Anxiety is a complex emotion characterized by a feeling of nervousness, dread, and apprehension. It typically centers around anticipating a future threat, either real or imagined.
Occasional anxiety is a natural human response, but persistent anxiety can interfere with daily life, creating challenges for children. While parents often want to turn to non-habit-forming anxiety meds to offer their children some relief, it is often better to understand anxiety, its triggers, and potential coping strategies.
Demystifying Anxiety in Children
People often confuse fear and anxiety; while there are similarities, they are distinct in their differences. Childhood fears are frequently tied to specific objects or situations. They are usually developmentally appropriate and fade over time. Fears occur for a shorter duration than anxiety and are triggered by an immediate threat. Finally, fears do not significantly disrupt a child’s daily life. They might avoid specific situations, like a darkened room, but the avoidance doesn’t prevent them from functioning normally.
Anxiety is often more generalized and persistent than fear. A child with anxiety worries about many things and often simultaneously. The feeling is more intense than fear and lasts longer, even after the perceived threat is gone. The worry and intense emotions are disruptive and, depending on their severity, can dramatically affect the child’s daily routines.
Imagine it like this: fear is like the flame of a candle. It is bright and intense, but it can be easily extinguished. Anxiety is like a house fire: it is more intense and aggressive and takes longer to put out. Even after it’s extinguished, smoldering embers linger, threatening to reignite the blaze. That’s why anxiety often requires a mix of talk therapy and medication, especially for children with severe anxiety disorders.
Identifying Triggers
OTC ADHD meds and prescription anxiety treatments can do wonders for children with anxiety, but the best way to help your child is to identify their triggers — what causes your little one’s anxiety to flare up? Triggers are events or situations that create panic or spark an anxiety attack. There are internal triggers (thoughts and feelings) and external triggers (tests and peer pressure). Understanding your child’s triggers can help you identify appropriate coping strategies to reduce the severity of the attacks.
Understanding Environmental Stressors
For most children with anxiety, environmental stressors are the driving force of their condition. Environmental stressors include social situations, like performance anxiety or making new friends. Other everyday stressors stem from academic pressure and family dynamics, like parental arguments, moving, and the loss of a loved one.
Learning Coping Strategies
While over-the-counter remedies, like Brillia, can help your child cope with anxiety, do doctors recommend Brillia? Yes, many doctors recommend the OTC product, but a remedy is only a tool. To equip your child for the future, you must teach them coping strategies.
Coping strategies include everything from relaxation techniques like deep breathing to open communication. In most cases, communication is critical to helping your child. Let them know they have a safe place to express their anxieties and be heard without judgment.
Anxiety and anxiety triggers differ from person to person. An actual medical diagnosis is the best way to get your child the help they need. Consult a local therapist or physician for more information.
