What Every Parent Should Know About Anxiety
Parenting has been on my mind even more than usual lately. My new book, Parenting Anxious Kids: Understanding Child Anxiety by Age and Stage, was published recently, which means I’ve been talking all about anxiety in and outside my sessions (check out some pics at the end of this post!). Here are some things that every parent should know about anxiety:
Anxiety can look different. Anxiety does not equal worry. Some kids complain about stomach aches or headaches, and some look more like behavior problems: avoiding or throwing tantrums when they need to do something that makes them anxious. Be aware of developmental milestones so you can recognize anxiety if it pops up.
It’s okay (but not helpful) to want to protect your child from uncomfortable emotions. We all want our kids to feel safe. Anxiety sends the message that something is wrong in the absence of real danger. If we play into this message, we make it more difficult for our children to cope, not better.
Avoidance makes anxiety worse, not better. Helping your child by keeping them home from school, avoiding the playdate, doing their homework for them may eliminate the “threat” their anxiety poses in the moment, but doesn’t allow them to build skills and learn to manage their anxiety long term.
There are skills that can help anxiety. Parenting an anxious child doesn’t have to be a mystery. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can provide your child skills to change their thoughts and behaviors and face their fears. Parents can learn their own skills as well - depending on the child’s age, this can be instead of or in addition to your child’s own work.
To learn more about any of the above, be in touch with us, or pick up a copy of Parenting Anxious Kids (and if you like it, rate and review it!).
Parenting Anxious Kids Book Launch!
