Anxiety disorders are surprisingly common among children and adolescents, with about 3 percent of them experiencing anxiety at any given time. Helping your child cope with anxiety is possible, especially if you do a bit of online research you can learn from other parents who have been there and done that. To help, I’ve put together 7 suggestions on how to help a child that suffers from anxiety.

1) Children are naturally anxious

Children are born highly sensitive and naturally prone to anxiety. Children experience feelings of apprehension and worry from time to time as they grow accustomed to their environment, this is completely natural and for most parents is easily manageable. However, there are behaviours and indicators that present themselves when a child is having a hard time managing their anxiety.

2) Watch for signs

The signs of anxiety in children can be missed. It’s important to know the symptoms and what to do when you notice them. If your child is experiencing any of these signs, it’s time to take action.
Signs of anxiety include constant worrying, panic attacks, restlessness, and crying spells. Emotional signs include fear of leaving home or school, an inability to concentrate on tasks, and mood swings. Behavioural signs are similar. Children may be afraid to go places alone, or have a hard time sleeping. They may seem very clingy and want someone around at all times in case something bad happens — even if it’s just walking from class to class at school.

3) Talk about feelings

It’s important to talk about feelings and exactly what they are feeling. Talking about feelings with children can help them cope because and can turn not being able to understand what they are feeling into something they can see as managable. It’s OK to say, I feel sad or I feel scared or I feel angry. Saying these words will make them feel better because they validate their feelings and show that they are not alone.

4) Remain calm

Remaining calm is an important step for parents effectively help children suffering from anxiety. It can be hard to do this in some situations, but it’s important for both the child and the parent to be calm. If you’re struggling with your own anxiety, taking care of yourself is just as important as calming your child. Managing your own stress levels and staying emotionally balanced will put you in a better position to comfort your child when they need it most.

5) Help them through it

It is common for children to be anxious, and it’s important to validate what they are feeling. Understanding the root of their anxiety can help you help them cope with it. It’s important to let them know that they are not alone and that many people experience what they are feeling. Tell them they deserve to be heard and understood.

6) Get help from a professional

It is important that you get a professional counsellor involved as soon as possible if your child starts showing signs of anxiety. Sometimes it can be difficult for children to explain what they are feeling, this is where a counsellor can be a valuable asset to help a child navigate what they are feeling.

7) Remember this too shall pass

Remember that in time your child will get better at managing their anxiety with the help of understanding parents, counselling, and empathy.

Conclusion

There are so many resources with information on anxiety and the methods used to manage it, the list above is by no means the definitive answer for parents struggling to find answers. My suggestion is to research, pursue counselling, use an approach that comes from compassion and empathy, and finally – take care of your own mental health.

Thanks for reading!