Treating Childhood Anxiety
Childhood Anxiety
If you’re a parent who’s worried about your child’s anxiety, it may be time to consider therapy.
Many parents are hesitant at the idea of seeking help for their children, but in reality, therapy is vastly more effective when tackling anxiety in children than medication alone. Therapy can also compensate for any developmental delays that the child’s anxiety might have caused
The symptoms of anxiety in children can vary and may include:
- Difficulty with schoolwork, learning, or concentrating
- Trouble falling asleep
- Irritability with peers or siblings
- Jealousy, rivalry, or intense competition with others, even over toys
- Problem sharing or playing well with others
- Generalized dread of going to school, experiencing separation anxiety, and other phobias about being away from home
- Fears of losing a parent to death and other forms of abandonment issues
- Developing and then ceasing physical symptoms: stomach aches, headaches, eye strain, muscle tension, skipped meals, and so forth
- Difficulty with adapting to changing situations and unexpected changes
- Fear of everything from leaving the house to wearing a bathing suit to experiencing heights
- Feelings of shame or embarrassment that go along with anxiety
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt and suicidal thoughts
What kinds of problems can therapy address?
Therapy can help you and your child with:
- Understanding the source of anxiety and how to manage it
- Building self-esteem by improving your child’s social skills, emotional maturity, and problem-solving abilities
- Easing your family’s emotional responses as you work together to reduce the impact of anxiety on school, relationships, play, and life in general
- Getting back on track developmentally for kids whose anxious thoughts or symptoms interfere with their ability to learn or do well in school
How can therapy help treat childhood anxiety?
As a parent and the leader of your family, you’re the first line of defense for your child’s emotional health. Therapy can help you build a trusting relationship with a therapist who works with children from various backgrounds. This helps create an environment where children feel comfortable opening up about their issues. With your help, they’ll be able to look forward to effective treatment that addresses where their problems are rooted in the brain and how anxieties may have developed over time.
Anxiety is a severe problem for many children, but successful treatment can help manage the situation and improve family dynamics for a happier home.
Ready To Seek Help?
Ready to learn more about how therapy can help your child overcome anxiety?
Contact Washington Psychological Wellness today for a complimentary 15-minute initial consultation. Our team of highly skilled mental health professionals is here to help you and your child achieve optimal mental health and wellness!