DON’T LET YOUR KIDS DEVELOP HEALTH ANXIETY
The pandemic has made many children more in tune with their wellbeing, but for some this has turned into unwarranted worry. Emma says we can help…
Kids have been in and out of school, exposed to frightening news and have learned to fear being around vulnerable family members. These experiences will have made some unduly worried about their health. We are still living with a pandemic, so explain that, with sensible approaches – like fresh air and hand-washing – we can stay safe, but if they are struggling with anxiety, build them up.
HELP THEM REFLECT
Health anxiety, a disorder in which a person is plagued by the fear of having or contracting a serious illness, has grown in young people. With this disorder, it’s the thoughts about a disease that are the problem, not the symptoms. If your child is constantly concerned about illness, or is always complaining they feel unwell, even though they appear OK, you may feel exasperated, particularly if it prevents them from attending much-needed get-togethers. It may be tempting to call them out on their apparent hypochondria, but this could add to more worry. Instead, acknowledge their feelings, but ask them to think about how often feelings like this have resulted in them being very unwell. This will help them to rationalise that they are not physically ill, but are struggling with emotional anxiety.
TEACH MINDFULNESS
Try not to reassure your son or daughter that they have nothing to worry about, as this approach doesn’t allow them to develop their own self-soothing skills. Instead, encourage them to try mindfulness, by either listening to nature outside for 10 minutes, colouring, or using an app or YouTube stream. This will help them to recognise how these kinds of strategies instantly lower their stress, so they can use them whenever needed.
PRAISE BRAVERY
Your child needs to be gradually exposed to their fears. Praise them when they go out with friends, reward them when they go to social functions with you and remind them to focus on their enjoyment of these experiences. All this will help them build their resilience, which will in turn reduce health anxiety.