Guide to Managing Stress and Anxiety in Children

Stress is a common part of adult life, but unfortunately it is also playing an important part in children’s lives. Parents need to understand this in order to find out what the cause is and thus be able to address it as soon as possible. Only with the help of parents can a child learn to feel better and more relaxed.

STRESS IN CHILDREN

Stress causes anxiety in an adult: noise, constant stimulation, the phone that does not stop ringing, toxic people, traffic, a demanding boss, all the responsibilities they have to face … For children, Everything can be even more stressful than for adults as they are less able to handle stress and lack the skills to handle these uncomfortable feelings.

Children can be more susceptible to noise and everyday stressors, making downtime even more important to them than it is to adults. If a child experiences family conflicts, a move, a divorce , the death of a loved one or has an excessively loaded schedule of extracurricular activities … They can be factors that lead to anxiety and stress in a child.

WARNING SIGNS

There are some warning signs that may indicate that your child is having stress and anxiety, think that they are not able to express it correctly and will not know what is happening to them. The signs of stress and anxiety in children are subtle and can show up in stomachaches, headaches, or changes in their usual behavior. You may also notice mood swings or have trouble sleeping or having good concentration both at home and at school.

If there has been any change in your child’s life lately, it is necessary to observe the child’s behavior to see if he has any kind of stress . Even if you can’t identify a particular stressor, your child may experience it for other reasons. Write down your behavior and your daily mood and jot down any signs of emotional trouble. Talk to the teacher to find out how he interacts at school and also observe how he behaves with friends or family. At the same time, promote good communication with your child to find out if there is something that ails him.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP YOUR CHILD

• • Let your children talk to you. Encourage your child to talk to you about any topic that may concern him and to talk about feelings honestly and openly. One of the most effective ways people deal with stress is by talking to others about their problem.

• • Make sure you listen to your child before suggesting solutions. As much as you want to help your child solve solutions, give your child time to express their thoughts and emotions before making comments about it. Allow it to express itself.

• • To speak, do it by doing a neutral activity. Maybe if you do a joint activity, your child can feel more comfortable talking to you. Do something you enjoy together like going for a walk.

• • Do breathing exercises. Encourage your child to breathe with you, so that he breathes “good” air and lets out the “bad” air and that once he does, everything that makes him feel bad comes out of him and only what makes him feel bad stays inside. makes you feel good.

• It is important that your child sees in you an emotional support point , so that he knows that his home is his physical refuge and you the emotional refuge that will teach him the necessary skills to be able to feel better in the moments when he feels that things are they begin to twist.