Children can have anxiety issues for various reasons. It could be something that someone says at school or worrying about clothes or looks. Some children are anxious about tests or special events. If there are issues with the family, then children often display anxiety about by crying, not doing well in school or holding back from others. They don’t talk to anyone except close friends, making it harder for you to find out what’s wrong so that you can help. Some children act out in ways that are destructive, making others think that you’re not a good parent or that the child is simply a troublemaker. As soon as you notice these issues, you need to try to find out what’s wrong and offer help in the best way possible to deal with the problems at hand. Here is what you should do:
Avoid Reassurance
One of the worst things that you can do is to tell your child not to worry. This is a natural part of life as everyone worries about something at some point. Your child probably wants to listen to what you have to say, but there are times when the brain simply won’t allow that to happen. Try to empathize with your child, freezing together to take some deep breaths before trying to reach a solution.
Warm Therapy
A relaxing item that you can have in the home is a hot tub. If you don’t have one, then it’s an investment to be considered. The hot tub is a way for everyone in the home to relax as it can relieve the tension in the muscles. A soothing environment can be created with candles placed around the tub and gentle waves of steam coming from the water to help open the mind and soul. Let children sit in the hot tub when they want to relax whether it’s listening to music, reading a book or simply sitting in the water. However, you need to turn the water down a bit so that the water isn’t burning. The best hot tubs, however, shouldn’t be too hard to adjust the settings.
Drawing Anxiety
An interesting and creative way to bring worry to life is to create a poster. Let the child make a poster about everything that is on the mind. It could be in the form of a comic strip, a large picture with several scenes or just random drawings and words on a piece of poster board. When the child is finished, go over the pictures to see what can be done about the issues and to try to come up with a solution. Keeping a journal is also a good idea as the child can write down feelings and draw the emotions that are felt in the book without someone else looking at them. As a parent, you need to respect the child’s privacy, but know that if the child is writing and releasing feelings from the mind, it’s a good solution that will end well.
Worry Is Alright
While worry can get to the point that it takes over the body and mind, there are some types of worry that are good. It’s normal for children to worry about a test or a project. It shows that the child is concerned about getting good grades. Worrying about friends and family shows that the child has a good heart, which is a characteristic that can carry over into adulthood. Set a time for worrying during the day so that the child can express feelings in a healthy manner before getting on with daily activities.
Seeing your child anxious over things that you can handle can be hard. Take a step back to let the child deal with problems on his own, but intervene if there are dangerous signs that are seen. Find healthy ways to deal with worry as a family so that everyone benefits.
