Tackle Your Child's or Teen's Anxiety with Confidence
Are you concerned with your child or teen and that they could be suffering from anxiety? Maybe they you’ve noticed them withdrawing trying to avoid school or social situations? Perhaps they become easily overwhelmed or frustrated with even the simplest tasks or everyday situations?
Have you noticed your child or teen procrastinating or delaying starting or completing school work for fear of failing? Does your child study and seem prepared, however, they freeze or forget what they studied during a test? Do they repeatedly experience unexplained digestive or sleep issues. Maybe they become overly fearful in new or unfamiliar surroundings? Perhaps you’ve noticed your child unable to relax or do they avoid situations in order to lessen stress or anxiety?
All these may be signs of an anxiety disorder. It is certainly normal for your child or teenager to feel anxious or nervous from time to time, and a certain level of anxiety is not only is helpful and motivational, but it can provide a catalyst for accomplishment. However, for some children and adolescents, anxiety has become a frequent and debilitating occurrence, which completely takes over their lives.
Anxiety is More Common Than Most People Realize
Recent research, as highlighted by the National Institutes of Health, paints a concerning picture - anxiety disorders impact a staggering 31% of adolescents aged 13 to 18. These statistics underscore the pressing need to address anxiety-related challenges among young individuals. Left untreated, anxiety disorders can cast long shadows over crucial aspects of a child's life.
Studies have shown that untreated children grappling with anxiety disorders face a heightened risk of academic struggles, missed opportunities for essential social experiences, and increased vulnerability to unhealthy behaviors. These profound consequences emphasize the urgency of recognizing and addressing anxiety-related issues in children and teenagers.
It's important to note that anxiety disorders do not have a singular cause. Instead, they often emerge from a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and physiological factors. Understanding this multifaceted nature is crucial in developing effective strategies to support and guide children and teenagers toward healthier emotional well-being.
Types of Anxiety Disorders
There are several different types of anxiety disorders including panic disorders, agoraphobia, selective mutism (rare), social phobias, other specific phobias, separation anxiety and generalized anxiety disorder.
Does your child appear to worry about life, daily activities, themselves or others, or worry about things before they happen?
If so, your child may be experiencing Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) this disorder affects 6.8 million adults and the highest risk of onset is between childhood and middle age.
Symptoms include but are not limited to difficulty in controlling worry, being quickly worn out due to that worry, irritability, easily startled, restlessness, difficulty concentrating or mind going blank. Physical manifestations may include digestive issues, migraines, or a feeling like there is a pit in their stomach or lump in their throat, muscle aches or tension, and sleep problems. These symptoms are observed to take place most days for at least 6 months.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder symptoms can have debilitating effects on the early life of a young person whether elementary, middle or high school aged. It is important to seek expert help in evaluating your child’s symptoms. Notably untreated long term GAD may put your child/teen at increased risk of suicidality.
In working with middle schoolers or teenagers, we typically hear common anxiety complaints such as difficulty in concentrating on studying due to worry, or after having studied going blank in a test. Students also express concerns about not being able to keep up with school work or with peers and as a result feel overwhelmed with school life and social pressures. This leads them to under-function, become demotivated or otherwise feels incapable. Sometimes children develop a sudden unwillingness to attend school or refusal to complete activities for fear of “messing up” or refusing to speak with their teachers for the same reason.
Does your adolescent fear speaking, playing sports, or eating in front of others?
Does your child or teenager exhibit physical distress in public or social situations?
Does your child or adolescent demonstrate excessive avoidance or fear behaviors in anticipation of encountering a specific object or situation?
Social Anxiety (Phobia) include significant fears of being judged or scrutinized by others in social or performance situations, sometimes resulting in crying, being excessively timid or embarrassed, or refusal to participate. Meanwhile Specific Phobia is indicated by marked anxiety triggered by exposure to a feared situation or object – e.g. fear of spiders, blood, heights, flying on a plane, or driving through tunnels, etc.
Numerous studies demonstrate that care and treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is generally sought in adulthood even though onset usually takes place in early teenage years. In my experience delaying treatment in dealing with Social Anxiety leads to more serious impairments such as isolation, lowered self-esteem, and potential for depression.
Does your child or teenager experience sudden episodes of intense fear that arise rapidly and seemingly out of nowhere?
Panic disorders in children and teens sometimes show up as a sudden increased sweating, clamminess in hands, dizziness or lightheadedness, heart racing, shortness of breath, trembling/shaking or feelings of impending doom. Panic attacks severely affect a child or teens functioning whether in school or social situations. According to American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, normal development can also be affected.
Panic attacks tend to be sudden, lasting from minutes to hours, can be unexpected or induced by a trigger such as an object or situation. Fear of having a panic attack can lead to increased anxiety and lead to further impairment in functioning. Sometimes panic attacks can be difficult to diagnose in children, however, once diagnosed specific treatments can be very effective.
Is your child or teenager afraid to leave your side; has nightmares about being separated from you or another caregiver, experiences symptoms of physical illness in anticipation of being away from you?
Separation Anxiety is commonly thought of only occurring in children, however, it is also diagnosed in adolescents and even adults. For children, distress and significant fears develop with the imminent separation of someone to whom they are attached. This distress is greater than what is considered typical for the child’s developmental stage. The child or adolescent may also have unfounded trepidation that something bad may happen to their attachment figures. Separation anxiety may be associated with panic attacks due to co-occurring with an existing panic disorder.
