Children have been known to be more scared than their adult counterparts, and this is not uncommon - many children suffer from child anxiety at some point in their lives. However, child anxiety can be dealt with very effectively. Here are some things that parents should know about dealing with a child who is suffering from anxiety.
A child's anxiousness or fear can be caused by several factors. It could be the result of something happening to their parent or sibling, or it could be caused by the way their parents react to certain situations. For instance, if a child fears going to school because they heard their parents yell at each other, this will likely cause them to become anxious as well. Other causes can include divorce, death of a family member, or even just the change in a child's family dynamic. When these factors occur, anxiety will probably set in.
Anxiety usually differs between children and can be very difficult to diagnose. Usually, it is only when a child starts to show signs that he or she may have an anxiety disorder. Symptoms include excessive worrying and nervousness, inability to sleep, stomachaches, frequent urination, headaches, trouble concentrating, and social withdrawal. In order for parents to know if their child has an anxiety disorder, they will need to observe the child in various situations and ask themselves if they notice any of these symptoms. If you feel these symptoms are present, make an appointment with your child's pediatrician as soon as possible.
The goal of treating child anxiety is to teach the child coping skills and how to better deal with stressful situations. This is often done in the form of cognitive behavioral therapy. Therapy helps the child recognize negative thoughts and replace them with more positive ones. It can also teach the child how to relax and take a deeper breath when they become tense.
There are many different types of treatments for child anxiety. Treatments can be found in both the doctor's office and in your home. Behavioral therapy is usually used in child anxiety cases where conventional medication isn't working. This type of treatment teaches the child positive ways of thinking. Behavior modification is often used in conjunction with cognitive behavioral therapy and is used for more severe cases of child anxiety.
Natural remedies can also be used to treat child anxiety. There are many herbs that your child can consume to help calm them down and make them feel better. Many herbs have calming effects and they can be easily purchased at your local health food store. The most common herbal remedy used to treat child anxiety is St. John's Wort. Children can consume one or two capsules several times per day until they feel better.
Treatment for child anxiety should begin the minute you notice that your child feels anxious. If your child experiences anxiety, it is important to remember that it is only temporary and that there is no cause to worry. Taking the child out and doing lots of exercise is a great way to help the situation before resorting to medication or behavioral therapy. Your child needs to know that there is help for their problem and that you are there to help them in any way that you can.
If your child has anxiety and you want to use natural remedies to help calm them down, remember to reward good behavior and ignore bad behavior. This will teach them to do what is expected of them in any situation. They need to know that you are there to be a good support system for them and that you are willing to do what you can to help. Giving them structure is very important to a child's life and when they have a safe place to go when they experience anxiety it will help them tremendously. Remember to be patient and give them time to adjust and they will come around and live a much happier life with this condition.
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