Does My Child Have Anxiety?

Anxiety is a common experience for children and as caregivers it can be helpful to be reminded of what anxiety can look like for children and how to navigate managing these feelings with
confidence!

Is my child just trying to get out of school?
Maybe. However, the good news is that with your support, your children can learn tools and skills to manage their anxiety, and grow stronger together by allowing for open communication in the caregiver-child dynamic. Anxiety may be tricky to identify, but may look like your child regularly experiencing stomach aches, trouble sleeping, meltdowns, worries that are difficult to explain, difficulty with transitions, and much more. It is important to keep record of your child’s experiences and symptoms to share with providers to best inform care!

What should I track?

• Bodily symptoms (stomachache, headache. etc.)
• Reactions (yelling, shutting down, slamming doors, etc.)
• Triggers (was there something that influenced the situation)
• Date and time of day
• Frequency (if you notice that behaviors are regularly happening, note that)
• Response (was there anything you or anyone else did in response to the situation)
• Resolution (was there anything that de-escalated or resolved the situation)

How else can I help my child with Anxiety?

Teach them about anxiety

• Letting children know what is going on inside them can help them understand
  that anxiety is their brain’s way of keeping them safe! Sharing with children that
  anxiety is a continuum and can be helpful to us at times may change their
  perspective.

Breathing techniques

• Rainbow breathing, belly breathing, box breathing and pizza breathing are all
  techniques you can introduce and practice with your child. Engaging in rhythmic
  and focused breathing allows for engagement of the parasympathetic nervous
  system to slow down and stimulate the vagus nerve. What this means is that the
  body will shift from a sympathetic state (flight-or-fight) to a parasympathetic state
  (lowered heart rate, reduced blood pressure, and overall relaxation).

Grounding techniques

• 5-4-3-2-1 and engaging in system regulation strategies such as drinking cold
  water can be helpful to shift your child’s anxious thoughts into the here and now.

Connect them with a counselor

• Children are in a constant state of transition and new stimuli with few to no
  coping skills. Connecting your child with counseling can be a great way for them
  to have a meaningful space to support them as they navigate the everchanging
  world around them. Early support and intervention can make all the difference!

Final thoughts:

If your child experiences anxiety this is common and there is support out there. With the right tools, support, and care children are resilient and can thrive!

Written by: Jasmine Alvarado