Children - coping with Anxiety & Stress
Anxiety in young children grows each year at an alarming rate. Each year there are more cases of children as early as 2 years old who are already experiencing anxiety and show symptoms of high stress. According to a research update by Georgetown University, By 2020, 5.6 million kids had been diagnosed with anxiety problems and 2.4 million had been diagnosed with depression.
What are the signs of anxiety/stress?
-Lip biting
-Finger picking
-Unhappy in social situations
-Hair pulling
-Heavy breathing
-Constant worrying
-Not eating regularly
-Upset stomach
-Not sleeping properly
-Poor school grades
-Negative thinking/talking
...The list goes on.
There are some ways to help your little one with their anxiety/stress. Don't think that stress is a bad thing. Stress is a normal and healthy reaction to some life situations. But being overly stressed can cause anxiety and other mental health related issues to occur. There are many ways to help your little one to cope and manage this anxiety. Starting early will significantly help them in the long run with their stress and stop anxiety before it arises.
Honest & soft encouragement of daily activities.
Example- “You had a great soccer game today. I loved watching you play. You scored two times! I am so proud of you. It's okay to not score all the time. It's very nice of you to let your teammates get a chance to score as well.”
2. Morning and night deep breathing exercises- Doing these exercises as a family promotes connection. Remember, children want to copy all that you do. They look up to you.
Example- “5 finger breath- count to 5 breath in...count to 5 breath out.”
3. Reconnect with the 5 senses- If your little one starts to stress or their anxiety symptoms build up, reminding them of their senses can redirect them to the present moment instead of worrying about the past or future.
Example- “what do you see around you? What do you smell? What do you hear? What can you touch? If applicable- What do you taste?”
4. Connect with nature- Being outside does wonders for those with anxiety/stress. Children spend most days inside 4 walls. Even in school most children only receive about 15-20 minutes of outside time. It is imperative to allow your child to explore the outdoors. Sports, family picnics, nature walks, camping, stick/rock collecting, nature painting, are all ways to allow each child to express themselves and get some fresh air without the use of TV, video games and the cursed I-Pad.
As a collective, we can help our children to experience stress in a healthy and happy way. With these tools, we can direct them to a better future.
-Alessandra B
Owner/creator of Self Sacred.
