Childhood anxiety is one of the most common mental, emotional and behavioral problems that occur during childhood and adolescence. The National Mental Health Information Center states that about 13 of every 100 people ages 9 to 17 experience some kind of anxiety disorder. Treating childhood anxiety early prevents future trouble that anxiety may causes such as poor academic performance, loss of friendships and low self-esteem.
Relaxation Techniques
Teaching children relaxation techniques can help ease their anxiety. Relaxation techniques include visualization exercises, deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation and meditation. Although an adult has to help the child practice these techniques at first, children quickly learn how to do these techniques on their own and can turn to them whenever they feel anxious.
Individual Counseling
Cognitive behavioral counseling helps children modify the way they think and behave, which can empower them to manage their fears. Although some similarities exist between adult anxiety and childhood anxiety, they are two different conditions requiring different treatment approaches. Therefore, parents should send their child to a therapist who specializes in working with children.
Family Counseling
If family dynamics are playing a role in the child's anxiety, family counseling can be an effective treatment. The counselor works with all members of the family to work through any current problems or issues that exist, and helps the family to develop better communication skills and problem-solving techniques. If the family therapist notices that parents are struggling with discipline or consistency, he may suggest parent education classes as an additional treatment option.
Exposure Therapy
Children with anxiety tend to avoid the circumstances, people or things that are making them anxious, which typically only serves to reinforce their anxious feelings. In a controlled setting under the guidance of a therapist, exposure therapy will encourage the child to face these fears and put them into perspective. This will help reduce or eliminate the anxious feelings the child associates with the fear.
Medication
When childhood anxiety does not seem to improve with counseling or lifestyle changes, medication may help. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, are the first-line medications prescribed to treat childhood anxiety, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. The specific medication prescribed varies depending upon the individual needs and medical background of the child. Parents should always discuss the benefits and risks of medication with a doctor or mental health professional before giving the medication to their child.
