Fear Not! How to Deal With Childhood Anxiety

Did you know that more than 40 million adults in the United States have some form of anxiety disorder?

Generalized anxiety, OCD, and PTSD are common disorders that people suffer from, and the causes typically stem from their past. 

If you have unresolved anxieties and issues, there are a few things you can do to benefit your mental health so that you don’t damage your kids. 

Keep reading to learn some of the best tips for how to deal with childhood anxiety so that you can prevent it from passing to your children! 

Be Open & Honest

One of the most important things when learning how to deal with childhood anxiety is to be open and honest.

Whether you need to be honest with yourself or share stories with your child, talking about these anxieties can help. When you and your child share a fear, it helps to discuss it and come up with solutions together. 

Showing your child different emotions and finding solutions can help them cope with future anxiety. Many children feel alone because they don’t realize that others might be able to understand them. 

Meditate Together

Overcoming fears with your child won’t be a short-term project, it will take time and patience.

A great way to overcome your fears and help your child manage theirs is to meditate. Taking a couple of minutes a day to sit in silence can help the brain sort through scenarios that are real and imagined. 

Meditation, when done correctly, gives people the power to have control over their thoughts and mind. This is a powerful tool that will help them work through fears as they get older. You can make this a special moment with your child by going outside or including it in your daily routine. 

Find a Therapist 

Even if you aren’t seeing a therapist, you should still consider getting one for your child.

Therapists can help children with a variety of issues and topics. For example, if your child has a fear of the dark, a therapist can supply you and your little one with coping tactics. A therapist is also great because they will teach your child how to navigate their emotions and thoughts. 

It is also a good idea for the parents to talk to a therapist. It is common for parents to feel lost and out of ideas trying to help their child, but a different perspective can make a difference. 

Deal with White Coat Syndrome 

Not all childhood anxiety stems from parents or annoying siblings, some of it comes from the doctors. 

White Coat syndrome is a real condition that kids can develop. This condition is about a fear of doctors or nurses because children associate them with sickness, shots, and medicine. You can learn more about dental anxiety and how to cope with it.

If your childhood fears about the doctors impact you as an adult, it can put you at risk. Your children will see your reactions each time you take them for a check-up and they will likely develop fear as well. When people fear the doctor, they are less likely to get check-ups that are used as preventative measures. 

Finding a doctor or dentist that you trust and feel comfortable around is important. Don’t be afraid to look for a new doctor if you are getting too much anxiety from your current one. 

Be Proactive

Although you don’t want to enable your child’s fears, you should always be proactive and help them work through the problem.

Overcoming fears of the dark can be tough but putting a nightlight in the room or checking under the bed before they close their eyes can help. These actions can prevent anxieties from growing because they will learn that they are safe and know that nothing is lurking in the corner. 

You can also be proactive by bringing a toy or snack that they love when dealing with a trigger. If your child doesn’t want to go to the dentist, bring headphones and let them listen to their favorite music as a distraction during the cleaning. 

Acknowledge Feelings

Think about the anxieties that you currently struggle with?

Many of these anxieties are there because no one acknowledged your feelings during an important moment. When children and adults feel alone in a situation, they get anxious because it feels as if there is no solution. 

Acknowledging their feelings by letting them talk and draw can help their anxiety diminish. You should also do your best to acknowledge your own feelings, hiding them will only add to the problem in the future. 

Be a Role Model

When faced with difficult situations, you should strive to be a role model for your children.

Whether you are anxious about paying bills, your health, or your fears, you should model strength and resilience to your child. When your children see you fighting to do what’s right even when you are afraid, they grow courage and aren’t as afraid to stand up to their fears. 

Being a role model doesn’t necessarily mean you have to always be in a perfect mood, however. The best thing you can do is show your child that it is okay to have feelings and that there are many solutions to problems they will experience. 

Do You Know How to Deal with Childhood Anxiety?

Not only will learning how to deal with childhood anxiety benefit you, but it will also help your children.

Anxieties are often passed down from generations because children mirror what their parents do. Resolving your pest issues can help you live healthy both mentally and physically, which carries you down to your children. 

Don’t be afraid to talk about your anxiety with your child so that they understand they aren’t alone and that these feelings are normal. 

Be sure to check out our blog page for more articles about common childhood fears and how to improve your mental health!