Managing Anxiety in Children

Anxiety is a major issue for children and adults alike. The good news is that the condition can be treated and managed. If your children are struggling with anxiety, know that you’re not alone and that you don’t have to handle everything by yourself. Folks who live in or near Sparta, NJ, can work with Dr. Carol Calabrese, Dr. Inna Meskin, Dr. Alexis Capozzoli, Renee Thomas, APN, and Joe Larena, APN, and the rest of the team at Skylands Pediatrics.

An Effective Approach to Managing Anxiety in Kids

First, remember that empathy can go a long way with kids. Parenting is stressful even at the best of times, and parents are often stressed out and anxious themselves. Keep in mind, however, that the wrong approach can easily make kids even more anxious.

It might be tempting to isolate kids completely from the things that can make them anxious. If a child gets upset or anxious and you always simply remove them or the anxiety-inducing factors, it can send the message that getting upset is a good way to cope. While managing risk factors is wise, isolating your child too much could make their issues worse in the long run. 

Everyone will suffer from anxiety from time to time, and life can be stressful. Learning to manage and cope with anxiety is crucial. When your child is upset and anxious, you can act as a calming force. You’ll want to use a calm, non-anxious, non-frightened tone. Relaxed body language can also help. Offering reassurance and empathy is often a great idea, but you want to be careful not to fuel anxiety by always agreeing with their fears. 

If a child is worried about getting a shot, for example, you can acknowledge their fear but should also emphasize that many shots are crucial and the pain is only momentary. Contact Skylands Pediatrics for more advice regarding childhood anxiety and medical care in Sparta, NJ.

You can distract your child from things that make them anxious. If a doctor’s appointment is coming up and your child is nervous, you might start chatting about their favorite TV show, movie, book, or whatever else. A moderate amount of distraction is fine, but you do want to be careful not to create a bubble around every anxiety-inducing factor.

Professional Intervention For Anxiety

Professional therapy can go a long way with anxiety. Chatting with a pediatrician and having a doctor or other relevant professional talk with your kids is often a great idea. In some cases, medicine, like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can be prescribed, although medication may be reserved for more severe cases.

If you need assistance with anxiety in Sparta, NJ, come work with Dr. Calabrese, Dr. Meskin, Dr. Capozzoli, Renee Thomas, APN, and Joe Larena, APN, at Skylands Pediatrics. You can reach them by dialing (973) 729 2197.