We had a packed house tonight at A+ Solutions’s program at the Mandel JCC:
Brochie Weinberg spoke about “Why Do Our Children Worry So Much: Helping Children Work Through Their Anxiety.”
We learned what anxiety is; what happens inside our brains when we feel anxiety. Genetics, temperament, environmental factors, and stress can all contribute to anxiety.
Anxiety can present in many different ways. There is Separation Anxiety, Selective Mutism, Phobias, Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Generalized Anxiety Disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder,and Post Traumatic Disorder.
Brochie explained that many children who suffer from Anxiety feel reassured when they are told they are not alone, there are other children who worry just like they do and there is help for their problem.
Brochie also discussed how anxiety is treated. She stressed that we want to practice techniques when children are calm, when they are not experiencing anxiety. Breathing, Progressive Muscle Relaxation, Exercise and Imagery are all techniques that help.
Giving children vocabulary about emotions and an education about feelings is also helpful.Being able to express feelings can help lessen the intensity of any difficult situations. Children can be told that “Feelings are safe to feel”, and that naming the feeling can tame the feeling that may seem out of control.
Diet and nutrition can also contribute to feelings of anxiety, sugar and caffeine can increase anxiety. Healthy eating habits, regularly scheduled meals, and drinking water can help in decreasing symptoms of anxiety.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is also effective to help manage anxiety. Brochie taught us that:
- Every feeling has a thought preceding it, you can change the feeling by changing the thought!
- We can all choose to pay attention to healthier script or interpretation
- Constant worry is a “computer blip” – a problem in the way you are thinking
- The more you pay attention and take the worry seriously, the bigger the worry gets (worry is a temper tantrum that is listened to)
Brochie also gave us some great techniques to help us help our kids manage their “worry bully/bug.” Things like, “boss it back”, “monster makeover”, and “contain or delay the worry”.
She also discussed when medication is necessary for children and adults.
Brochie ended her discussion with a CBT cheat sheet and some other simple tips for talking to your child about their anxiety.
This evening was such a success, we are thinking of doing this again. We will keep you posted on when that will happen!