CHILDREN CAN LEARN THE COURAGE TO CONQUER THEIR FEARS
Childhood anxiety treatment at an early stage has positive long-term outcomes for lifetime resiliency. It’s normal for children to experience fears and anxiety as part of their development. For example, newborns may show a startle reflex in response to sudden changes in their bodies or environment. Young children often have fears of the dark, monsters, strangers, and so on. But, if these fears and worries persist, and they start to interfere with their daily activities, it may be time to seek extra support. If these issues affect their routines and relationships, extra help might be necessary. Research suggests that around 10% of children today experience some form of childhood anxiety. Fortunately, well-researched treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are available to effectively support children with anxiety.
The Signs + Symptoms -What Anxiety Might Look Like
- Difficulty sleeping – falling asleep and staying asleep
- Avoidance of common tasks, situations, or people
- Excessive worrying about a wide range of things, everything is alarming
- Striving for control over life and an unsatisfying pursuit for perfection
- Emotional distress from fear of harm to a loved one when apart, often shown through clinging.
- An intense fear of a specific object, person, or (place, animal, familiar objects, etc.)
- A stifling apprehension in new or unfamiliar social situations
- Frequent complaints about physical symptoms – difficulty breathing, headaches, stomachaches, fatigue, etc. These symptoms are not related to any diagnosed medical conditions.
- Racing, and intrusive thoughts – ”what if…?“, ” You should…“, “why didn’t you …?”
- Nightmares or scary dreams
- Reliving past traumatic experiences as if they are happening again in the current time.
Living With a Child with An Anxiety Disorder
Parents, in fact, all members of a family, share in the torture of chronic anxiety attacks with their child.
Many family members have told me in therapy sessions of their experiences with one, or a few of, the following (Can you relate?):
- Helpless – you see your child struggling and feeling swept away by the flood of powerful emotions and you are powerless to stop it, you are unable to rescue them
- Hopeless – you have tried several tips, tricks, and techniques but no progress is made. You secretly wonder in fear yourself …”Will this ever end?“
- Defensive and Irritated – Weaknesses and vulnerabilities in your child plus the unending demand for your comfort and assurance occasionally provokes an anger within you. You may feel trapped by their powerlessness. You might react with impatience
- Guilty – you question if you have somehow damaged your child and caused him/her to become so fearful and insecure. You search in your mind through your parenting history for clues of your misdeed.
Hold on to HOPE
Although living with anxiety can feel very imprisoning, I have hope for your mastery and healing. At Help For Families Canada, we are here to support your child and your family. We aim to help you gain success and tools that foster a happy, confident, peaceful life. With our patient, guidance and systematic interventions children have become:
more independent,
increased emotional stability,
greater tolerance of frustration and the unknown,
experience more joy.
Life is to be lived with passion and confidence, not avoided.
SHALOME!
SCHEDULE an appointment online now for a free consultation over the phone to discuss how to start the journey to recovery
Outcomes of Childhood Anxiety Treatment
Resources for Virtual Play Therapy Childhood Anxiety Treatment
Download & Review the Parent Reflection Question_Child _Anxiety to Prepare for Parent Intake Session
Tools for Online Therapy – Teens – Creativity Kit (youth ages 12-18)
Resources for Virtual Play Therapy At Home Play Kit (primary age 5-8 or 9 years) (coming soon)
Kit for Virtual Play Therapy At Home Play (upper elementary 9-12 years) (coming soon)
Read More About Parenting A Child with Chronic Worries in Our Blog
Recommended Resources for Caregivers for Kids
Picture Books for Elementary School Aged Kids About Worries (Age 5-12 years)
Whilma Jean and the Worry Machine
Additional Resources for Mothers & Fathers About Anxiety
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) – Brochures for Download
Anxiety Disorder Association of Canada
Children Mental Health Ontario
Anxiety & Depression Association of America
Residents of Capilano, Forest Heights, Jackson Heights, Bonnie Doon and Sherwood Park can access affordable child therapy near you. We are quickly accessible from further locations via the Whitemud or Sherwood Park Freeway. Online counselling is available to all families in Alberta and across most provinces of Canada.
Our clients find more courage, confidence and peace in their lives. Your child deserves that too.
Book now.