Anxiety disorders are often associated with adults. However, children can also suffer from these mental health disorders, and this including children in elementary school. If your child is often panicky or is constantly worried, either in general or about something specific, there is a good chance that they are suffering from some type of anxiety disorder. Luckily, there are numerous ways that you can help your child to cope with their anxiety so that they can still engage in school, activities, and with friends and begin to overcome their fears and anxieties. Get to know some of these strategies that you can employ so you can be sure that you are doing everything you can for your child.
Be Positive
Your child picks up on your attitudes and emotions more than you probably realize. If you are in a bad mood, dreading work or school, or complaining about anything (even if the complaints are legitimate), your child will notice and may begin to echo your sentiments. This could cause them to experience more worry and anxiety on a regular basis.
Try to stay positive in front of your child and express positive emotions verbally more often than you do negative ones. Tell your child something positive about him or her on a daily basis and give them encouragement in school and life in general. The more positivity you exude, the more your child will pick up on those cues. While this is not a cure for anxiety, it can certainly help to adjust your child's overall attitude which may, in turn, reduce instances of anxiety and panic attacks.
Get Your Child a Tutor for School-Related Anxiety
Because of the emphasis on performance and standardized testing in schools even for children of young ages today, many children develop anxiety issues that are directly related to school and academics. If your child is experiencing school-related anxiety, you may find it very difficult to calm their nerves and convince them that they are being too hard on themselves.
Sometimes, hiring a private tutor may help to quell your child's school-related anxiety. The extra help with school activities and subjects will put their mind at ease, for one thing. Tutors are also perceived by your child as impartial, meaning that if they provide your child with encouragement and praise, your child may take it more to heart than if it comes from you or other members of your household.
Consider Counseling
There are many different reasons a young child may experience anxiety, and some of them are not obvious and therefore not easily resolved. Sending your child to counseling for their anxiety can help you and your child determine the root causes for their anxiety and help them better handle and cope with it.
A counselor is another impartial voice to which your child may be more responsive. Counseling can include you and the rest of your family as well so that your child can openly express their concerns, worries, and fears in a "safe" environment and in healthy ways (as guided by their counselor). You can also all work together to develop better communication and coping skills to deal with your child's anxiety more effectively.
Now that you know a few of the ways that you can help your elementary-aged child with their anxiety, you can be sure that you are doing everything you can to provide them with the care and support that they need.
Contact a counseling professional such as Hey Sigmund for more advice and information.
Share30 August 2016
When I initially started the therapy process about 10 years ago, I didn't take the time to scout out the right counselor. Instead, I just went to the first counselor that my doctor recommended, and the experience was less than enjoyable. I realized that I might need to do a little research to find the right counselor for me, so I took the time to carefully evaluate my needs and research different clinics in my area. I was able to find an amazing counselor who really seemed to have it under control, and it was incredibly beneficial to see the difference that it made. This blog is all about finding the right counselor.
