BACK TO SCHOOL: Helping kids with anxiety
Posted August 26, 2015 1:14 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Anxiety is tough for adults and can be even harder for children to deal with.
In part three of our five-part “Back To School” series, we are learning more about how you can alleviate some of those anxious feelings in your little one.
Alyson Jones is a child and family therapist and says kids pick up on how their parents are feelings, so it’s up to you to manage your own anxiety.
“If you’re managing your anxiety and taking care of yourself and finding ways to channel your energy, they are going to do the same.”
While younger kids are more likely to open up to you, it can be harder with teenagers because their way of dealing with anxiety is often to withdraw and isolate themselves.
“So in the end, I think what is going to help the most is looking for connection. Being aware that that is how your teenager is probably dealing with anxiety. They are in some denial and they don’t want to deal with it.”
She says don’t come in in a lecturing way.
Come in a sort of conversational way and include them and let them feel empowered by making some choices about how they can return to structure.
