How help your anxious child

Some children are afraid of anything. They need an extraordinary amount of support from parents, or the fear develops into anxiety.

Do you have a child who is afraid of most?

Strangers, thunderstorms, fireworks, dogs, darkness, ghosts, monsters, and insects - the list of potential horrors is long in small children.

All children are afraid of something

Most children are anxious about something or show an irrational fear in times of growing up. It is a natural part of child development. It is called "developing anxiety" and is perfectly normal. This means that children have at times increased the intensity of anxiety.

For example, when infants 7-8 months of age are afraid of strange faces, and no longer smiles at everyone who looks down in the wagon. Or children in preschool or early school age who may be afraid of the dark, for dogs, to sleep alone, ghosts, trolls and other fantasy characters.

To be afraid and cautious can be good at times and is probably an ancient survival instinct.

What is the theme of developing anxiety, change often over time? Fear peaks often in periods, only to disappear without the need for treatment by specialists.

Is your child afraid to go to the hairdresser, dentist or doctor?Get the tips you need here

Congenital care

Another type of anxiety, which is also within the normal, is about the child's temperament.

All human beings are equipped with certain response moves from birth, which is genetically determined.

It means that a certain proportion of children born cautious, and has a form of restraint as part of its essence.

Children have an innate shyness makes them more cautious and reserved than others to new, unfamiliar situations or people. These children need more support from parents, eg in the transition between kindergarten and school, when they are in the birthday party, or just out on the playground.

Withdrawn children may be more vulnerable to develop anxiety disorders when they grow larger.

Social anxiety in children is a problem with the big unknown, because only 10 percent of those who struggle with social anxiety are treated.

Anxiety in children

Anxiety disorders are one of the most common disorders seen in child and adolescent psychiatry.

Anxiety Disorders in children and adolescents include:

Separation Anxiety

Anxiety of being separated from mother and father. Symptoms of this anxiety will start before the child is 6 years, and will often cause the physical symptoms. The child will also be able to be reluctant to go to school.

Social Anxiety

Fear of social situations. Occurs in early childhood and results in an unusually strong fear of strangers, and uncertainty in social situations.

Generalized anxiety

Pervasive anxiety that continues throughout life. One such disorder is often accompanied by physical symptoms like headaches, stomach aches and problems with relaxation and sleep.

Panic

Strong anxiety that comes in fits. An anxiety disorder as a rule not before puberty.

Phobias

Fear of objects and situations.

Cautious children need so much support and understanding of its nature, and parents to help them to take challenges.

A sign that a natural progression anxiety or more innate aloofness has gone on to become an anxiety disorder will typically be when the child no longer dares to do the things that are normal for children to master the same age .

That is to say about activities like walking to school, being with peers or participate in recreational activities are disrupted by anxiety and irrational fears.

We must look at what is reasonable to expect of children. It is normal that the mother must follow a fearful 7-year-old to soccer practice. But not a 11-12-year-old.Similarly, one can say that it is okay for a 5-year-old has a period where he did not dare sleep alone, but about a 13-year-old can not be alone in his own bed, it's a different matter.

How to help your anxious child

To help the anxious child to be "tougher" and prevent the natural shyness goes on to become an anxiety disorder, parents play a very important role.

Parents must help their children. They build scaffolding or support to help the timid or reserved child out and up..

An important tip is to not support the child's withdrawal. It may in fact contribute to the problem is getting worse.

A child care should never be forced or pushed into unfamiliar situations, but it must be supported to dare to try and work towards a gradual mastery of challenges.

Is your child afraid of spiders? Read about how your child can overcome the fear.

Do parents support

A child who does not dare to make contact and play with other children, need, in other words that the parents involved to play with the other kids are going.

The worst that can happen is if the withdrawn child never gets social training. Then the problems intensified when the child gets older.

Do not let your child be allowed to leave.

Parents should explain to the child that what is scary, and you are afraid of, not necessarily dangerous. It is a natural part of life to feel fear and anxiety for the new and alien.

"This we can do together!"

Is your child afraid to try the slide at the playground, or the neighbor's dog, parents encourage the child to take the challenge of faith in the child, and say things like: "I'm here. This we can do together. You've made things before that has been difficult ", and take small steps at a time towards the target.

It is important to reward your kids show, not performance. And remember that praise can be reward enough.