Feeling panicked, restless, or irritated can happen to the best of us and it does when we face something that is out of the ordinary and mundane. For example, if you have to do a presentation at the office or if you have a minor car accident on the way to work, or when you’re meeting someone new for the first time. Generally, feeling anxious sometimes is normal because it’s the way our body responds to stress. But, if that feeling persists constantly and you’re full of worry to the point where it is beginning to interfere with your daily life, then it is important to take steps to alleviate the stress, learn better coping mechanisms and relaxation techniques to overcome the anxiety.
Believe it or not, anxious children are the ones who grow up to be anxious adults. Substantial research links childhood anxiety to mental illness in adults, including not only ongoing anxiety but also depression and substance abuse. And, many adults assume that children with high levels of anxiety will outgrow the problem but that simply isn’t the case.
Navigating anxiety is an essential life skill so here are five ways to help your child identify and work through those anxious moments:
- Repeat a pattern with your child.
Focusing on a rhythm can help your child relax and feel calmer. Listen to soothing sounds and music or better yet, clap a simple rhythm and have your child repeat it. Make a game out of it where you also have to repeat the rhythm your child makes up. You can also play a song your child enjoys so they can sing and dance along with it to soothe the anxiety they are feeling.
- Get outside!
You would be amazed at how well this one works. Get your child outside into nature under the sun and in the fresh air and they are bound to feel better. The extra vitamin D will do them good and the greenery will have a positive effect on them too.
- Address their physical needs.
Many times, anxiety stems from our physical needs such as hunger, thirst or tiredness aren’t being met. Sometimes, anxiety can be managed if we deal with our children’s physical needs.
- Take deep breaths.
Severe anxiety can cause shortness of breath or what is better known as ‘panic attacks.’ The best way to curb that is by asking your child to take in deep breaths as if they are pretending to blow up a balloon. Take three deep breaths in and then blow them out; it will help to reverse the stress response in their body.
- Break things down into manageable pieces.
Anxiety makes everything look bigger and undoable. Help your child identify what is causing them stress and then how to break it down so it is more manageable. Such as, doing your bed or organizing your backpack. Once you help them break these tasks down into manageable smaller tasks, they will gradually learn to do it on their own.
What You Can Do Next?
1. Subscribe to our Newsletter
Get the latest information for parenting tips to help you create happier families. Plus, when you subscribe, I’ll also send you a copy of our FREE Survival Guide To Bring Balance and Calm Back To Your Home. Just be sure to add us to your safe sender’s list. tenille@emotionalliteracyacademy.com and keep an eye on your junk box in case it lands there.
2. Register for my FREE Training (for children 5 – 9yrs)
Register for my free training, ‘How To Bring Peace and Calm To Your Home & Help Support Your Child’s Emotions Without Resorting To Yelling”.
I will support you with some easy tips to help you and your family, as well as provide you with some potential solutions in a free strategy session.
You will get some great information but also if there is a fit you will be offered a spot in our Masterclass 6 Month Program.
ABOUT THE FOUNDER
Internationally Recognised Emotional Literacy & Mindfulness Expert Tenille Bentley is the founder of The Emotional Literacy and Mindfulness Academy and the author of the children’s emotional literacy books with Jazzy and Pinky and The Energy Ball. Giving children a wonderful introduction to understanding their emotions and what to do with them.
Tenille has been featured on Channel 9 News and other major outlets. Her work has been recognized in the community by The Governor of Western Australia, The Prime Minister of Australia, and Australian Financial Review.
As a child, she experienced severe anxiety and emotional traumas as well as bullying which left her feeling isolated and unable to understand why she was feeling the way she did. As an adult, this impacted her ability to make healthy decisions because she didn’t have the tools to understand her emotions.
This is why she is passionate about equipping parents with the tools to support their children to make better decisions in life and healthy ones to help support and create a balanced home life.
