What do you do when your child is suffering from anxiety related to sports, school, friends, etc? Is it healthy for your child to feel a little bit of anxiety -- is it sort of like exposing them to some germs so they can build up an immunity? No one wants to see their child suffer or struggle or feel pain or sadness or nervousness or hurt, but if we take away the source of these so-called "negative" emotions are we really just setting up our kids for a world of hurt?
As hard as it is, it may be necessary to let your child feel these negative emotions related to school, sports, friends, etc. -- it's life. It will help them build up a defense to it, it will expose them to it and thereby prepare them for the future when they are on their own without their parents to protect them. How much is too much? How do you decide when your child is feeling anxious because it is a natural part of their response and when it is extreme and needs to be managed?
When in doubt, seek help. Find a therapist, a psychologist, a doctor and consult. Don't assume that all negative emotion is bad for your child. Help them learn to cope with the bad stuff -- teach them the skills to manage them, not avoid them.
For further information or help with your child's anxiety, contact Dr. Brenna Tindall at www.drbrennatindall.com
Thursday, September 17, 2009
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