Anxiety: How to help your child suffering from the condition?

When you deal with children with anxiety, your approach must be different and you must deal with them with utmost care. If anxiety in children is not treated, the condition might become bad by the time they become adults with severe mental health issues. Here’s how you can help you child if he/she is suffering from anxiety.
Anxiety

Another factor that you should keep in mind is not to make them feel bad about their feelings and emotions. Validate their feelings and empathise with them and not leave them alone so that keep thinking to themselves.

Photo : iStock
New Delhi: Like adults, children too suffer from anxiety. And it is important that you address the condition much like you would for an adult. Adults suffering from anxiety need help with their condition and so do children. It is absolutely not okay to brush off the condition just because they are children.
When you deal with children with anxiety, your approach must be different and you must deal with them with utmost care. If anxiety in children is not treated, the condition might become bad by the time they become adults with severe mental health issues. Here’s how you can help you child if he/she is suffering from anxiety.
  1. Identify what triggers them. The first step to help your child is to identify what really triggers them. Once you identify what are the factors that trigger them, you can then work out things with them.
  2. Do not label their emotions and feelings as invalid. Another factor that you should keep in mind is not to make them feel bad about their feelings and emotions. Validate their feelings and empathise with them and not leave them alone so that keep thinking to themselves. Say it to them that their feelings are completely valid and they don’t have to feel bad about anything.
  3. Practice deep breathing. Deep breathing helps to increase oxygen level in the blood and helps to reduce heart rate and stress that might be caused due to the anxiety. Tell them to breathe through their nose and then release slowly from their mouths. This will help to reduce their anxiety.
  4. Break down their tasks. Whenever tasks feel daunting for your kids, break down the tasks to make it easier for them. When you break down the tasks, they can accomplish them easily and also that also gives them confidence.
Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.
End of Article