As children reach different stages of their childhood, it is said that they may be afflicted with different types of anxiety. For example, infants or toddlers (0-2 years old) tend to be afraid of loud noises, or unfamiliar objects. Preschoolers (3-6 years old) tend to be afraid of supernatural figures, the dark or sleeping alone. Older children (7-16 years old) are afflicted with fears such as death, disasters or social concerns.
However, anxiety can be treated. Although children with anxiety may require more time and effort from their parents to coax them into completing certain tasks or to put them at ease, it is not as daunting as it seems as a €parental mission€ to undertake. Let us look at some of the types of anxiety and the suggested ways to free your child from anxiety.
1. Anxiety Type: Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Children who are affected by generalized anxiety disorder are worried and stressed about certain things and will think the worst of each scenario. They tend to be insistent in knowing details to everything, and tend to ask €what if€ questions pertaining to the specific concern.
Other signs are constant ailments such as stomachaches or headaches from the child which prevent them from going to school, or difficulty in falling asleep as they are constantly worrying about possible horrible things which may befall onto the family or themselves.
Suggested Treatment: By identifying the source of worry, the parent could address the specific source of worry and challenge the child's thoughts. Instead of merely dismissing the child with reassurances that the worry is unfounded, it is more effective to explain why the scenario which the child worries about will not take place. The child can also learn breathing exercises to aid him in calming down.
2. Anxiety Type: Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
Children who are affected by Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD) are very attached to their parents and will suffer great distress if they are in the absence of the company of their parents. For example, the child may wail and be inconsolable when the parents are not around, or has difficulty in falling asleep unless he or she is accompanied by a parent or in the parents' bedroom. Other symptoms include disinterest in social activities and shadowing the parents around at home all the time.
Suggested Treatment: By identifying the source of worry, the parents can address the issue by reassuring the child that they will return for the child, to let the child know the parents' whereabouts. The child's independence and confidence can also be built gradually to be able to withstand being apart from his or her parents.
For a start, the parents can try being away for just short intervals of 15 minutes and complimenting the child for good behaviour upon returning. This interval can be lengthened gradually to build up the child's level of confidence and independence.
3. Anxiety Type: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Children afflicted with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are found to be bombarded by obsessions in the mind, which may cause the child stress due to lack of comprehension. Some symptoms of OCD include repetitive behaviour (eg: constantly washing hands, counting, tapping, etc) and inability to complete homework due to constant rewriting and erasing.
Suggested Treatment: You can consider exposure and ritual prevention (E/RP) to guide the child into challenging the OCD's €tricks€ and reassure themselves with counter reasoning to convince themselves and refrain from doing the repetitive action. A medical consultant or a counseller may also be able to provide further helpful advise.
However, anxiety can be treated. Although children with anxiety may require more time and effort from their parents to coax them into completing certain tasks or to put them at ease, it is not as daunting as it seems as a €parental mission€ to undertake. Let us look at some of the types of anxiety and the suggested ways to free your child from anxiety.
1. Anxiety Type: Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Children who are affected by generalized anxiety disorder are worried and stressed about certain things and will think the worst of each scenario. They tend to be insistent in knowing details to everything, and tend to ask €what if€ questions pertaining to the specific concern.
Other signs are constant ailments such as stomachaches or headaches from the child which prevent them from going to school, or difficulty in falling asleep as they are constantly worrying about possible horrible things which may befall onto the family or themselves.
Suggested Treatment: By identifying the source of worry, the parent could address the specific source of worry and challenge the child's thoughts. Instead of merely dismissing the child with reassurances that the worry is unfounded, it is more effective to explain why the scenario which the child worries about will not take place. The child can also learn breathing exercises to aid him in calming down.
2. Anxiety Type: Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
Children who are affected by Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD) are very attached to their parents and will suffer great distress if they are in the absence of the company of their parents. For example, the child may wail and be inconsolable when the parents are not around, or has difficulty in falling asleep unless he or she is accompanied by a parent or in the parents' bedroom. Other symptoms include disinterest in social activities and shadowing the parents around at home all the time.
Suggested Treatment: By identifying the source of worry, the parents can address the issue by reassuring the child that they will return for the child, to let the child know the parents' whereabouts. The child's independence and confidence can also be built gradually to be able to withstand being apart from his or her parents.
For a start, the parents can try being away for just short intervals of 15 minutes and complimenting the child for good behaviour upon returning. This interval can be lengthened gradually to build up the child's level of confidence and independence.
3. Anxiety Type: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Children afflicted with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are found to be bombarded by obsessions in the mind, which may cause the child stress due to lack of comprehension. Some symptoms of OCD include repetitive behaviour (eg: constantly washing hands, counting, tapping, etc) and inability to complete homework due to constant rewriting and erasing.
Suggested Treatment: You can consider exposure and ritual prevention (E/RP) to guide the child into challenging the OCD's €tricks€ and reassure themselves with counter reasoning to convince themselves and refrain from doing the repetitive action. A medical consultant or a counseller may also be able to provide further helpful advise.