What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a natural and normal emotion all of us experience at some point.

It is caused by a part of your brain called amygdala which detects physical/social threat and prepares your body to fight or leave to escape danger. It becomes problematic when it becomes a common habit and happens too easily, too often and in unneeded situations.

10-15% children in Australia have anxiety (Adults 17.4%).

A child who has anxiety may not want to go to school, play or mix with other children, be extremely shy, clingy and/or upset in new situation, or avoid trying new things.

What can we do?

We all want to protect our children from getting hurt or making mistakes. However, in many cases, our children learn more from difficult or challenging experiences.

Here are some not-so-helpful ways of dealing with anxiety in children:

• Helping and protecting your child (too soon and too often) in stressful situations;
• Allowing avoidance;
• Becoming impatient with your child;
• Letting your own anxiety get in the way

We can help our children build their confidence in facing challenges by:

• Paying particular attention to brave behaviours when your child faces their fears;
• Celebrating your child’s effort as soon as possible;
• Highlighting the process – “I loved how you put aside your worries and tried to enjoy the game!”;
• Consistency when encouraging your child – no empty threats or bribes;
• Letting your child solve problems on their own;
• Modelling – “I am nervous about this meeting but I will do my best”;
• Keeping feelings in check

*The BRAVE Program is an interactive, online program for the prevention and treatment of childhood and adolescent anxiety. The programs are free, and provide ways for children and teenagers to better cope with their worries. There are also programs for parents. https://brave4you.psy.uq.edu.au/

 Ryoko Koyasu - Student and Family Counsellor