Anxiety disorders in children: 3 tips for helping your children

Key ideas for understanding anxiety disorders in children and how to deal with them.

Just like adults, children can also suffer from anxiety. Although this is a common human trait, in some cases anxiety can exceed normal levels.

Anxiety in children can be caused by different factors than in adults based on different fears or responses that can occur due to different situations. In this article we are going to deepen in the anxiety in the childhood and also to offer some advice to the parents to be able to help their children.

How do I know if my child has anxiety?

To know if your child has anxiety you have to know how he responds to different situations. This is because anxiety is characterized by a response intended to protect us from danger. In this case, the human body reacts cognitively, physiologically and also behaviorally.

A cognitive response is one that focuses the child's thoughts on what is causing the anxiety.. This attention can range from mild concern to outright terror.

The physiological response manifests itself in the body itself as sweating, tremors, increased palpitations, Muscle tension? a wide variety of situations that you will surely be familiar with.

Finally, the behavioral response is the one that makes the child act in a different way, e.g., avoids socializing if he avoids socializing.For example, he/she avoids socializing if he/she is afraid of being humiliated or does not go out at night if he/she is afraid of the dark.

When does anxiety become a disorder?

As mentioned above, some anxiety is normal. As time goes by, children learn that darkness in the room is not bad or that exams can be passed if they study, that is, temporary situations that may seem like a world to a child until they really realize that they are not serious problems.

However, it is important to clarify that excessive anxiety in children occurs quite easily, and this is due to the fact that they areThis is because it can become a disorder for different reasons that must be known. These are some of the most common situations that can cause this anxiety.

1. Separations

For a child facing a separation from parents can be quite distressing. The attachment that one has to the parents from a very young age can cause the child to end up worrying continuously and, to a great extent, for the parents. and, to a great extent, for the welfare of their parents.

2. Phobias

A bad experience of a child can end up causing a phobia.. To give another example, a child who feels that he was bitten by a dog as a child may experience a phobia of animals that, if left untreated, can last the rest of his life.

3. Social problems

Relationships between children are often complicated. Nowadays it is quite common to deal with bullying in schools, as it causes serious problems for many children that prevent them from relating properly in the future.

4. Important changes

In addition to the separation from parents, other important changes such as a family loss, change of city or living some negative situations at home, can provoke such anxiety.

We do not have to forget that the events that can cause anxiety in a child, besides being able to be outside, can be found within the family environment itself.

How can parents help their children overcome anxiety?

Parents are a key figure in helping their children to overcome these anxiety disorders. In Atlas Psicólogos Tres Cantos recommend this series of tips for parents, not only identify, but also help to overcome the anxiety of their children.

1. Find professional help

First of all, the most recommended solution to address the issue of your child's anxiety is to get professional help.. As we can see, this anxiety can be due to different factors and not all children react in the same way to the same stimuli. As this is a complicated issue for them, communication with parents is not always adequate and, precisely for this reason, it is difficult to find solutions without professional help.

Seek the services of a therapist who has the appropriate training and experience to deal with the step. Parental support is also vital and should always be complemented by the professional help offered by the therapist.

2. Communication is important

Communication must flow between the parents and their child. Try to understand what fears he/she has and what are the reasons why he/she suffers from such anxiety. This communication is equally important, both with the therapist and with the child..

The communication with the therapist will not only be limited to know the state and evolution of the child, but also to receive advice for the care of the child. On the other hand, the communication between the parents and the child should be used to help him/her to face his/her fears..

Try to put the therapist's advice into practice and rationalize as much as possible the problems he/she may have. Learning that not all dogs bite or that not all people you can socialize with are bad are some of the most common ways to deal with fears and worries.

3. Don't be in a hurry

Finally, don't be in a hurry. Trying to make a quick recovery from the problem is likely to make your little one even more anxious.

It is important to set small goals and let your child progress little by little. Make sure your child never gets discouraged or gives up, so it is important not only to motivate him/her, but also to appreciate all the progress he/she has made.

These processes are often complicated, but, but with time, the results will eventually come.. Patience is bitter but its fruit is sweet. If you follow the professional's indications and support your child, with the passage of time he will eventually leave behind all those ghosts that torment him and the anxiety will disappear forever.