Q: We often raise a child with anxiety? What to do with it ?

It’s a shame that children deal with anxiety – as an adult with anxiety, I understand the struggles and challenges associated with this issue. Children are not innately equipped with the tools to deal with anxiety and anxiety related disorders.

As the parent of a child with anxiety, here are some things you can try:

1. Don’t avoid stressful situations. Your child will never learn how to cope with anxiety if they are never presented with a situation that causes it – and when they are, it will be overwhelming.

2. Don’t try to eliminate anxiety. Try to help your child manage it. The more you help your child deal with anxiety, the more it will diminish over time. Teach your child techniques such as self-calming to help them work through anxious situations.

3. Have realistic expectations for your child. If you set expectations too high for your child they will become anxious about not fulfilling them. Set realistic expectations for your child and explain that even if those goals are not met, they will be okay.

   1. Talk about potential outcomes. If your child is facing a stressful situation, talk to them about what could potentially happen – good and bad. How will they feel? What can they do about it?