Anxiety in a child

"Anxiety" refers to an excessive predisposition to experience anxiety and fear of a variety of events or circumstances. While anxiety can be helpful in helping to solve problems or protect against threats, it can also have a negative impact on an individual who is constantly in unwarranted fear for his or her life or that of loved ones, and who avoids situations that may cause pain or frustration.

What is anxiety?

Anxiety and anxiety are different emotional states. Anxiety manifests itself in specific situations, such as public speaking or medical procedures, and does not cover a person's entire life. Anxiety is characterized by a constant feeling of fear and anxiety when one is afraid of everything. It is important to distinguish anxiety from fear, which is usually related to specific objects or situations, such as fear of altitude, flying, or speaking out.

In children, having many fears may indicate what is sometimes called anxiety—the fear of everything. This condition may be caused by a troubling family environment, high parental expectations, or failures at school or in sports.

As adults, anxiety can become a major barrier to success. Because of internal conflict and self-denial, people may be afraid to build a career or private life, closing many opportunities. However, this condition can be managed with the help of quality and competent psychotherapy.

Why Children Have Anxiety and How to Deal with It

Anxiety in children is often rooted in the parent’s family.
Children growing up in families with anxious parents or grandparents can also become anxious. This can create problems in understanding the world and communicating with peers. For example, children may be afraid to do things that adults find dangerous but do not want to be laughed at.

As adults, these people live with a constant fear of offending or not pleasing their parents, spouse, or boss. This is one of the negative consequences of anxiety in childhood.

• In children, causes of anxiety may include
• An atmosphere of anxiety and anxiety in the family.
• Lack of information on any problem.
• Parents’ authoritarianism and excessively high achievement requirements.
• Conflicting demands of parents and teachers.
• The purposeful development of a sense of dependence in children.

Children's psychologists say girls are more likely to be worried about the opinions of others, while boys are more likely to be worried about the punishments and negative reactions of their peers. That is, girls are afraid that mother will get angry or girlfriends will be offended, and boys - that they will be punished or laughed.

To ensure that anxiety does not become a life-poisoning staple, it is important for parents to reflect on their responses to various situations and to provide more information about aspects of life that raise fears and fears. Over-demanding can lead to neuroses, and viewing the world as full of dangers can make a person fearful.

How to help a child cope with anxiety

If parents notice signs of increased anxiety in their child, it is important to think about the causes of this condition. Perhaps anxiety is transmitted from parents through their own fears and suspicions. Constant protection from imagined dangers can result in a child growing up insecure.

Excessive expectations of parents can also be a source of anxiety for children. If children feel that they do not meet these expectations, they may develop neurosis. Constant failure and fear of not living up to expectations lead to fear of failure and insecurity. The child can either stop striving for success or become too dependent on the opinions of others.

Self-doubt is often reflected in a child's posture and appearance. Anxious children often slouch, retract their head into their shoulders, and walk timidly. Parents, of course, do not intentionally raise an anxious child, but do so unconsciously. They may have been raised by anxious or authoritarian parents themselves, or may not know how to approach education properly.

• How parents can help their children become more confident:
• Show that they love their children regardless of success or failure.
• Not to set too high a demand and expectations.
• Praise the children for their successes and achievements.
• Avoid insults and humiliations.

Do not threaten unenforceable punishments, such as the threat to give a child to a stranger or replace it with another.

Psychologists use a variety of techniques to work with anxious children. For example, they may ask a child to draw their fears and tell their feelings, or to write a fairy tale where the character overcomes their fears. In one case, a girl who feared public speaking used a technique whereby she imagined the characters of her favorite tales telling poetry.

The Semi-Flower Technique, used in day care centers, also helps children improve their self-esteem. A photograph of the child is placed in the center, and the petals record his achievements for a week. For example: "This is Vanya, he ate well, made a toy out of plastic, always did a charge." This technique builds children's confidence and inspires parental approval.

Fitness or yoga can also help people overcome their fears. There are special techniques for relieving muscle clamps, which are especially effective when children and parents are involved together.

If a person learns from an early age to perceive the world in all its diversity, with the support and encouragement of adults, he grows a confident person, able to distinguish the positive aspects of life from the negative. Such a person will not be constantly afraid of failures and mistakes.