What Adults Can Do For Children’s Anxiety Cheat Sheet

By Emi GarzittoIn Blog posts, Resources

What Adults Can Do For Children’s Anxiety Cheat Sheet

 

  1. Home Strategies
  • Declutter the home environment
  • Model Emotional Independence – Stress Contagion – You are in charge of managing your feelings
  • Move
  • Meditation/Breathing
  • Provide Responsibilities and Praise Independence
  • Limit Electronic Device Use
  • Have a consistent morning and evening routine
  • Eat Real Food

 

  1. Some Suggestions:
  • Some stress is good
  • Take care of your own stress
  • Model what you want your children to do and be
  • Move
  • Practice Finding What is Right
  • Pause, Meditate, Breathe

 

  1. What We Teach at School
  • Change of State – Go for a walk
  • Go outside
  • Get a drink of water
  • Find What Comforts You: Hugs, Cuddling in a Blanket, Talking to Someone, Listen to Music
  • Positive Self Talk
  • Belly Breathing
  • Movement
  • Identifying Triggers

 

  1. What Not to Do
  • Eat Sugar and Simple Carbohydrates
  • Self Medicating
  • Negative Self Talk
  • “Victimizing”

 

  1. About Anxiousness:
  • Anxiousness is a learned trait
  • Anxiousness is part of a Belief Pattern
  • Beliefs are Hereditary – they are in our DNA
  • We Can Train Our Brains to Manage Anxiety

 

Anxiety Chemicals Released From the Body:

  • Increases production of cortisol and adrenaline
  • Cortisol – Designed to be used in situations of “acute stress” helps the body get ready for physical action
  • increases inflammation in the body
  • Temporarily activates immune system (tiger vs. bacteria)
  • Epinephrine (adrenaline)
  • Affects other hormones, DHEA, progesterone, estrogen

 

  1. Love Chemicals Released in the Body:
  • Dopamine – increase in pleasure, motivation, decrease in sadness
  • Vasopressant – increase in sexuality, attraction and decrease in anxiety
  • Oxytocin – increase in trust, attachment and decrease in fear

 

Top Ten List – How to Raise an Anxious Child

  1. Keep a Cluttered Space
  2. Avoid all routines and predictability
  3. Allow plenty of electronic time, especially evenings and bedtimes.
  4. It is never your child’s responsibility. Make sure when something painful or uncomfortable happens, that you immediately fight their battles and protect them at all costs.
  5. Provide no responsibilities or duties around the household.
  6. Give them toys, money and food every time something difficult happens.
  7. Feed them sweets, refined carbohydrates and fried foods. Avoid healthy fats, fruits and vegetables and protein
  8. Hugging, physical contact, and positive eye contact are big no nos
  9. Avoid physical activity, especially unstructured play and outdoor activities.
  10. Don’t take care of your own anxiousness. Never take responsibility for your own feelings or circumstances. It is ALWAYS someone else’s fault.