Does your child struggle with anxiety?

Does your child struggle with anxiety? If so, they are not alone. Anxiety is one of the most common mental health challenges in youth. It is estimated that approximately 12% of youth struggle with anxiety; however, this percentage has increased significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

As a child psychologist here in Arizona, I am passionate about helping youth with certain difficulties in coping with their everyday stress and anxious thoughts. Last month, I attended a great 2-day conference to hone my skills in helping youth with anxiety. Here are a few key takeaways that I learned during the conference:

1) Anxiety is treatable.

Treatment for anxiety is highly effective. One highly effective approach is the use of cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT. Medication (SSRI’s) may also be highly effective, but the use of medication does not always have to be the first line of treatment in helping a child reduce anxiety. The same goes for teaching relaxation techniques, such as breathing. Although these techniques can be useful at times, the key to anxiety treatment is not just to help youth get “calm,” but to know they are capable of managing the symptoms.

2) Anxiety is an overestimate of the problem and an underestimate of our ability to solve it.

It may feel easier to avoid situations that make us feel anxious, but in the long run that does nothing to help reduce or manage our anxiety. The goal is to help youth build the skills they need to manage the uncertainty they feel.

3) Not all information on social media that is related to anxiety is accurate.

This may seem obvious, but not all information on social media about anxiety is accurate. It is important to be careful about self-diagnosing and labelling our children based on information we see on social media. It is important to stay curious and critical of where the information is coming from. It is best to seek information and care from those who are trained to treat mental health conditions.

I completed the conference with a renewed outlook on helping youth and their families deal with the anxiety they face. I look forward to applying this knowledge in the months to come with youth right here in Arizona.

*This post and the links are for educational or informational purposes only.