Regardless of the type of anxiety disorder your child or teen may be struggling with, counseling with an expert therapist or psychologist can help!
Counseling Can Help Your Child or Teen Overcome Anxiety, Worry, or Panic Attacks
Counseling with a psychologist or therapist who is an expert in anxiety can be a transformative experience for children and teenagers. In a world where young individuals often face an array of complex emotions, stressors, and challenges, therapy serves as a guiding light towards emotional well-being and personal growth.
Therapy for anxiety offers a safe and supportive space for kids and teens to explore their thoughts, feelings, and concerns, providing valuable tools to navigate the ups and downs of life. From building resilience to enhancing communication skills and fostering a deeper understanding of themselves, counseling equips young minds with the tools they need to thrive and face the future with confidence.
Specific, evidenced based counseling approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), EMDR Therapy, and group approaches such as Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Therapy (MBSR), have been found to help children and teens learn how to increase their coping, reframe overly negative interpretations, adjust unhelpful thinking patterns, develop skilled responses to anxiety provoking situations, increase calming and relaxing strategies, while conquering situations that contribute anxiety.
Here are the top benefits of anxiety counseling for children and teenagers:
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Specialized Approach: Therapists who work with children and adolescents who struggle with anxiety, worry and panic attacks have specialized training and expertise in understanding the unique needs and developmental stages of young individuals. They tailor their therapeutic techniques to effectively communicate with and support children, creating a safe and welcoming environment.
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Skill Development: Counseling equips children with valuable coping skills to manage their anxiety, worry, stress, and panic attacks. Through evidence-based interventions, they learn techniques to identify and challenge anxious thoughts, regulate emotions, and develop healthier ways of responding to stressors.
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Emotional Expression: Children may struggle to express their feelings verbally, making it difficult for them to convey their anxiety and stress to parents or caregivers. Counseling offers a safe space where they can express themselves through various therapeutic modalities, such as play therapy, sand tray therapy, art assisted therapy, EMDR, or storytelling, helping therapists better understand their emotions.
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Identifying Triggers: Therapists help children identify the specific triggers of their anxiety, worry and stress. By pinpointing the root causes, children can work on addressing these triggers and develop strategies to confront them more effectively.
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Building Resilience: Counseling empowers children to tap into their strengths, learn new coping skills, and improve emotional regulation so they can build resilience. They learn how to face challenging situations, setbacks, and uncertainties with greater confidence and adaptability, reducing the impact of anxiety on their daily lives.
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Healthy Coping Mechanisms: Children often rely on unhealthy coping mechanisms when dealing with anxiety and stress, such as avoidance or withdrawal. Counseling provides alternative, healthier coping strategies such as mindfulness and distress tolerance that enable them to navigate anxiety-provoking situations more constructively. Counseling teaches skills for emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness.
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Parental Involvement: Counseling often involves parents in the process so we can create lasting systemic changes for the whole family. This collaboration ensures that parents are equipped with the knowledge and skills to support their child's progress at home, creating a cohesive and supportive environment.
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Prevent Long-Term Consequences: Addressing anxiety in childhood helps prevent the potential long-term consequences of untreated anxiety disorders, such as academic difficulties, social isolation, and increased risk of mental health challenges in adulthood.
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Tailored Interventions: Our expert anxiety therapists and psychologists employ a range of evidence based therapeutic techniques and interventions, tailoring their approach to each child's unique needs. This individualized approach increases the likelihood of success in reducing anxiety symptoms.
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Empowerment: Ultimately, counseling for children with anxiety empowers them. It provides a platform for self-discovery, self-acceptance, and personal growth, allowing children to take control of their anxiety and work towards a brighter, more fulfilling future.
If you're ready to see how anxiety counseling can help your child, teen or family, contact us today for your complimentary consultation at 954.391.5305.
Counseling Can Help Your Child or Teen to Overcome Anxiety & Stress
If you’re concerned about your child or teen may be suffering from worry, anxiety, stress, or panic attacks, we can help!
Our team of expert therapists, psychologists and psychiatric medication providers are here to help you and your family.
Call our office to schedule your complimentary consultation at 954-391-5305 so we can connect you with a therapist who can help.
We look forward to speaking with you and your loved ones!
Additional Counseling Services at Our Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale, & Plantation, FL Offices
Anxiety therapy for kids isn’t the only counseling and psychological service we provide in our Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, and Plantation offices. We help children, teens, families and couples across their life span... Sometimes, life gets complicated and you or your loved ones may be struggling with more than one challenge. Keep in mind, you're not alone... no matter what you're going through, we're here to help!
Our expert psychologists and counselors at Bayview Therapy specialize in different areas. We offer a wide range of counseling and psychological services to support our Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Plantation, Southwest Ranches, Davie, Weston, Coral Springs, Coconut Creek, and Parkland communities.
We provide therapy and psychological evaluations for children, teens, adults, couples, and families dealing with a wide variety of life's challenges across the lifespan. Some of our specialties include depression counseling; trauma therapy and EMDR therapy; teen counseling; child and family counseling; couples counseling or marriage therapy; psychiatric medication management; and more.
We also provide faith based counseling upon request and online counseling options using our secure HIPAA compliant platform.
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