t i s e o d t a d Wh n a e k i l k loo an we c t a h w do? Childhood Anxiety Caitlin Tur pyn, MA
The Bad News 0 Anxiety disorders are the one of the most common mental health concerns among children and adolescents 0 Anxiety is linked with significant impairment 0 Problems in school 0 Problems with friends 0 Problems at home
The Good News 0 Anxiety is one of the most treatable conditions 0 Meaning.we know how to help!
Overview 0 What are the signs of anxiety and how does it work? 0 What can I do to help? 0 How do I know when to ask for more help?
What is anxiety? 0 Response to perceived danger 0 Enables a Fight-Flight-Freeze response 0 Everyone experiences it!
What are the different kinds of anxiety? 0 Generalized Anxiety: excessive worry about many things 0 Social Anxiety: fear of social situations/interactions 0 Selective Mutism: refusal to speak to anyone outside family 0 Separation Anxiety: fear of being away from home/parents 0 Specific Phobias: intense fear of particular object/situation 0 Panic Disorder: bursts of physiological symptoms ( panic attacks )
Three-Response System of Anxiety Thoughts Behaviors Feelings
What does anxiety feel like? Thoughts Behaviors Feelings
What does anxiety sound like? 0 All-or-nothing thinking 0 Discounting the positive 0 Mind reading 0 Fortune-telling 0 Catastrophizing 0 Shoulds, cant s, won ts Thoughts 0 Overgeneralizing Behaviors Feelings
What does anxiety look like? 0 Avoidance 0 Lack of participation in activities 0 School refusal 0 Reassurance seeking 0 Crying, emotional outbursts 0 Not talking Thoughts Behaviors Feelings
How does the cycle of anxiety work? No corrective experience Trigger Avoidance/ Safety Behaviors Perceive Threat (Thoughts) Anxiety (Feelings)
0 Help them break the cycle! 0 Recognize the signs 0 Relax the body 0 Relax the mind 0 Come up with a plan 0 Rewards and praise How do I help? 0 Goal is to APPROACH, rather than avoid
Recognize the signs 0 Normalize anxiety 0 Alarm system/fight-flight-freeze response 0 Name the anxiety (e.g., worry monster) 0 Asking the right questions in the right way at the right time 0 Don t brush off worries/anxiety 0 Show empathy and compassion 0 I noticed you seemed worried/upset/jittery 0 What are you afraid might happen?
Relax the body 0 Deep breathing 0 Bubbles, candles, milk bubbles, balloon 0 Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 2, exhale for 4 0 Muscle relaxation 0 Robot to Rag doll, Frankenstein to Spaghetti 0 Meditation 0 Practicing noticing the breath, thoughts, feelings 0 Consider age
Relax the mind Detective thinking 0 What just went through my head?? 0 What evidence do I have? 0 What would I tell a friend if he/she had that thought? 0 Am I confusing a possibility with a probability? 0 How many times has happened before? 0 What is the worst that could happen? 0 If it did happen, what can I do to handle it?
Come up with a plan 0 Coping Cards 0 Realistic Self-talk 0 What is a more helpful/realistic way to think about this? 0 Relaxation strategies 0 Practice: exposures and experiments 0 Gather more evidence 0 Approach!
My Coping Card My stomach hurts and my palms are sweaty. My anxiety is acting up! I can boss back my Worry Monster. I have done it before. I can do some belly breathing. My teacher just wants me to try. It s okay to say the wrong answer out loud.
Rewards and praise 0 Reinforce bravery and approach behaviors 0 Anxious kids are hard on themselves they need your help recognizing efforts and successes! 0 Praise for trying and small steps
Back to our social anxiety example. Corrective experience Trigger Approach Behavior Relax the body and mind Less Anxiety
Where do we get more help? 0 Resources in school 0 Private psychologist or therapist 0 Individual TX 0 Group TX Questions to ask provider: Will parents/family be involved in treatment? What training and experience do you have with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and other therapies? Are you willing to communicate with my child s pediatrician? School?
Qu? s n o i t es Thank you! Caitlin.Turp yn@lcps.or g