How to Care for an Anxious Child

As a parent or caregiver, it can be very difficult to see your child struggling with anxiety. We often think of anxiety as an “adult” condition. But it affects kids and teens, too. The sooner you’re able to recognize the signs of child anxiety, the sooner you can take steps toward helping your child.

Consider what your child might have to feel anxious about. Major life changes can be a big trigger. Things like divorce, moving, going to a new school, or the death of a loved one can all contribute to anxiety at an early age.

With that in mind, let’s dive deeper into some of the common signs of anxiety in children and what you can do to help your child if they’re anxious.

What Are the Signs of Anxiety in Kids?

It’s not uncommon for kids to experience fear and worry from time to time. The world is new, and they’re experiencing things for the first time. Occasional fears can typically be assuaged quickly. But there’s a difference between those fears and anxiety.

Anxiety, even in children, is persistent. It is an intense feeling of fear over everyday situations. Often, anxious thoughts about those situations are unwarranted, but they can’t be helped by the person dealing with them.

Anxiety impacts everyone differently. However, some of the most common signs of anxiety in children include:

●      Difficulty concentrating

●      Sleep troubles

●      Fidgeting

●      Getting angry or quickly irritable

●      Changes in eating habits

●      Constant worrying

●      Negative thoughts

If your child has been exhibiting one or more of these symptoms for a while, it’s likely they’re dealing with more than just “normal” worry. Again, no parent or caregiver wants to see their child struggle. Thankfully, there are things you can do to support them and help them fight back against anxious thoughts.

Validate Their Feelings

Let your child know that their feelings are valid and that you understand where they’re coming from. Everyone deserves to be heard, and when you assure your child that their emotions matter, they’ll be more likely to open up.

Do what you can to empathize with them. Put yourself in their shoes and talk about some of your own fears and how you’ve overcome them. Most importantly, be a listening ear. You’ll end up learning more than you might realize.

The better you understand your child’s anxiety by listening, the easier it will be to help them challenge their negative thoughts. You can serve as a support system to help them see past the fear so that they’re more likely to overcome it.

Practice Deep Breathing

Anxiety can take control of the mind quickly. If your child is struggling with fear, teach them how to come back down and regain control through deep breathing exercises.

Things like mindfulness and meditation are great ways for your child to center themselves and re-focus their mind. Practice deep breathing with them. Consider downloading a guided meditation app that can help them relax, and don’t hesitate to meditate with them!

Build Their Confidence

Because anxiety tends to thrive on the unknown, do what you can to build your child’s confidence. It’s especially important in areas where they might struggle with uncertainty. Praise them when they’ve done something difficult or overcome a challenge. Encourage them to focus on their strengths and skills. The more confident your child is, the less likely it will be for them to fall victim to fear.

Finally, don’t hesitate to reach out for professional help if your child is still struggling. The good news about anxiety is that it’s often very manageable — with the right treatment. Feel free to contact me for more information or to schedule an appointment for your child soon.

Click here for more information on child therapy.