How To Help Your Children Deal With Anxiety

Anxiety is quite common for adults, but a lot of people are unaware that it can also be found in children. Children, as well as teens, can very easily become a victim of anxiety due to family dynamics, peer pressure, and even basic mental health conditions. The covid-19 pandemic just became a source of added stress and anxiety for adults and kids. If you notice that your child is being anxious, you need to step up and teach them some coping techniques and help put them in a better mood.

Here are a few tips on how you can help your child with anxiety. 

Focus On Their Symptoms

Yale Child Study Centre’s clinical psychiatrist, Rebecca Etkin talked about how the symptoms of anxiety in a kid can vary quite a bit; it is also a fact that usually, children seem to talk more about the symptoms of anxiety that are physical rather than emotional. Simply put, instead of telling their parents that they are feeling stressed or anxious, they tell them that they don’t feel well physically. Here are some common symptoms of anxiety in children:

• Shakiness
• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Shortness of breath
• Headache
• Changes in appetite increased crying
• Demotivation
• Sudden outbursts of anger

Gustavo Fring/Pexels | Physical unwellness is often what children complain about while facing anxiety

Tell Them About Relaxing Exercises

Any adult performing relaxing exercises such as breathing would be highly beneficial for them, and it works the same way for children. A 2022 study involving children between the ages of 7 and 10 showed them to be less anxious as they regularly learned breathing exercises. Meditation is suggested for teenagers. For younger children, it is suggested that they exercise by inhaling for four counts, holding their breaths for another four counts, and exhaling for eight counts. Some other exercises that may help in making yourself calm are:

• Journaling
• Art therapy
• Music therapy
• Muscle relaxation

Karolina Grabowska/Pexels | Music therapy can be a great distraction for children

Motivate Them To Get Active

A 2020 research study concluded that kids regularly indulging themselves in robust activities, at least for an hour every day, were shown to have fewer anxiety issues. So, a great way to help your kid when they complain about not feeling well is to encourage them to play a sport, go biking, or go for a jog. Some other activities that you can do along with your child to help them through anxiety are:

• Going for a swim
• Taking a walk in a park
• Taking a small hiking trip

RODNAE Productions/Pexels | Spend time with your kid doing fun activities to keep him distracted