All of us worry occasionally.
It's not just us, the adults, but children too have worries.
Anxiety while growing up is common and regarded as part of growing up.
Actually, children go through a number of phases of anxiety before they mature.
So what's going on in the world of children? Kids today are more exposed to the media be it TV or Internet news than ever before.
News sells best when reporting trauma, wars, strife, disease, famine, and natural disasters.
Not only have this, but they often include graphic pictures with their stories.
Is a child seeing dead bodies a good thing? You might have been more careful in covering your children's eyes when they were toddlers, but you shouldn't stop until they are old enough to handle it.
Kids are more attuned to what is going on in your life than you may realize.
What problems do you have - financial, job, medical, or even marriage worries? They sometimes hear you talk when you think they're not listening, but they can also feel it or sense when you're tense or anxious.
Discussing your situation with others may be very beneficial for you; but you must make sure that the little ones are not within earshot.
Separation anxiety often occurs with very young children and may be because of them beginning to understand that you are distinct from them and that you have the ability to leave.
This normally resolves itself in time.
Some children may have phobias at the younger ages.
Examples of that would be fear of monsters under the bed or a fear of the dark.
They feel that what they imagine is real until they are old enough to recognize the differences.
Impending major events can also lead to anxiety in a child.
Starting at a new school, moving to a new house, the arrival of a new sibling, or parents separating are major events.
These can definitely cause anxiety in the best of us, but children who are yet unable to cope with the unknown, find this difficult.
The trick is to clarify new situations as carefully as possible to your children before these things happen.
If you encourage their questions and reassure them you may discover their fears and can help alleviate them.
Sometimes a physical illness or trauma can bring on anxiety.
A broken arm for them, or even you, changes the current situation, and changes bring on anxiety.
Again, explaining the situation and likely outcome and answering all their questions should help the anxiety to pass.
Often it is difficult to tell if a child is feeling anxious.
These are the signs you should look for:
If you have concerns, always seek help.
A qualified professional can help ease your own anxiety about this and recommend a path for treatment if a problem does in fact exist.
It's not just us, the adults, but children too have worries.
Anxiety while growing up is common and regarded as part of growing up.
Actually, children go through a number of phases of anxiety before they mature.
So what's going on in the world of children? Kids today are more exposed to the media be it TV or Internet news than ever before.
News sells best when reporting trauma, wars, strife, disease, famine, and natural disasters.
Not only have this, but they often include graphic pictures with their stories.
Is a child seeing dead bodies a good thing? You might have been more careful in covering your children's eyes when they were toddlers, but you shouldn't stop until they are old enough to handle it.
Kids are more attuned to what is going on in your life than you may realize.
What problems do you have - financial, job, medical, or even marriage worries? They sometimes hear you talk when you think they're not listening, but they can also feel it or sense when you're tense or anxious.
Discussing your situation with others may be very beneficial for you; but you must make sure that the little ones are not within earshot.
Separation anxiety often occurs with very young children and may be because of them beginning to understand that you are distinct from them and that you have the ability to leave.
This normally resolves itself in time.
Some children may have phobias at the younger ages.
Examples of that would be fear of monsters under the bed or a fear of the dark.
They feel that what they imagine is real until they are old enough to recognize the differences.
Impending major events can also lead to anxiety in a child.
Starting at a new school, moving to a new house, the arrival of a new sibling, or parents separating are major events.
These can definitely cause anxiety in the best of us, but children who are yet unable to cope with the unknown, find this difficult.
The trick is to clarify new situations as carefully as possible to your children before these things happen.
If you encourage their questions and reassure them you may discover their fears and can help alleviate them.
Sometimes a physical illness or trauma can bring on anxiety.
A broken arm for them, or even you, changes the current situation, and changes bring on anxiety.
Again, explaining the situation and likely outcome and answering all their questions should help the anxiety to pass.
Often it is difficult to tell if a child is feeling anxious.
These are the signs you should look for:
- overly attached
- fears for the safety of others in the family
- avoidance of social situations
- difficulty sleeping
- recurrent stomachaches
- compulsive behavior
- low self-esteem
If you have concerns, always seek help.
A qualified professional can help ease your own anxiety about this and recommend a path for treatment if a problem does in fact exist.