If your child experiences anxiety attacks, the best child anxiety treatment you can provide is effective education on anxiety disorders, as well as child anxiety treatment programs for kids. There are many different forms of treatment available for anxiety issues. The most successful treatment for anxiety disorders in children is psychotherapy combined with medication for short-term use. Therapy can help children make sense of their fears and help them overcome their fears by learning coping mechanisms for anxiety. CBT is very successful for many children.
The second most common treatment for anxiety disorders in children is one-on-one counseling or psychotherapy. During a single counseling session, a licensed therapist will use cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), which helps a child develop new positive ways of thinking and responses to anxiety-provoking situations. CBT works by gradually changing an individual’s response to anxiety-provoking situations over time. It does not rely on drugs or pharmaceuticals. In fact, medication is not used during a single session. This type of anxiety treatment is usually offered at the child’s local anxiety clinic or at the parents’ home.
Children can also be treated with prescription drugs to address anxiety disorders. There are medications that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration and children who take these medications often achieve notable improvements. However, children must be closely monitored by their physicians to avoid harmful side effects. SSRIs for example, have been associated with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children. Also, SSRIs can lead to depression which can further impair children’s ability to function. For these reasons, any child seeking treatment at an anxiety clinic or at home should be carefully evaluated for safety concerns.
Other child anxiety treatment options include using self-help techniques. These may include such strategies as distraction, positive imagery, controlled breathing, goal setting and creative activity therapy. These techniques can help to improve a child’s ability to control responses to stressors, and they can help to reduce distress. They can also teach children to focus their thoughts and attention on the task at hand, which can help them to better cope with stressful situations. Many parents find that these techniques are very helpful in addressing their child’s emotional problems without the use of medications.
A child anxiety treatment program can also include child behavior therapy. This approach addresses the thought processes and behavioral patterns that can perpetuate or worsen a child’s anxiety disorder. CBT works by helping the child identify negative thoughts and turn them around in his mind. Successful CBT sessions may require weekly meetings and may last up to six months. If you are looking for child anxiety treatments, your physician will be able to recommend a good program for your child.
The benefits of child anxiety treatment are undeniable. Your child will have increased self-esteem, clear thinking, better self-control, and greater coping skills. He will be less disruptive in school, and you will be able to more easily provide your child with the support he needs to learn and grow. Talk to your child’s doctor about the available treatment options. Together you can find the best anxiety treatment plan for your child.