3 Tips for Newly Diagnosed Anxiety in Children
Do any of these sound familiar?
Your once independent child has become increasingly clingy.
Your school-age child has begun to refuse to complete school assignments.
The daily questions and what-ifs have increased significantly.
If so, your child may be dealing with child anxiety.
What is Anxiety?
While everyone has moments of anxiety, it becomes a health issue when it interferes with daily activities. Anxiety can be a result of a particular incident or can arise without a specific reason. Either way, it is important for parents to recognize the signs of anxiety and create a plan for managing the anxiety. The sooner the anxiety is recognized and treated, the less impactful the anxiety will be.
The most important aspect of helping a child with anxiety is understanding what anxiety is and how to treat it. Anxiety is, in the simplest terms, an uncomfortable emotion that comes along with being uncertain. Many children with anxiety are genetically pre-disposed to be more sensitive and anxious. Often, parents do not realize that their own anxieties are leading to their child’s anxious tendencies. There is strong evidence that anxiety is more environmental then genetics.
Stay Calm- Your Child Will Model Your Response
Knowing this, the first thing a parent can do is to stay calm, rather than become anxious over their child’s growing anxiety. A child will always feed off of a parent’s actions.
Always listen to your gut. The sooner your family receives professional help for anxiety in a young child, the better the outcome for all. Anxiety can escalate quickly and become habitual.
When talking with family members and friends about your child’s anxieties, you will often hear “this is a phase” or “they will grow out of this”. While these sayings may apply in some situations if you suspect more than “developmentally appropriate worries” seek help from a professional.
Seek Professional Help
Many parents start with their pediatrician, which is fine, but remember that pediatricians are not always trained or experienced in mental health issues of young children. The goal of speaking with a pediatrician regarding your concerns for your child’s anxiety is to secure a referral to a child therapist or psychiatrist.
In addition to speaking with your pediatrician in your quest to find a medical professional for child’s needs, you can also find information on adaa.org which provides a list of resources, call your insurance company who should offer you approved professionals within their network, or speak with your child’s school counselor.
It is important to find a therapist who specializes in child anxiety and works with the family in treating anxiety. Parents must learn how to create an environment where anxiety is not in charge.
Once you receive a referral for a specialist, make an appointment to discuss your concerns. While waiting for the appointment, begin gaining knowledge about anxiety and how you, as a parent, can support your child while waiting for medical appointments. It is vital that you learn how you both positively and negatively affect your child’s anxiety.
Listen with an open mind to what the medical professional offers. Depending on your child, the issues you are seeing, and the severity of your child's needs, will determine the next steps. There are a variety of treatment options for children, varying by age and need. Be open to visiting more than one doctor or therapist, as there are many ideas on treatment options for anxiety.
Anxiety is Treatable
Many parents seek to find the source of the anxiety. Do not spend too much time identifying the trigger. Often an anxious child will be triggered by various events. Rather than pinpointing the cause, focus on ways to help your child manage their anxiety when it is triggered.
Remember that anxiety is treatable. This does not mean that your child is cured, as everyone has anxiety to varying degrees throughout their life. The goal of diagnosing and treating anxiety is to learn positive methods to handle and minimize anxiety.
It can be overwhelming to be dealing with child anxiety but there are valuable resources for you and your family. Remain calm, listen to your gut, seek professional help, and learn how you can help your child move through this time of uncertainty. Both you and your child will learn valuable tools that can be used throughout life when faced with moments of anxiety.
Gust Blogger
Colleen Wildenhaus is the mother of a 13-year-old girl suffering from severe anxiety and OCD. Her blog Good Bye Anxiety, Hello Joy shares with readers the journey her family takes to enjoy the small moments each day, keeping the beast of anxiety from taking away the joy of life.
Colleen became frustrated with medical and self-help books available to parents; while they offered suggestions, many were out of touch with reality. Through her blog, she shares the day to day struggles of parenting a child with anxiety, offering guidance, encouragement, and hope to parents.
In addition to being a mother and writer, Colleen is a former elementary teacher who holds two Master’s Degrees in Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. She draws from her expertise as an educator to coach parents and teachers in ways to make school successful for children with anxiety.
Beyond writing, Colleen finds happiness in life’s simple joys — her children’s laughter, waves crashing on the beach, the wide-eyed excitement when students experience an “ah-ha!” moment, and fresh baked cookies.
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