Your Childs Anxiety
We all feel anxious from time to time. This is true of young children and old people alike. What is interesting is that in children they must experience this anxiety, so that they can confidently deal with the situations well in future life.
Anxiety disorders can arise later in life if children are exposed to extreme levels of anxiety, or conversely if they experience very little due to an overprotective environment.
As we get older, the nature of the anxieties we feel can change. A baby can feel anxious around strangers, clinging close to its parents. Toddlers frequently deal with separation anxiety when their parents leave, and children between the ages of four to six frequently have anxiety over unreal things such as ghosts or monsters.
Children between the age of seven and twelve are more likely to be anxious about real circumstances that could hurt them. It should be noted that these fears are perfectly normal. Children will commonly replace one type of anxiety with another as they grow older and learn to deal with each type.
If however, anxious feelings persist or the child experiences particularly traumatic situations, then these can have long-term ramifications. Many adults' anxiety disorders stem from fears they have maintained since their childhood. A parent should try and look out for any change in behavior that might indicate the child is anxious about something, and when possible try to get the child to talk about it. Usually this is all that is required for the child to move on.
A parent should ask themselves whether they think their child's fear is typical for other children at their ago. If so, then although these fears should be addressed, it is important to remember it is quite a normal part of growing up. Talk to the child and agree that the fear is real.
Whilst the fear of a monster in the closet may seem ridiculous to an adult, one cannot simply belittle the fear it is very real to your child. On the other hand it is detrimental to pander heavily to the fear the child should be gently encouraged to overcome the fear with the aid of their loving and protective parent.
If the child's anxiety is way out of proportion with the cause of their stress, then this may be an indicator that an outside counselor or psychiatrist could help.
Your Childs Anxiety
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