ScottCounseling

Is your child afraid or anxious?

Parenting children who are anxious often makes the parent anxious too. Parents can help their anxious child develop the skills and confidence to overcome fears so that they don’t evolve into phobic reactions. The following techniques may be used by parents to assist the child in coping with his or her anxious behavior.

Symptoms of anxiousness include:

• constant thoughts and intense fears about the safety
• fears about school and other places
• frequent stomachaches and other physical complaints
• extreme worries about everyday tasks
• being overly cautious
• panic or tantrums
• sweating, fidgety, unable to physically relax
• trouble sleeping or nightmares
• fears of meeting or talking to people
• avoidance of social situations
• few friends outside the family
• many worries about things before they happen
• constant worries or concerns about family, school

Be a role model for your child. During stressful times, demonstrate calm controller emotions. Be honest about how you feel, but stay calm and become solution oriented.

Listen to your child. Try not to be judgmental, but reassuring.

Encourage your child to ask questions, problem-solve and share solutions for the stress.

Let your child know that stress, fear and the other feelings that he or she is going through are not unusual for many people.

Be positive. Do not overreact; especially when your child overreacts.

Become familiar with situations that becomes stressful for your child. Discuss these situations in advance. Try not to minimize the situation, but become proactive in helping you child by listening and develop solutions.

Use positive encouragement instead of… Continue Reading

According to a recent study presented in KidsData done in the California Bay Area , over 23% of three to five year olds were considered to be in the moderate to high stress level range. Other age levels included in the study are shown in the graph below:

Child Stress by Age

Age High Moderate Low

6-8 6% 27% 35%
9-13 9%… Continue Reading

According to the American Psychological Association, over 19 million American suffer from some sort of anxiety disorder. One out of every 75 people in the U.S. suffers from panic disorder. Women, more often than men, have been diagnosed with this condition more than men. So, what about kids? How does anxiety affect them? Is stress the same as anxiety? What can parents do if they feel that their child is overly anxious or stresses? This ScottCounseling article will provide you with answer to these questions. Parents will also receive some helpful tips and solutions so that you may teach your child how to cope with anxious or stressful situations.

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a feeling… Continue Reading

Stressed out? Breath and relax. Child development, author and stress expert, Rebecca Kajander, reports that “at least 25% of the issues that bring children to the doctor’s office are related to stress.” Children who are “stressed out” often report symptoms that include headaches, stomachaches and sleep problems. Learning how to relax and applying the relaxation techniques listed in this article may help you and your child breath easier.

How To Breath

• Imagine you have a balloon in your belly.
• Put your hand on top of your belly.
• Breath in slowly through

Holidays can be a stressful and difficult time for many individual and families. Family traditions and gatherings bring about excitement and joy for many individuals. But for some, the holidays bring extra stress and exhaustion. ScottCounseling recognizes child psychology author, Christopher Williams, for supplying the reader with some helpful holiday “stress-release” tips.

Sleigh bells are jingling, tree lights are twinkling and shoppers are crowding into the stores. Warm greetings are given, carolers are singing and families are gathering once more. Once again it is the Christmas season. For many it is the best of times; a time to anticipate celebration, tradition, and holiday cheer. But for others, it is the worst of times as the added stress of the holidays… Continue Reading

As childhood stress, anxiety and depression appears to be on the rise in the U.S., parents are beginning to search for answers for to reduce stress. Author, Mary Longo provides parents with some real answers for the signs and symptoms for childhood stress. She also asks parents this question:

Are You Pushing Your Child Too Hard?

Often a child appears to be very grown up and able to handle responsibility–he or she may even seem like a “miniature adult.” However, parents may inadvertently treat their children as adults too early and hurry them along in the process of growing up. Parents need to watch for the possibility that their child has been given too much responsibility and is being pushed… Continue Reading