Helping Your Child with Worries Kellie Hill Helping Your Child with Worries

About the Presenter 8th year as Carpenter Elementary's Counselor 16 years as a counselor 20 years in education Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor/Clinical Counselor 3 children (14, 12, 10) Co-parent Runner

Agenda What does it mean to worry? How is it different from anxiety? Typical worries of children Flood/disaster specific concerns How can I help my child? When is it time to get help? Questions/Discussion

What is a worry? How is it different from anxiety? Worry is a feeling in our mind that can lead to anxiety that we feel in the body Worries are specific and anxiety is more general Worries are thought about verbally and anxieties are tied to both verbal thoughts and images. That is why anxiety is felt in the body. When we worry, we tend to think of how to fix the issue. When we experience anxiety it's too general to problem solve.

What is a worry? How is it different from anxiety? Worry = Mild whereas Anxiety = Severe Worry is based on real situations. For example, your house flooded and you don't have flood insurance. Anxiety can be your watching the news and although it's not flooding in your area you are panicking. We can often talk ourselves out of worries; much harder with anxiety Worry does not interfere with life activities; anxiety can interrupt life Worry is normal. Anxiety is a psychological disorder.

Typical Worries "My mom is going to be mad." "I don't have any friends." "My teacher doesn't like me." "I get bullied everyday." "I'm stupid. I can't read." "My friend is mad at me. She'll never be my friend again." "My mom is going to be mad." "We don't have enough money to pay for that." "I'm going to be all alone." "They're going to make fun of me."

Worries Related to Flooding I'm not safe. My house isn't safe. My family is in danger. It could flood again. I'll have to move. I'll have to change schools. I'll never get my stuff back.

How Can I Help My Child? Reassure child repeatedly that they are safe. Listen without distractions Monitor symptoms of distress Ask your child what they believe has happened – clarify misinformation Avoid allowing your child to see or hear television/media coverage of the flood!!!! They are watching and listening to you. Be careful of what you say when they are near you Be patient. Children often act out or regress following traumatic situations.

General Ways to Help with Worries Monitor what you say in front of your children. They are ALWAYS listening! Reassure them that they are going to be okay. Allow children to try things on their own and be successful. Allow for imperfection. Avoid watching the news in front of children Monitor symptoms such as avoidance, sleeplessness, and food restriction

When Is It Time to Get Help? A disorder is characterized by behaviors that affect daily life functions for a period of time Extreme fear leading to avoidance of stores, cars, family gatherings, etc. lasting more than a month Inability to sleep lasting more than a month Inability to enjoy activities that were preferred before Irritability, regressed behaviors, sadness, etc lasting more than a month