Supporting children with anxiety

Supporting children with anxiety

Healthy risk takers Nourishing Environment Effective Coping Strategies Effective Problem Solving Skills Healthy Thinking Habits

RESILIENCE The capacity to cope and stay healthy in spite of the negative things that happen through life

Teach Problem Solving Skills Trial and Error! Let children make lots of MISTAKES Step back when mistakes are made. (only step in if you have to!) Give chances to develop independence. Let children make small decisions and larger ones as they grow.

Teach Problem Solving Skills Sort through possibilities together when faced with a problem Ask what could you do? What would happen if you did this?...

Problem Solving Thinking There is a great difference between worry and concern. A worried person sees a problem and a concerned person solves a problem.

Teach & Model Healthy Thinking Habits Be a Thought coach Teach kids to notice their healthy thoughts Help kids to re-frame situations

8 Types of Unhelpful Thinking Catastrophic thinking this is the worst thing in the world Self-Downing thinking putting yourself down Perfectionistic thinking Needing to be perfect Needing approval Everyone must approve / like me Pessimistic thinking I can t do it Giving up I can t be bothered Being intolerant of others people should behave as I want them or expect them to Low frustration thinking everything in life should be fun, comfortable and easy and I cannot stand frustration of any sort

8 Types of Healthy Thinking Perspective Thinking means thinking it s not the worst thing that could happen to me. I Can do this thinking means thinking while this is hard, I can still do it. Accepting Thinking means thinking that when I make mistakes or people don t want me to be around, I know that I am not a loser or hopeless. I still have my good points. Fearless Thinking means thinking that it s OK to make mistakes when learning new things. Independent Thinking it s important to be myself and have a go at new things. Confident Thinking if I really put my mind to this I will be able to do it! Persistent Thinking we all have to work hard to achieve even though they may not like doing it. Tolerant Thinking things are hard / frustrating but I can stand it

What is Anxiety? Normal feeling Physiological symptoms associated with Threat Danger Stressed Feelings of apprehension Worry Uneasiness something is wrong Uneasiness something unpleasant may happen

Stress Response Acute stress (immediate / short term) Stress Response Chronic stress

Anxiety Cycle THOUGHTS I think I am in danger FEEL BODILY SYMPTOMS Heart pounding, breathing speeds up THOUGHTS Something awful is going to happen to me FEEL ANXIOUS

Reflective Listening Reflect Emotion Reflect Content Discuss different ways to think about the situation Then solve together

Children s Coping Strategies Avoidance of situation Withdrawal Compliance Seeking control Having another person deal with the situation (usually an adult) Vicious cycle Parent s response very important

Anxiety Curve Avoidance Anxiety is made worse when children avoid things they have some concern about.

Stepped Approach (Systematic Desensitisation)

Stepped Approach (Systematic Desensitisation) Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 Step 7 Step 8 Anxiety = avoidance of something

Teach coping strategies Practical activities Hobbies / interests Using creative part of their brain Exercise Playing games Relaxation techniques Expressive activities Encourage to talk about how they are feeling (use reflective listening) Meditation Journaling Art work / drawing Acting

Prevention Strategies To build the foundations of resilience and confidence Give lots of opportunities to discover their world Lots of humour Opportunity to be silly / not take things too seriously Exploration of natural world Give freedom to make mistakes and explore

Prevention Strategies Creative projects Encourage LOTS of independence Lots of free play! Allow for boredom Plan for one on one quality time tune into kids Clear expectations, rules, boundaries

Nature Deficit Disorder Free Play Deficit Disorder

Why overscheduling kids is robbing them of a life worth living The Age March 19 th 2014

Time out each day to be in the flow Unstructured activities Lose track of time Fully engaging Relaxing with some challenge Enjoyable activities without pressure of outcome or performance Hobbies / interests Creating / making

You can t get a resilient child who has not failed!

Don t rob our children of the valuable experience of persevering through difficulties it s ESSENTIAL for resilience.

The greatest mistake a man can make is to be afraid of making one. Elbert Hubbard Philosopher

Encourage healthy risk taking Increase independence Give responsibility Give space / trust

Encourage healthy risk taking Our role is to support not to rescue Encourage problem solving approach Give them space to make mistakes lots of learning opportunities Not to hover, but give support from the sidelines Don t steal their important moments of experiencing failure

Helping children with anxiety Reassure feeling anxious is normal Help them to recognise Feelings / Behaviours Use reflective listening Support non avoidance behaviour Use the Stepped Strategy Teach Problem Solving Skills Encourage independence and risk taking

Helping children with anxiety Give more attention to resilient behaviours Nourish yourself Role model calm behaviour Use humour if appropriate Practice Relaxation Techniques Build in flow time each day Increase fun exercise