Top Ten Ways to help Your Anxious Child

By Merely Me, Health Guide Monday, January 18, 2010

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When you have a child who suffers from anxiety it can be difficult to know what to do to help. My son Max has autism and anxiety seems to be a major component to his disorder. There are some days which are terribly draining because it seems all we do is deal with his anxieties. The ...

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Paul

1/19/10 2:13pm

These all have one thing in common and that is in the rush of our daily lives, our need to accomplish a lot in a short time, we need to be cognizant of our children and be aware of how they are reacting to the demands placed upon them.

Sometimes we just need to stop, I think and look at them, not just to see that they are clean, or dressed properly, but to read their face and manners, and to hear their voice trying to express themselves. We shouldn't ignore their fears and anxieties or dismiss them as unimportant and so I think your number one rule, is the first we should follow.These are all great and as usual, you lay them out perfectly.

I can remember very little of that as a child, so I have paid particular attention to what you've said and I believe, young age does not make you immune to the stress of life. In certain situations, a child faces adult worry, even worse than adult, it is magnified to them, and that is where guidance needs to be. But first we have to see, before we can help.

Merely Me, Health Guide

1/19/10 7:28pm

Thanks for this...yes childhood anxiety can sometimes be worse because you are powerless in so many situations. I was definitely an anxious child and it was very difficult especially when adults would not listen.

I really appreciate your comment...thank you!

Michel

1/19/10 8:41pm

As a father of a son who is afflicted by OCD and anxiety issues, I find out that at times even if we try our best we loose our objectivity, its hard to stay objective when your child suffers especially when you as a parent share some of those issue's. Merely me all that you have said here is good advice; Medical team, professors, therapist and therapie, safe place etc... True also that when our anxiety surfaces undeniably children will pick up on it, were my oppinion differs from yours is I dont hide my anxiety from my son and I think its healthy, I'll explain to him in terms that he can understand being carefull in the words I use but I do give him information on the way I feel and strangely enough he can relate to it and I think gives him a sense of security in the sense that it gives him a reference on how to deal with is own anxiety. But again my boy it seem's never gets the (all clear) message so there is always some anxiety there and it will show up in ways like hair pulling or repeating himself, being affraid that he might have hurt himself for turning his head to fast he will come to me and ask me Dad is it dangerous am I alright thats compulsion and we have talk with is psychiatrist about it, her advice to me is not to lend myself to those questions so he can learn to cope with is fears and he is given tools to do so but time is of the essence here it wont happen overnight. what we must adress now is his social phobia, OCD as many faces I guess just like anxiety does thing is with OCD it takes longer to see some improvment. Everybody as to be on the same page so there is no distortion on the messages given to him, that in itself is hard to achieve at times when there is denial of the situation by close ones, so I draw the line like it or not. Hopefully my english is good enough for my reply to be understandable. Michel

Merely Me, Health Guide

1/19/10 8:54pm

Hi Michel!

You are so right...it is hard to stay objective as a parent who lives with a child day in day out...who suffers from anxiety. I like what you say about being honest about your anxiety with your son. I bet that it does help him to learn that he is not alone in some of his feelings. My situation with my son is a little different in that Max has severe autism and so I cannot provide much in the way of verbal explanations. But he does feed off of my emotions so...I am human and I am not going to pretend I am not having certain emotions...but I will work on myself as to not...cause him any more upset. Hope that makes sense.

I am definitely wanting to hear more about your son and how you two cope together with his OCD. I know it must not be easy for either of you.

Thank you so much for your comment...it is much appreciated.

Top Ten Ways to help Your Anxious Child

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