Anxiety is a mental disorder that is mainly associated with feelings of worry and a strong fear that can disturb someone’s capability to process their daily routine. There are different kinds of anxiety disorders and they are, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
There are many different symptoms of anxiety which include, sweating, restlessness, constant worrying and increased heart rate. This disorder can be treated by going for counselling or by using medication. Many parents tend to be confused and may not understand what to do when their children experience anxiety.
Below we will navigate the five ways parents can help their children deal with anxiety without medication.
Accept Anxiety
The first step to overcoming something is by accepting it. It is therefore helpful for parents to accept what their children are going through. According to Mayo Clinic, anxiety is normal and natural, and one should allow themselves to go through the process instead of wanting to fight the feeling of worry off. By accepting what your child is going through it creates room for learning and understanding what to do when they experience anxiety attacks.
Limit caffeine intake
Caffeine is found in various energy and soft drinks and most commonly found in coffee and tea. Consuming caffeinated beverages can make anxiety worse as caffeine stimulates the brain and nervous system which can result in panic attacks. Parents should therefore try and maintain the children’s caffeine intake.
The 5,4,3,2,1 rule
This rule can be used to help your mind shift from focusing on the panic attack. It is therefore recommended that parents teach their children this rule to help them calm down during an attack.
Use your five senses and name:
- 5 Things you can see in that moment.
- 4 Things you can hear.
- 3 Things you can feel.
- 2 Things you can smell.
- 1 Thing you can taste.
Self-soothing
As a parent you are expected to take care of your children this is one of the key things to do if you have a child suffering from anxiety. According to Calmerry, during anxiety attacks parents should suggest taking deep breaths to the child because they will help with decreasing the heart rate and can prevent a panic attack from happening. They can also try to help children to relax by meditating with them.
Get enough sleep
Sleep is one of the best ways to deal with anxiety because getting enough rest can make your body relaxed and not feel exhausted. The above mentioned source reveals that exhaustion is a high risk of getting an anxiety attack, you feel tired and worry about getting things done. Encouraging sleep would be very helpful to kids. Parents can even take naps with their children to make them feel better.
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