| Anxiety disorders are extremely problematic | | | | your child to cope. |
| especially for doting parents who do not wish | | | | |
| their children to have any emotional or physical | | | | You should do your best to encourage your child |
| disorders. However, in the unfortunate event | | | | to take part in activities independently, and avoid |
| where a child suffers from anxiety disorders, | | | | overreacting to their physical symptoms as it |
| what do we do? | | | | emphasizes to them that they are "abnormal". |
| Approximately 5 to 20% of all children suffer | | | | Where you are aware that your child may face |
| from at least one form of anxiety disorder. This | | | | new or challenging situations, describe the situation |
| refers to an overwhelming sense of fear or | | | | to them in detail and if possible conduct |
| worry that is out of proportion to the individual's | | | | visualization and role playing exercises to help |
| situation, and often causes an adverse effect on | | | | familiarize your child and allay fears. |
| that person's life. Children are just as susceptible, | | | | |
| if not more so, than adults in being diagnosed with | | | | If you are in a single child family, let your child pick |
| anxiety disorder. Out of the many types of | | | | out a special soft toy companion so that they can |
| anxiety disorder, children are most likely to suffer | | | | build confidence without having to worry about |
| from the following five: separation anxiety | | | | being alone. Establish clear household rules and |
| disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social | | | | routines, and guide your child firmly with just |
| phobia, panic disorder and specific phobia. | | | | punishments and rewards. This will help them |
| | | | establish a sense of security, and they will know |
| Although there is insufficient research on medical | | | | what to expect. |
| treatments for children anxiety disorders, current | | | | |
| research suggests that psychotherapeutic and | | | | Whilst it may be tempting to hide the nature of |
| psychopharmacological treatments play a role. | | | | anxiety disorders from your child, it pays to |
| Psychopharmacological treatments involve the use | | | | inform your child about their conditions. Do not |
| of antidepressants, although it has many severe | | | | keep them out of the loop regarding big decisions |
| and harmful side effects. Medication is usually | | | | or events happening in the family, such as a new |
| recommended in conjunction with therapy, or | | | | job, or a house moving. Always make an effort |
| psychosocial treatments. | | | | to be honest and objective about any obstacles |
| | | | or questions that your child has for you, as |
| It is important to be able to identify if your child is | | | | avoiding the topic or skirting the issue will only |
| suffering from anxiety disorders, and how to go | | | | cause your child's fear to increase. |
| about dealing with it in order to help your child. If | | | | |
| left undiagnosed and untreated, it is highly likely to | | | | Sometimes, it can be difficult to help your child |
| develop into other anxiety disorders in adulthood, | | | | learn to deal with the root of the problem causing |
| and these children face the same risks as those | | | | them anxiety as they are reluctant or afraid of |
| suffering from depression. If your child has been | | | | speaking about it. Help your child overcome this |
| diagnosed with anxiety disorders, as a parent you | | | | by proposing alternative means of |
| have a huge role to play in supporting your child | | | | communications, such as through a picture, or |
| emotionally, as well as in providing necessary | | | | writing a short story. You should also be alert to |
| guidance. | | | | any hints of fear that your child shows, as it may |
| | | | be an indication of what the true cause of the |
| It is normal for children to experience fears as | | | | problem is. A fear of the dark could in actuality be |
| they face life and grow up, but some children | | | | a fear of being abandoned or left alone due to |
| may face greater difficulties coping with their | | | | some event occurring previously. |
| fears. If you child constantly feels worried or | | | | |
| frightened beyond what the situation would | | | | Helping your child deal with his anxiety disorder |
| indicate, or displays physical symptoms of | | | | can be a challenging process, but do not feel alone |
| headaches and muscle tension, you should look | | | | as many families are facing the same problem. If |
| closer into the issue and not dismiss it out of | | | | you suspect your child could be suffering from |
| hand. This could be the critical first step in | | | | anxiety disorder, take steps to find out more |
| identifying that your child has a problem, and then | | | | about it and seek professional help for your child. |
| to go on seeking adequate help and support for | | | | |