What Adults Can Do For Children’s Anxiety Cheat Sheet
- 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
- 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
- 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
- What Not to Do
- Eat Sugar and Simple Carbohydrates
- Self Medicating
- Negative Self Talk
- “Victimizing”
- 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
- 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
- Keep a Cluttered Space
- Avoid all routines and predictability
- Allow plenty of electronic time, especially evenings and bedtimes.
- 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.
- Provide no responsibilities or duties around the household.
- Give them toys, money and food every time something difficult happens.
- Feed them sweets, refined carbohydrates and fried foods. Avoid healthy fats, fruits and vegetables and protein
- Hugging, physical contact, and positive eye contact are big no nos
- Avoid physical activity, especially unstructured play and outdoor activities.
- Don’t take care of your own anxiousness. Never take responsibility for your own feelings or circumstances. It is ALWAYS someone else’s fault.