According to international data, in recent years the number of children who come to the emergency room for an anxiety crisis has been increasing. Given this, we wonder why children currently have higher levels of anxiety? One theory suggests that this may be due to new technologies.
Also, children may have difficulty expressing their concerns and may suppress their emotions. If these feelings are not defined or expressed correctly, the child's mental health can be seen and lead to an anxiety attack. In this Psychology-Online article, we will talk about the anxiety crisis in children and what to do
Although anxiety affects each person differently, there are a number of physical symptoms and common psychological factors that can help us identify when a child is going to develop a crisis of anxiety:
- Has trouble concentrating
- Have sleeping problems
- Your eating habits have changed
- Gets angry or irritated easily
- Seems tense, nervous, or needs to go to the bathroom every so often
- Cries more than normal for no apparent reason
- It shows insecure and dependent of you
- Complains of not feeling well or having tummy aches
Today, children are exposed practically from birth to “online world”In which there are social networks and some applications that give rise to a negative environment for a child who is still in full development and is more vulnerable. Some studies in adolescents and children have linked social networks with problems of bullying and low self-esteem, among others, which can increase anxiety levels.
The anxiety crisis or panic attacks are very disabling. They can last between 5 and 20 minutes and are characterized by physical symptoms such as chest pain, breathing problems, dizziness, vomiting, and tremors. Children may not be able to handle or express their feelings like adults, which makes it even harder for them by not understanding or being able to express what is happening to them clarity. Here are some tips that can help you act when your child is having a panic attack:
- Stay in control: Remember that a child during an anxiety crisis loses absolute control, which in itself is overwhelming and terrifying.
- Keep calm and a calm tone of voice while you tell him that you are there with him and that you understand how he feels.
- Use age-appropriate words to describe your anxiety. In this way, you will be transmitting safety, confidence and containment in the middle of that emotional "storm".
- Make sure your child feels more and more secure. Use soft words, use his name, say things similar to "I know you don't feel good but you will be fine", "I'm going to help you get through this and it will end soon", "take a deep breath" ...
- Remind him that an anxiety attack always ends and that it must be passed. This can give you hope. However, try do not give him excessive overprotection because it is essential that he find and develop his own coping strategies.
- Pay attention to physical symptoms of an anxiety attack. Convince your child that the dizziness, tremors, and palpitations will end. Tell him that they are signs of fear and not of illness.
- Give him time to calm down, don't rush him. You need time to fully recover.
- Always remember that if you remain calm during your anxiety attack, your recovery will be faster.
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
