How Do I Help My Child Cope with Anxiety?

Dr. Anne Marie Albano, Director of @ColumbiaPsych Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders, wrote the parenting guides on the treatment of childhood anxiety disorders, social phobia, and school refusal behavior.

In this episode of Ask the Expert, we will cover:
- What is childhood anxiety? 
- How does anxiety happen?
- The importance of self-soothing and deep breathing
- How to help your child cope with social anxiety
- Motivation for your child for positive behavior change
And more!

#AskTheExpert #MentalHealth #PsychHub

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Psych Hub is an educational service, and the information in this video is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you or someone you know are experiencing what you believe are mental health symptoms, please consult with a trained medical professional or a licensed mental health provider. We recommend consulting with a licensed behavioral health provider before trying any of the strategies mentioned in our materials.

If you or someone you know are having thoughts of suicide or self-harm or are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call a national 24/7 hotline. For United States residents, those are:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
For anyone experiencing a mental health crisis.
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PHONE NUMBERS:
Primary line: 1-800-273-8255
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[LindaHernandez-ddeu]

My daughter had a hard time staying in school today, she's had anxiety since she was 4, she is in middle school now, she texted me minutes after telling me to pick her up and I was listening to this video and decided not to answer her text and help her cope through it 💔 it's so hard but I'm not going to live forever, she had an appointment with a psychiatrist this Wed. Wish me luck 🙏

[amnanaeem]

My 12 year is not going to school. I am going to start home school and slowly start making her go to school again. But she throws tantrums and is violent and even threatens me. The video really helped me and I will really start practicing all the valuable knowledge and insight I gained today

[cherie]

I do agree with this teaching and have applied these ideas with my 11yr old daughter but as a 45 year old parent who has social anxiety and have had therapy I still have a real genuine fear of people.

[triscolee]

Dr Anne...amazing session and learnt so much.

[sameasyou]

If I could give this a million like I would..so informative and answer all my questions please do more on this topic thank you

[debnewton]

I learned a lot. Thank you.
I was very stressed out before listening to the post cast. Due to my son's dyslexia and anxiety.. Thanks again.

[morganjones]

Dr. Albano has clarified it for me. She knows what's "the way" and she communicates it simply but very effectively.

[corazonokinyo]

This was just fantastic, l have learnt so much. I now understand more

[Yummycuisine_]

Thank you so much for this useful podcast🙏🙏🙏
I learned a lot 🙏

[TracyEllennn]

This is great! Learned a lot. Very informative.

[annieperez]

My little girl is 6 and started all of sudden with anxiety, she kept saying she's sick and trying to stay at home. But I still drop her off and leave her. And it's pretty weird how she's good at school. But in the mornings, are so difficult to take her to school.

[xhghiqc]

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation:

02:31 🧠 *Anxiety is a fundamental human emotion rooted in our nervous system, serving as an evolutionary response to potential threats. It is natural and motivates action.*
04:27 🛄 *Anxiety should feel like butterflies in your stomach or a racing heart in challenging situations. However, it becomes problematic when it overwhelms, leading to persistent stress, sleep disturbances, and concentration issues.*
10:47 🌱 *Anxiety in children can be influenced by both genetic factors and parenting. While there may be a biological basis, parents don't cause anxiety; it's about finding a balance between support and allowing children to navigate challenges on their own.*
13:44 🔄 *Anxiety varies across developmental stages, and children need to learn how to manage challenges independently. Parents play a crucial role in empowering children to problem-solve, rather than overprotecting or solving problems for them.*
16:36 🚀 *Kids with anxiety benefit from exposure to feared situations. Avoiding challenges reinforces anxiety, while confronting them helps build resilience. The pandemic's isolation exacerbated anxiety for some children, making reintegration into normal activities essential.*
20:59 🚩 *Signs of childhood anxiety include avoidance, withdrawal, changes in behavior, and excessive dependence. Parents should pay attention to deviations from age-appropriate independence and activities, as well as input from teachers regarding behavior in school.- **00:36** 🎓 Dr. Anne Marie Albano, a renowned psychologist, discusses anxiety and mood disorders in youth, focusing on helping children overcome fears and worries.*
02:31 🤔 *Anxiety is a fundamental human emotion tied to our nervous system, originally developed for survival. It motivates action but can become problematic if it overwhelms daily life.*
05:56 🚸 *Children may not always acknowledge their anxiety; it often takes parents and teachers to recognize signs, as kids may suffer for years before seeking help.*
07:51 🧬 *Anxiety has both biological and environmental factors; it can be hereditary, but parents don't "cause" anxiety. Overprotectiveness may, however, allow anxiety to persist.*
12:46 😷 *Pandemic-related isolation can exacerbate anxiety, and relief from avoidance behaviors may hinder progress. Returning to normalcy involves facing fears gradually.*
19:33 🤝 *Empower kids by not always solving their problems; let them struggle and learn problem-solving. Encourage facing uncomfortable situations to build resilience.*
21:58 🚨 *Signs of anxiety in children include avoidance, dropping out of activities, excessive clinginess, and age-inappropriate dependence. Pay attention to changes in behavior.*
22:55 🌙 *Parents should help children learn to soothe themselves to manage anxiety. Teaching deep belly breathing is a useful technique.*
24:51 🗣️ *Parents should encourage the development of an internal coach in children, helping them assess situations calmly and problem-solve.*
26:47 🏊 *Gradual exposure to anxiety-inducing situations, broken down into small steps, helps children build resilience and confidence.*
27:42 🧠 *Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a highly recommended approach for managing anxiety in adolescents, providing practical tools.*
28:41 💡 *Parents should not measure their success solely by their child's comfort; it's crucial to value personal growth and learning in parenting.*
30:38 🤝 *Encouraging self-soothing in children involves letting them be uncomfortable at times, fostering independence and coping skills.*
34:00 💪 *Parents can set expectations and responsibilities for their anxious children, offering privileges based on their efforts and progress.*
35:27 🤲 *Using reflective listening, parents can engage with their children without judgment, creating a space for open communication and problem-solving.*
38:21 🌟 *Incentives like sticker charts and privileges can motivate children to face anxiety-provoking situations, fostering a sense of accomplishment.*
39:48 ⚖️ *Parents should avoid reinforcing avoidance behaviors; setting limits on privileges ensures a balanced approach to anxiety management.*
42:43 🌍 *Parents must prioritize self-care and continue living their lives, avoiding complete accommodation of their children's anxiety for a healthier family dynamic.*

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[janasimoes]

This is a treasure! Thank you so very much, Dr. Albano!!

[donnabrunskill]

Excellent insight and advice.especially good roadmap for parents and elders

[LindaHernandez-ddeu]

My daughter gets really bad anxiety and dosent even want to try to self soothe when shes having an episode 😞 what should I do?

[JT]

10:30 lol she couldn’t about adding in that her kid is a high performer 😅 this woman needs to tone it down. We see you. And the way you know you’re still doing it wrong is you have to say, “I promise I’ll stop my rant” 🇺🇸