Out of all mental health disorders and behavioral problems, anxiety disorders are the most common in children and teens, reports the National Mental Health Information Center. Children who suffer from overwhelming anxiety often have issues making and maintaining friendships, trouble succeeding in school and a low self-esteem, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Parents, teachers, coaches and guidance counselors can intervene and help children who seem overly anxious to prevent those things from occurring.
Step 1
Realize that the child actually experiences intense fear and anxiety, recommends Kids Health. It's real. Don't make fun of the child for having a specific fear or expect the child to just get over it. Instead, talk to the child about his fears and anxieties. Giving him a safe space in which to discuss these issues is one of the best things any adult can do.
Step 2
Get professional help for the child. If a parent or another adult in the child's life recognizes that the child's anxiety is affecting her ability to concentrate in school, interact with peers and separate from her parents, he should try to get the child evaluated by a mental health professional. A social worker, psychologist or psychiatrist would evaluate the child for anxiety disorders and help the parents determine a treatment plan, which may include social skills training, counseling, medication and family therapy.
Step 3
Discuss the anxiety issues with school personnel. If a child suffers from an anxiety disorder that significantly affects his life, his teachers and the administration should be made aware of the problem. When teachers and administration know about the anxiety disorder, they'll more likely watch out for issues, work with the child and his parents to diminish problems and offer the child specialized services, such as group counseling with other children who suffer from anxiety disorders.
Step 4
Teach the child how to soothe herself with relaxation techniques. For instance, talk to the child about taking deep breaths in through her nose and out through her mouth when she starts to feel anxious. Practice this technique with her and instruct her to silently count each breath until she reaches 10 breaths. Tell her to repeat this exercise if she still feels anxious.
Step 5
Praise the child when he is able to decrease his anxiety. Tell him that he's doing a good job and encourage him to continue using techniques that work for him. Check in with him on a regular basis to see how anxious he is and remind him to take deep breaths when he's overwhelmed.
Tips and Warnings
- Anxiety disorders can co-occur with other mental health issues such as depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), so it's important that children receive a full mental health evaluation and be treated for all existing disorders.
- Children and adolescents who suffer from anxiety disorders and don't receive effective treatment might turn to alcohol or drugs to self-medicate.
