Anxiety is the worry or anticipation of something happening in the future. Anxiety becomes a problem when it gets in the way of child’s ability to live and enjoy life. It is the most common mental health problem facing children and teens. For many children with anxiety, their worry and fear can be debilitating. It impacts school, friendships and family life. Children with anxiety struggle with avoidance and miss out on trying new things. Therapy for children with anxiety can increase their ability tolerate the stress of life’s unknowns. It can help them grow and try new things.
Parents should begin to worry about their kid’s worrying when a child’s anxiety is getting in the way of normal day-to-day life. Anxiety can get in the way of trying new things, separating from one’s parent, concentrating at school, and falling asleep. Avoidance is one of the most common symptoms of anxiety. Children with anxiety may avoid things that cause stress or are related to the source of their worry. In some children it looks like snapping or blowing up over tiny things or always seeming to be on ‘edge.’ Children with anxiety struggle with changes in routine or when things do not go as planned.
Most common anxiety disorders: Separation Anxiety, Generalized Anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Social Anxiety, and Phobias
Therapy for Children with Anxiety
Counseling for children and teens with anxiety works. It often involves the parent and child learning about how some worries are reinforced and learning ways to tolerate stress without losing it. Counseling for anxiety gives parents and children strategies to challenge unrealistic worries.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the one of the most common, evidenced-based counseling approaches for children with anxiety. Counseling for children with anxiety has been proven effective.
Kalamazoo Child and Family Counseling provides therapy for kids and teens in Kalamazoo, Portage, Mattawan and South West Michigan.
Call 269-615-7637 to get help with your child or teen with anxiety
