Positive Mind Works
It can be tough to watch your child struggle with anxiety and even the most well-meaning parents at times say things that may end up exacerbating anxious feelings, instead of alleviating them. If your child is suffering from an anxiety disorder, the way you respond to their behaviours and thoughts is the key to successfully helping them cope. Here are five pointers for helping your child to escape the negative cycle of anxiety.
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The goal is to help your child manage anxiety, not eliminate it
No one wants to see their child unhappy but trying to remove stressors that trigger problems isn’t the best way to help them overcome their anxiety. Instead, help them learn how to manage their worries and function as well as possible, even when experiencing fearful thoughts. As a result, their anxiety should decrease and hopefully fall away over time.
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Never avoid things just because they make your child anxious
Allowing your children to avoid things that they’re afraid of, may help them feel better in the short term, but will emphasise their anxiety in the long run. If a child begins to feel uncomfortable in a situation and their parents quickly whisk them out of it, or remove the thing they’re afraid of, that becomes their coping mechanism and this cycle is highly likely to continue to repeat itself.
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Express positive, realistic expectations
You cannot realistically promise a child that they won’t be laughed at by another child or that they won’t fail a test. But, you can express positivity and confidence that they’ll be able to manage a situation. As they face their fears, their level of anxiety will likely drop over time. What’s more, this gives the child confidence that your expectations are reasonable and that you’d never ask them to do something they were incapable of.
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Show respect for their feelings but don’t escalate them.
Remember that validation doesn’t necessarily mean agreement. For example, if your child is scared about a visit to the doctors for a vaccination, you don’t want to belittle their worries, but you also don’t want to intensify them. Listen and be empathetic and then encourage them that they can face their fears and that you will help them to get through it.
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Try to reduce anticipation where possible
When we’re scared about something, usually the hardest time is just before we have to do it. So, it’s a good idea to try and eliminate or lessen the anticipation your child may be feeling about a specific event. For instance, if they’re worried about a dental appointment, try not to launch into a long discussion about the visit hours before you go, as that’s likely to get your child more worked up.
While all children are different, these five strategies are great for building up your child’s coping mechanisms. And, always remember that keeping a calm and positive attitude is essential to helping your child successful cope with their fears and worries.
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