tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337618407649763390.post6177697722870308223..comments2023-07-08T02:17:41.192-07:00Comments on Rock 'N' Roll Hideaway: Dealing with an anxious child. (Advice please!)Alaytheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02350472803905550941noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337618407649763390.post-34612292042762740042013-01-23T12:54:24.399-08:002013-01-23T12:54:24.399-08:00Another thing you might do is sit down with her an...Another thing you might do is sit down with her and talk about fear itself, when it's a good, healthy thing vs. when it causes unnecessary suffering. Children her age are not usually aware of the fact that their fears can be irrational or unfounded. <br /><br />Breathing and counting exercises can also be helpful. Teach her to take slow, deep breaths when she's anxious or upset, and to count as high as she can. Counting is especially helpful for small children because it's a skill they're still learning, and concentrating on anything other than the source of her anxiety might distract her enough to help her stay in the "scary" situation long enough to realize that it isn't so scary. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337618407649763390.post-66402934319021024242013-01-23T05:45:18.951-08:002013-01-23T05:45:18.951-08:00It sounds like she may be experiencing some combin...It sounds like she may be experiencing some combination of social anxiety and separation anxiety. <br /><br />http://socialanxietydisorder.about.com/od/childrenandsad/a/children.htm<br /><br />You shouldn't draw any conclusions without speaking to a mental health professional (NOT a general practitioner, their first instinct will probably be to put her on meds, and there isn't much else they're qualified to do in this situation.) Try to find a doctor who specializes in cognitive therapy. I agree that medication is probably not a good long term solution. Her anxiety seems moderate rather than severe, and what she needs to do is learn better coping mechanisms for dealing with these feelings, so that they aren't being negatively reinforced by her avoidance of social situations. <br /><br />One of the best things you can do is simply not allow her to avoid "scary" situations outright. Walk her into them gradually, stay by her and make your support clear, but don't let her get into the habit of avoiding them. Avoidance will reinforce her anxiety. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337618407649763390.post-37618928988913335422013-01-23T05:00:29.180-08:002013-01-23T05:00:29.180-08:00i agree that you should go talk to a doctor. but d...i agree that you should go talk to a doctor. but do your research and find one who doesn't necessarily go to meds as the first answer. there are lots of doctors who want to 'talk it out' first. just let them know firsthand that you don't want G on any meds. <br /><br />gage was extremely anxious during preschool and would have screaming fits when we dropped him off. he was fine after went left, but the initial drop off was HORRIBLE. i don't know what happened when he started kindergarten, but a switch went off and he is a completely different child. deanna@delirious-rhapsodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11510367852834677697noreply@blogger.com