today and learn more about how she can help you child battle anxiety.
