Tips for Parenting an Anxious Child
Submitted by: Dvora Entin, LMSW, JFCS Aleinu Network
On February 17th, a group of over 40 women spent several hours together discussing and learning about the way anxiety can manifest itself in children. As a parent of several of my own, it was fascinating to see how anxiety has touched the lives of many of my friends and presents challenges to so many families at different stages in life.
The speakers, Dr. Jennifer O’Connor of Remuda Ranch, and Dr. Holly Asher Drinen, a psychologist in private practice, presented practical advice and guidance in the treatment and understanding of anxiety.
Jennifer focused on understanding the symptoms of anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in children, with “scrupulosity” of significant concern to those in the religious community. If an individual has OCD tendencies, devout religious observance can highlight the obsessions and compulsions. Dr. O’Connor encourages a partnered approach to treatment to include rabbinic guidance working with a therapist for successful minimization of symptoms. Additionally, she encouraged parents to focus on teaching distress tolerance to their children, helping a child tolerate uncomfortable emotions or anxieties.
Holly presented a four-step plan to reduce anxiety in the school environment where anxiety symptoms can classically present. Her clever acronym of STIC (Show That I Can) encourages children to gradually face fears and calm the physical symptoms of anxiety. Through practice and a supportive environment, children can usually work through many fears and anxiety provoking situations. Dr. Drinen helped us understand how teachers can develop anxiety reducing techniques and environments to encourage behavior modification and a successful learning experience.
Parents are an integral part of helping children face their fears and anxieties to create healthy, productive children which leads to healthy adults. Both professionals encouraged parents to acknowledge and address the fears rather than avoidance of situations where the fear can present. Parents should be careful not to “shelter” the child from her emotion as the family could end up avoiding any situation which could provoke a negative response from the anxious child, and the child will not learn how to tolerate the emotional discomfort. However, sometimes, parental support and involvement is not enough and families need to seek professional help and medication to help a child with anxiety.
Training children in “distress tolerance” will encourage a healthier, more successful child!
For more information on this or other mental health and wellness classes, please email dvora.entin@jfcsarizona.com