In this post, we are going to discuss some tips and methods on dealing with anxiety in children using which a parent can help their kid to face this challenge effectively so that they succeed in helping their child to be calmer and composed during stressful situations.
Unfortunately, anxiety is becoming a major problem among kids these days and it is quite painful for us to see children in such conditions at an age where they are supposed to be happy and enjoy their precious childhood moments.
The main problem that causes anxiety in children is the very need that society imposes upon them to be free of any such emotional problems, we will discuss this in the later paragraphs but first, let us dive deep into the root cause of this issue.
4 Main Causes of Anxiety in Children
Here we are going to discuss some very important things that a parent or authority figure of any child must know before they try to work on their kid’s anxiety issue. Knowing about the factors that cause anxiety can help you to understand this particular problem better and thus will enable you to find out the best working methods.
Self-Criticism
These days kids are being programmed to be the best among their circle, which is causing a strong need in them to prove themselves in order to get the approval of other people. Due to this a child often gets the feeling of “not being good enough” which leads them to get anxious whenever they are not in control of any particular life situation.
Self-criticism is a pretty obvious symptom in any particular child who has anxiety and it works as a very harmful agent in their psychology.
Avoiding Troublesome Situations
As we have discussed in the introductory paragraphs, the very need to be free of anxious thoughts is one of the main causes of anxiety. Nobody is perfect but the society fails to embrace this fact and it causes a child to think that their problem is their weakness.
This makes a kid to avoid the situations that cause stress in them and they begin to run away from their problems, when left unnoticed these fears can pile up and become a greater problem than before. Avoidance of situations that causes emotional discomfort is a sure shot symptom of anxiety in children.
Negative Thoughts
Being a direct effect of self-criticism, negative thoughts are very dominating in the mindset of a child who is facing anxiety issues.
When these thoughts enter the mind of a kid it becomes very difficult for them to change their focus so that they could get rid of such negativity.
Self Image
Self-image is the opinion a child holds about themselves deep inside their heart. A negative self-image programmes a kid’s behavior in a way that they will further experience certain things which will strengthen the negative opinion they have about themselves. A good self-image is very essential for a healthy self-esteem of the children.
How to Help a Kid Dealing with Anxiety
Understand That There Is No Immediate Solution for Anxiety
Most people make a mistake of handling the anxiety of their kids when the child is feeling stressed. But one should keep in mind that trying to tell the kid that they should not feel anxious only adds up to their problem. Sometimes it is better to sit with your child by allowing them to feel their emotions while assuring them that it is okay to feel that way.
Take Their Problems Seriously
As an adult, you may feel that the worry of your kid is unwarranted and insignificant but you should be ready to accept that the kid might be perceiving the situation in a whole different way.
When you begin to take your kid’s problems seriously, they will connect with you on a deeper level and will be open to discuss their issues with you which will allow you to find a good solution that might work perfectly.
Allow them to Express Their Feelings
Problems like anxiety can be solved when the child is feeling comfortable to express their feelings.
As we have discussed in the above point, when the child forms a deeper connection with you, they will be able to freely express their thoughts and emotions with you. When a kid shares their emotions you should be patient enough to listen to them and be a support rather than trying to correct them during such times.
Relaxation and Enjoyment
Once a kid has released their feelings you should encourage them to do something that relaxes their mind. You should make your kid understand that it is very important to take their time and do things that give them the peace of mind.
Contemplating the Thoughts
When you are sure that your kid is free of the negativity, it is the right time to make them contemplate the thought patterns and feelings they were having during the anxiety period.
When your kid learns to analyze their own thoughts, they will begin to realize that their negative thoughts are not as truthful as they appear, this will allow them to effectively deal with any such future situations.
Be An Example
This is the final and the most important point in this whole process. Your kid will learn more from the kind of example you are setting for them from your own behavior than the things you are trying to communicate on the surface level.
Involve your kid in the activities that you like to do for your mental health and allow them to learn from your way of dealing with negative emotions.
Be a friend to your kid and tell them about the methods that you use for improving your mental health, when your kid will sense your support, they will naturally start to learn from you.
These were some methods and tips that we believe will help you in dealing with your child’s anxiety issues if you are looking for some expert solutions and if you are willing to invest your time to learn more, then we highly recommend you to opt for the program named “overcome child anxiety“.
Here’s a nice TED talk video on this subject which you might want to check out:-
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