Children with anxiety who face their fears are brave children. They are creative, thoughtful and have the potential to illuminate the world, each one of them…albeit sometimes in unexpected ways. However, when anxiety takes hold, they can feel really overwhelmed. Your potential, your engagement with the world, and your self-confidence can be snuffed out.
When a child feels anxiety they will only want to avoid it and try to live life in a way that they do not have to be in constant suffering, trying never to leave their comfort zone. This can make them anxiety never goes away, but you should know that as a parent you can help your child control these situations. For children with anxiety, adults are very important in their lives because they are a powerful ally in helping this happen. But how to help a child feel safe and control his anxiety?
You will be his great example and guide
Children with anxiety should see in you the strength to learn her. They should know that you can be by their side in the face of anything. Sometimes they will not know how to start or how to say something, but they will feel safe knowing that you will help them find the right words to convey what they feel or to explain what is on their mind, and it is that two heads are better than one.
You can control your emotions
Children with anxiety should know that you are capable of handling anything at any time and that there will be nothing that they can tell you that can make you sad, angry or disappointed with them. You, as a human being, can feel all these feelings, but do not cling to them to show a feeling -and less negative -.
If your child is opening up to you and is telling you something that is important to him/her, it is because he/she trusts you and wants you to enter his/her world, which is the most special place where you can be Keep the connection and take the opportunity to show him that whenever he comes to you to tell you things, it will be worth it. You can’t imagine how grateful your child will be for this good communication with you.
Do not criticize or force him to do things without being prepared
Do not judge him, criticize him or force him to do things without feeling prepared to carry it out. Don’t worry because you won’t be reinforcing his anxiety with this, you’ll just be validating his feelings and reinforcing him. When a child feels validated, they can begin to respond from a position of strength. If you criticize them, if you judge them, or if you demand a different response, feelings of insecurity will intensify and distance between them will only be put. two.
Give value to moments of calm
It is very important that you obtain information about their feelings when they are calm. When things are calm and feelings aren’t running high, it’s important to have a discussion about what you can do to make things better, so anxiety isn’t at full throttle and blocking rational thought. When your child is anxious and says things they don’t mean, don’t take it personally, simply wait for a calm moment to come so you can talk to your child and help him or her express those feelings that make him feel upset and explode in anxiety.
Anxiety can make your child feel bad, but it will be up to you to calm those waters and be able to see the glass half full in all the circumstances.