Childhood Anxiety Fun Wey Tutoring Services

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CHILDHOOD ANXIETY

Simmons Counselling Services Fun-Wey Tutoring Services,

West Vancouver http://simmonscounselling.ca North Vancouver http://fun-wey.com

What Adults Need to KnowNorlan Cabot• Special Education Consultant, • Fun-Wey Tutoring Services in North Vancouver

Johanna Simmons• Child and Family Counsellor• Simmons Counselling Services

Linda Greven• Owner and Manager• Fun-Wey Tutoring Services

CHILDHOOD ANXIETY

A Few Reminders

No Cell Phones Please

Note Taking not needed

Slides on Web-Site

CHILDHOOD ANXIETY

DisclaimerMedical Health Model

Not Qualified to Diagnose

Seek Professional Guidance

CHILDHOOD ANXIETY

Many, many, ways itappears

• Anxiety is a normal response essential for survival - “fight or flight”

- threat cues

- safety signal

• Everyone is different

When is anxiety useful?

Infancy strangers, loud noises

Early childhood separation, monsters, new situations

Middle childhood real-world dangers,new challenges

Adolescence social status, social group,performance

Developmentally Appropriate Fears

CHILDHOOD ANXIETY

Anecdote:The story of a young boy who had a mental breakdown.

Common Features

• Not Sleeping:

• Sleeping:

• OCD• Crying:

CHILDHOOD ANXIETY

OCD – or is it CDO?

• Angry Outbursts • Bullying:

tantrum

• Defiance • Tantrum • Aggression

• Clingy

• Low Self-esteem • Seeking Approval

CHILDHOOD ANXIETY

In the classroom, or tutoring session

Attitude

•Sullen and reluctant to work

•Passive/Aggressive

Behaviour

•Clingy and dependent

•Disinterested

Output

•Minimal output

•Like pulling teeth

• Anecdote:• Sam and how he hates math!

The Body’s Response

• Nail Biting: • Migraines

• Bed Wetting • Difficulty Sitting Still

• Stomach Ache

Fun-Wey Tutoring Services, North Vancouver http://fun-wey.com

What They Feel

Adapted from F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Program

Difficulty sleeping

Butterflies in stomach

Stomachache

Shaky knees

Need to go to the bathroom

Headache

Blushing

Stuttering

Lump in throator sore throat

Short of breath

Sweaty palms

Heart beats faster

Lips shakingVoice trembling

CHILDHOOD ANXIETY

Anecdote: The story of Susannah and her craving for apple juice!

…but my child shows all of these symptoms!

• Need to appear in clusters• Persistent and present for several weeks• Debilitating

What is your child made of?

• Sugar and spice and all things nice?

• Frogs and snails and puppy dog tails?

Actually• Birth order• Temperament• Development• Belief about self

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Full blown anxiety

Breathing, relaxation, drink of water, think of safe place,take a break, go for a walk …

A is for anxiety - developed by Johanna Simmons

Mirror Neurons

CHILDHOOD ANXIETY

What Parents can do to Help (1)

Encourage

•Independence

•Efforts

Support

•Listen, Normalize, Educate, Model

•Avoid giving excess reassurance

Reduce

Stress

•Be consistent and predictable

•Schedule unstructured play time

CHILDHOOD ANXIETY

What Parents can do to Help (2)

Nutrition

•Anxious kids often just graze

•Provide healthy snacks

•Cover all food groups during the day.

Self-Estee

•Plan for S-U-C-C-E-S-S!

•Time Management

•How to Reward themselves

Routines

•Routines reduce anxiety

•Prepare children ahead for change of plans and/or transitions

Morning Routine Chart7:45 Get dressed

7:55 Make bed

8:05 Eat breakfast

8:30 Brush teeth

8:35 Brush hair

8:40 Put lunch and homework in backpack8:45 Put on shoes/boots

8:47 Put on coat

• Bedtime routine (15 - 30 min) Have a ritual

• Warm milk/snack• Warm bath• Story• Chat time• Music• Check in every 5 min. (10 - 15 for older kids)

Routines

How to…

RelaxCalm breathingo Blowing bubbles/balloon blowing

Mental imageryo Safe place/quiet place

Progressive muscle relaxationo Spaghetti legso Rag doll

How to…

Cope with worriesLock worries in a worry boxSchedule worry timePull the plug on worriesReplacing scary thoughts or worries with realistic thinking

(older children)

• Depersonalize anxiety

How to…

Be Firm, Friendly and Follow through

Consistency and predictability is comfortingSet limits - natural and logical consequences

Life is predictableThey know what is expected of themThey know what the consequences will be

The Three Fs

What to doContact your GP

Ask about an assessment

CounsellingPlay therapyEMDRCBT (older children and teens)

Pharmaceutical intervention – Antidepressants (SSRI) or benzodiazepines

ResourcesHelping Students Overcome Depression and Anxiety. Kenneth Merrell (Guilford, 2001) A Handbook of Childhood Anxiety Management. Kedar Nath Dwivedi & Ved Prakash Varma (eds.) (Arena, 1997) Catch a Falling Star: A Tale from the Iris the Dragon Series. Gayle Grass (Stoddart Kids, 2002) Helping Your Anxious Child: A Step-by-Step Guide for Parents. Ronald Rapee (ed.) (New Harbinger, 2000) Your Anxious Child. John Dacey and Lisa Fiore (Jossey-Bass, 2000) Taming Worry Dragons: A Manual for Children, Parents and Other Coaches. Jane Garland and Sandra Clark (BC Children’s Hospital, 1995 (revised 2000)). Also available in 2001 editionsAnxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents. John March (Guilford, 1995)

Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents: Research, Assessment and Intervention. Wendy Silverman & Philip Treffers (Cambridge, 2000) Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents [Clinical Practice, No. 22]. Syed Arshad Husain & Javad Kashani (American Psychiatric Press, 1992) Treating Anxious Children and Adolescents: An Evidence-Based Approach. Ann Wignall et al. (New Harbinger, 2000) Goosebumps and Butterflies. Written and illustrated by Yolanda Nave (Orchard, 1990) Keys to Parenting Your Anxious Child. Katharine Manassis (Barrons, 1996) The Developmental Psychopathology of Anxiety. Michael Vasey & Mark Dadds (eds.) (Oxford, 2001)Peaceful Piggy Meditation. Maclean, K.L.,(Albert Whitman & Company, 2004)Starbright: Meditations for Children. Garthm M. (HarperOne 1994)Moody Cow Meditates. Maclean, K.L. (Wisdom Publications, 2009)

Websites

www.cmha.ca (Canadian Mental Health Association)

www.learningmeditation.com

www.adaa.org (Anxiety Disorders Association of America)

www.caringforkids.cps.ca (Can. Pediatric Society)

www.anxietybc.com

Blogs• fortheloveofkids@wordpress.com

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