Helping Your Anxious Child

Clinicians have noticed a significant increase in referrals for children experiencing symptoms of anxiety, especially in light of the challenges brought on by COVID-19. Schools had shut down for a lengthy period; kids were isolated at home and away from their friends; many families faced food insecurities and job loss; and family members and school staff were contracting the virus and dying.

Although we appear to have entered a less deadly phase in the pandemic, its psychological impacts are far from over. Understandably, parents want to know if their child’s feelings of anxiety will pass in time or if those feelings should be addressed by a mental health expert.

First, let’s start with some of the signs to look for to determine if your child is experiencing a level of anxiety that may best be managed with professional treatment.

Parenting Plus

Linda Thomas-Batson

activities that they would normally engage in and enjoy.

2 Your child is experiencing headaches, stomachaches, sweating and/or heart racing, and it is not connected to any other illness.

aggressive and irritable without a reasonable explanation.

6. They are exhibiting increased problems with separating from you or require a great deal of reassurance that everything will be alright.

7. Lastly, they have become overly critical of themselves, worried about failing in school or reluctant to participate in an activity because they are afraid of not performing well or being negatively perceived by their peers. If these symptoms describe your child and interfere with their ability to perform in school, home or outside activities, it may be time to reach out to a mental health professional either at school or a mental health clinic to further explore the matter.

to cope with them.

2 Avoiding things that make us worry or frighten us does not teach us to cope; in fact, it actually makes symptoms worse. Therefore, learning to understand those feelings and what to do when anxieties arise is the best approach.

3. Parents should take a supportive, positive and realistic approach to children’s fears and worries. Dismissing their feelings or telling them to tough it out often makes things worse.

4. Parents can recognize their child’s feelings and help them to express those feelings by listening to their concerns.

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5 The most important thing is to show your child acceptance and love and, if necessary, secure the appropriate help to treat the problem.

Linda Thomas-Batson, LMSW, is a clinical social worker at North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, Long Island’s leading children’s mental health organization. She has worked in the field of social work for more than 40 years, specializing in working with children who experience symptoms of ADHD, PTSD and trauma, with a focus in family therapy. To reach the Guidance Center, call 516-626-1971.

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. Your child is worrying a lot more than usual, and it is not warranted by any particular events in their lives at the present moment. Their feelings of worry do not go away after a reasonable amount of time, and they are preventing them from participating in

3

. You may notice that all of a sudden, they are avoiding people, situations or places that they used to enjoy or other children would likely enjoy.

4. Their worrying has affected their ability to fall asleep, remain asleep through the night or sleep by themselves.

5 Their behavior has changed, and they have become more

Here are some things to consider when making the decision on whether or not to seek help, in addition to some steps you can take prior to seeking the help of a professional.

1. A qualified therapist will work with your child to help them manage anxiety symptoms and learn to function with those feelings. They will be taught to identify and understand their emotions and then learn strategies