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