ANXIETY A Parent workshop Sue Fraser / Pat Griffin Primary Mental Health Workers.
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Transcript of ANXIETY A Parent workshop Sue Fraser / Pat Griffin Primary Mental Health Workers.
ANXIETYA Parent workshop
Sue Fraser / Pat Griffin
Primary Mental Health Workers
Aims of workshop
• What is anxiety?• What does anxiety look like?• How do I know if my child is
anxious?• How do I help?• Resources / further information
What is anxiety?
Nervous, Scared, Worried.
Mild anxiety can be vague and unsettling but severe anxiety can have a serious impact on daily life
Normal anxiety vs extreme anxiety
Generally speaking, anxiety occurs when a reaction is out of proportion to what might normally be expected in a situation
Anxiety is subjective.
Causes of anxiety
May be more than one cause
• Anxiety can run in families.
• Personality type/temperament
• Difficult or stressful events in childhood:
e.g. bereavement, house/school moves, parental separation or disharmony, experience of bullying, friendship difficulties, school work difficulties…..
COMMON FEARS
5 – 6 Years
-Separation from caretakers
-Imaginary Creatures
-Burglars
-Sleeping alone
-Natural disasters
-Animals
-Dying or death of others
COMMON FEARS
7-8 Years
-Imaginary creatures
-Staying alone
-Personal harm
-Media exposure to “events”
-Failure and criticism
-Frightening dreams
-Animals
COMMON FEARS
9-12 Years
-Failure and criticism
-Rejection
-Peer bullying
-Kidnapping
-Dying or death of others
-Personal harm or harm to
others
-Illness
How does anxiety affect us?
Physical symptoms
“Trouble catching breath”
Stomach aches/ headaches
Nausea
Frequent trips to the toilet/nurse’s office @ school
Tightness or pain in the chest
Sweating
Dizziness or light headedness
Heart racing or beating faster than normal
Feeling faint
Shake or feeling jittery
Sleep problems
Psychological affects of anxiety
An overwhelming sense of fearful anticipation
Constant worrying
Heightened alertness and a tendency to ‘catastrophise’
Low mood ( over time )
Feeling scared, panicky
Low self esteem
Behavioural affects of anxiety
Poor concentration
Withdrawal / Social isolation
Sleep disturbance
Eating difficulties
Anger
Lacking in confidence
Overly compliant
When does anxiety become a disorder?
Avoidance
Interference
Distress
Types of anxiety disorder
Generalised anxiety disorder
Separation anxiety
Fears / Phobias
Social anxiety
School based anxiety
Obsessions and compulsions
Panic disorder
Selective mutism
What do we see in the school and home setting?
“Blends into the wallpaper”
Always expects the worst
Excessive worry about upsetting others
Asks questions continually
Perfectionist
Excessive worry about failure
Wiggles, is jittery, shaky, high strung, tense and unable to relax
Lack self-confidence/seems very unsure of themselves
MANAGING ANXIETY
DO
Be sensitive
Understand your child’s anxiety
Give positive feedback
Be consistent
Seek additional resources
DON’T
Accommodate the anxiety
Single the child out
Provide excessive reassurance
ACCOMMODATE = DON’T
In some cases, protecting your child from anxiety and/or distress can actually maintain the anxiety vs. reduce it
How can I help my child?
Have the same expectations of your anxious child as you would another child (the pace may need to be slower).
Build on your child’s strengths (for younger children, use sticker/reward charts if helpful)
Let your child do things on his/her own. It is best NOT to do it for your child.
Do not get caught in continuous reassurance (What if). Encourage the child to answer their own questions.
It’s ok for your child to experience some anxiety so they learn it passes and it is bearable. Your child needs to know that feelings are ok and it is ok to say what you feel
How can I help my child? (contd)
Acknowledge your child’s anxiety.
Keep your fears to yourself as best you can. Do not minimise or laugh at your child’s fears.
Work together as parents to give a consistent message.
Don’t confuse anxiety with other types of inappropriate behaviour. Have reasonable expectations and clear limits and consequences alongside love and acceptance
PARENT TIME!!
Take care of your own Anxiety
Change expectations in time of stress
Schedule your own personal time
We tend to take care of others vs. ourselves
STOP, BREATHE, REFLECT and CHOOSE
STOP focusing on the negative and pay attention to the task at hand
RELAXATION
Further information / resources
0-19 team School Nurse / Health Visiting work with all families, children and young people offering advice and information to support the health, development and wellbeing of children and their families.
Home school link worker
Books
For professionals only:
CAMHS Professional Advisory Line 01737 287002
Further information / resources
Surrey First Steps: www.firststeps-surrey.nhs.uk
Mental Health Foundation: www.mentalhealth.org.uk
Young Minds: www.youngminds.org.uk
Phobics Society: www.phobics-society.org.uk
Get Self Help: www.getselfhelp.org.uk
Thank you for listening
QUESTIONS