Look, it’s normal for children to look anxious and afraid at times. Sometimes, experts say that it is a good thing for their well-being. A little fear is helpful for keeping them safe and out of trouble.
However, sometimes children can be scared because of no obvious reasons. They look fearful of things and situations that ought to pose no threat. This kind of condition can be upsetting for parents and needs to be addressed immediately.
Below are 6 natural ways you can help your kids reduce anxiety and fight off fear.
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Respect their Feelings
When you feel that your children are anxious and worried, go talk to them and make them feel safe. It has been noticed that most parents say things like “it’s just in your mind” or “you don’t have to worry about it”.
These responses are discouraging and send a message that your child is wrong. Instead of saying these things, make them believe that they might be right and that it is natural to feel scared or anxious. All you have to do is be empathic and teach them empathy. Encourage them to face their fears.
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Consider your Parenting Style
Make sure that your parenting is not making your children more anxious. Promote an open environment in your home so that children can share their insecurities with you. Make your interactions more casual and encourage healthy relationships.
It has been noticed that parents who expect perfection and control every move of their children make them more fearful and anxious. Allow your child daily life problems so they can develop resiliency towards the environment.
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Make them Differentiate Between Real & False Threats
If you notice that your child remains scared without any obvious reasons, you need to teach them how to distinguish between real and false threats. Children don’t see the world as you have seen it. They get scared of little things, and this can lead to severe anxiety problems.
Preparing for a test may not be a big problem for you, but your child feels intense fear over it. It’s your duty to tell them to be confident and prepare to face it instead of being scary. There is a quick 15-minute solution you can practice to reduce anxiety and kick out stress from your children.
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Tackle Their Negative Thoughts
Encourage your child to identify what they are feeling. Provide a safe space for your child. Create a space in the house that is designed specifically for your child’s anxiety and can be decorated with calming colors and textures.
Ask friends and family members not to visit this space during an anxiety-provoking event. Allow your child to have one or two trusted adults who know about their fears and can help them through these times.
Be patient when dealing with your anxious child because it takes time before any strategies start working.
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Teach Deep Breathing to your Child
One of the best ways to calm down and regulate your body is deep breathing. This technique can also be applied to children coping with anxiety and depression. It can be done anywhere, anytime. Here’s how:
- Sit in a comfortable position with your back straight.
- Draw in a deep breath through your nose for four seconds, letting it out through your mouth for eight seconds (or until you feel like you can’t breathe anymore).
- Repeat this process up to five times.
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Consult a Doctor Before it Gets Worse
It is important to consult a doctor before this condition gets worse. Different approaches may work depending on the severity of the symptoms. If your child has severe anxiety, there may be times when the best treatment would be to seek emergency medical attention or hospitalization.
There is a wide variety of treatments that are available for anxiety disorders. These include medications, psychotherapy, and relaxation techniques. While these can be effective, they should only be used in conjunction with other treatments.
Final Words
Helping your child with anxiety can be overwhelming and extremely difficult. But you should always focus on the good aspects. Following the above-mentioned strategies will give you quicker results while helping your child out of anxiety. However, remember to be patient and don’t expect instant results.
