Talking about feelings

Children internalise a lot of anxieties because it can be incredibly difficult for them to verbalise what they are feeling. With everything that is happening right now, children may become much more anxious.

Some signs that your young child might be anxious:

Irritability

Clinginess

Tearfulness

Difficulty sleeping

Night waking

Bed wetting

Nightmares

Anxious older children may:

Be angry a lot

Lack confidence

Struggle with sleep

Have trouble eating

Have trouble concentrating

Have persistent negative thoughts

Avoid usually enjoyable activities

Sometimes, anxiety can feel impossible to juggle. Especially when we're unable to actually recognise it. 

If you notice a change in your child's usual behaviour, it is likely that there is an underlying issue. For example, if your potty trained child suddenly starts wetting the bed, this is a sure sign that something else is going on.

How can you help?

It's incredibly important to have open channels of communication with your child(ren). If your child feels like they cannot talk to you about something, this may compound their anxieties. What children need the most in times of uncertainty is reassurance. 

Be honest with your child(ren) but don't scare them. Limit any unnecessary details. They don't need to be watching the news or daily briefings. If you are watching these, try to watch them in a different room to your child(ren) and if possible, use headphones or captions.  Encourage them to ask questions. If you don't know the answers, look up child friendly resources. There are plenty available. Invite them to talk about their day and ask open ended questions. If your child(ren) find opening up difficult, you could have them "act" out their thoughts and feelings with puppets or toys. If you take the lead on this activity by talking about your day, your child(ren) will follow suit. Again, avoid unnecessary details.

If your child(ren) tells you that they are worried about something, let them know that their feelings are valid and if you feel the same, tell them.  Come up with a plan for dealing with some of these worries. (Check my Health Anxiety blog for tools, particularly the breathing exercise.) 

Try to ensure they are able to connect with friends and family via video chat. This will reassure them that others outside of the household are safe.

Avoid diminishing your child's feelings. Don't tell them that there is nothing to worry about or that they need to stop thinking about things. If your child could simply stop being anxious, they would. 

Work with your child(ren) to reframe their anxieties.

Some therapists are offering free online support during this time.

CLICK HERE TO BE TAKEN BACK TO THE ANXIETY BLOG MAIN PAGE

If you wish to make a donation for my efforts, you may do so here
If you would like to leave feedback about any of these tips, you may do so here