• Signs of Anxiety

    Table 1 summarizes the major thinking/learning, behavioral and physical signs of anxiety.  Not all children will show all signs or show the same signs to the same degree, but a stable pattern that interferes with performance may be cause for concern.  The usual signs of anxiety differ between the anxious and non-anxious child primarily in degree, and may be shown in one or more of the following ways:

    • Excessive or atypical for age or developmental level
    • Inappropriate or excessive for the situation on a frequent basis
    • Have persisted for several weeks or months

     Signs of Anxiety

  • Home-Based Interventions

    Because some anxious children also tend to demonstrate these patterns at home, parents can do much to help.  Some suggestions include:

    • Be consistent in how you handle problems and administer discipline
    • Be patient and be prepared to listen
    • Avoid being overly critical, disparaging, impatient, or cynical
    • Maintain realistic, attainable, goals and expectations for your child
    • Do not communicate that perfection is expected or acceptable
    • Maintain consistent but flexible routines for homework, chores, activities, etc.
    • Accept that mistakes are a normal part of growing up and that no one is expected to do everything equally well
    • Praise and reinforce effort, even if success is less than expected. Practice and rehearse upcoming events, such as giving a speech or other performance.
    • Teach your child simple strategies to help with anxiety, such as organizing materials and time, developing small scripts of what to do and say to himself or herself when anxiety increases, and learning how to relax under stressful conditions
    • Do not treat feelings, questions, and statements about feeling anxious as silly or unimportant
    • Often, reasoning is not effective in reducing anxiety. Do not criticize your child for not being able to respond rational approaches
    • Seek outside help if the problem persists and continues to interfere with daily activities

    Information taken from the National Association of School Psychologist's website below:https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources/mental-health/mental-health-disorders/anxiety-and-anxiety-disorders-in-children-information-for-parents

    Free Anxiety Tracker Tool in PDF: Anxiety Tracker Tool

  • Apps to download for Anxiety & Mindfulness

     

    Anxiety Reliever

    AnxietyCoach

    Breath2Relax

    CPT Coach

    Happify

    Live OCD Free

    Insight Timer

    Aura

    Calm

    Stop Breathe & Think

    MindShift