Children and young people with anxiety may have trouble with certain areas of their lives, like going to school or being in social situations. It is normal to feel anxious from time to time, but if it persists and interferes with a child or young person’s daily life, it could be a sign that they need some support. We’ve got advice to help you provide reassuring support, work on strategies together and find professional help if necessary.
Firstly, it is important to understand your child’s anxiety and be caring and curious about it. This means listening to them talk about what makes them anxious and helping them to identify the early physical signs of anxiety, such as their heart beating faster, feeling hot or having a headache. It can also be helpful to ask what they try and do to calm themselves down, such as breathing exercises or distractions. It’s worth remembering that children and young people can only learn how to calm themselves by actually doing it. So be patient with them – it can take time to build up their confidence and resilience.
Avoid dismissing or minimizing their anxiety, as this will only reinforce it. Instead, be a positive role model for them, by responding to their fears with empathy and compassion. Don’t be afraid to show them how you cope with your own anxieties – this will encourage them that it is okay to have these feelings and that they can get through them.
It’s also important to be honest and not omit information or give them false reassurance, as this will only increase their anxiety. Children need all the information that is age appropriate and if you leave gaps, they will fill them in with their own beliefs, which can be inaccurate and anxiety-provoking. This is especially true for children with specific conditions, such as ADHD and autistic spectrum disorders.
If a child or young person is not managing their anxiety with talking therapies and relaxation techniques, it might be worth considering medicine. However, medicines should only be used when there is a clear diagnosis of anxiety disorder and when they are prescribed by doctors who specialise in children and young people’s mental health.
The good news is that anxiety is very common, and it is treatable. With support from family and friends, a young person can develop the skills they need to overcome it.
CHOP is committed to promoting mental health and wellbeing and believes that everyone has a right to quality care, regardless of their ability to pay. This is why we offer a number of free and low cost supports for families, including financial support, counseling services and education resources.
Emerging Minds acknowledges that families come in many different forms and recognises that parental responsibility can be shared among parents, relatives, foster carers and other caregivers. This resource was developed by CHOP’s Healthy Minds, Healthy Kids program.
This article was developed in partnership with the Anxiety Foundation of Australia, an independent non-profit organisation that aims to improve the mental health of Australians.