What is Anxiety?Anxiety is a normal response to something dangerous or stressful. Stress and anxiety are close to the same things. Worry and fear are also related. All are completely normal and are experienced by everyone. Anxiety becomes a problem when it shows up at unexpected times and takes a firm hold.
Signs of Anxiety* Sweating
* Heavy Breathing * Tummy Ache * Butterflies in Tummy * Hard to Think * Headache * Fast Heart Beat * Trembling Body How can you support your child?Don't Talk Them Out of It
One of the best ways to support your child is by letting them know that you, "Get It." Avoid saying things such as, "There's nothing to worry about," or "You'll be fine." Phrases like this can make your child feel as though something is wrong with them. Normalise Make sure your child knows that anxiety is normal and that all people experience it from time to time. Sometimes people may get anxious before meeting new people, taking a test, or starting at a new school. This is normal! Sometimes, children feel anxious for no reason at all. That's normal too. Explain Anxiety is something that lots of people get, but it feels different to everyone. Anxiety starts in your brain. Brains are wired with defensive mechanisms that we will call worry alarms. Worry alarms are meant to warn you of danger to help keep us safe. Sometimes our worry alarms might go off for no good reason, causing us to worry when we aren't even in danger.
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Helpful Articles
http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/anxiety-disorders.html