Download - Books and Suggestions for Parents CHILDHOOD ANXIETY · • “Worried No More: Help and Hope for Anxious Children” Aureen Pinto ... suffering with childhood anxiety. Children and

Books and References for Parents

CHILDHOOD ANXIETY

The Center for Psychology & Counseling

1960 South Easton Road Doylestown, Pa 18901

215-348-3300

www.psychologyandcounseling.com

Suggestions for Parents

Books• “WorriedNoMore:HelpandHopefor

AnxiousChildren”AureenPintoWagner,Ph.D.

• “TheAnxietyCureForKids:AGuideforParents”ElizabethDuPontSpencer

• “Ready…Set…R.E.L.A.X.”JefferyS.Allen,M.Ed.,JogerJ.Klein,Psy.D.

• “FreeingYourChildfromAnxiety”TamarE.Chansky

• “TheRelaxationandStressReductionWorkbook”MarthaDavis,Ph.D.

WebSiteswww.childanxietynetwork.com

www.kidsrelaxation.com

www.worrywisekids.org

ForKids• “ICanRelaxCD”bytheChildAnxiety

Network• “WhattodoWhenYouWorryToo

Much:AKidsGuideToOvercomingAnxiety”DawnHuebner

• “WhattodoWhenYou’reScaredandWorried:AGuideforKids”JamesJ.CristPh.D.

• “IsaWorryWorryingYou?”FriedaWolff

WhatShouldYouDo?

• Listentoandacknowledgeyourchild’sperceptionsandfeelings.

• Accepttheirconcernsandvalidatethem.

• Patientlyencourageyourchildtoapproachthefearedsituationonestepatatimeuntilitbecomesfamiliarandmanageable.

• Trytokeepyourfeelingsincheck;bearolemodel-exhibitcalm.

• Buildyourchild’sstrengths.• Encouragethemtolearntodo

thingsontheirown.• Helpthemtoidentifyandexpress

theirfeelings.• Teachthemtomanagestressand

anxietywhenopportunitiesarise.



215-348-3300


INFORMATION&RESOURCES

Forparentsofchildrenwhoaresufferingwithchildhoodanxiety

Children and Anxiety

Things to Watch For

What’snormal?

Eveninthebestofsituations,allchildrenexperiencesomeanxietyintheformofworry,fearordistress.Oftentimesthisoccurswhenthechildisfirstfacedwithanunfamiliarorstressfulsituation.Thesereactionsareimportantprotectionsforsafetyandtherearespecificfearsthataccompanyeachstageofdevelopment.

Forallchildren,anxietymaybemetwithatemporaryretreatfromthesituation,(clinginess,babyishbehaviors),andareluctancetotakechancesandalowersenseofself-confidence.Thiswilltypicallyresolvewhenthechildlearnstomasterthesituationorthesituationchanges.

Infancy:Around7-9months,strangeranxietydevelopsandtypicallyresolvesbytheendofthefirstyear.Asearlyas6months,infantscanpickupandinternalizeanxietyfromparentorcaregiver.

EarlyChildhood:Attachmenttotheparentgrows,(cryingandfearofdesertion),andimprovesoverthenextthreeyears.Withanever-expandingworldaroundthem,newfearsemergeastheytrytounderstandwhatisrealorimagined,(i.e.monsters,ghosts).Theymayexperienceseparationanxietyagainaroundage18months.From3-6years,fearsofthedarkarecommon.Astheylearntomanagethesefears,theyaremoreabletosleepalone.

SchoolAgedChildren:Fearsofrealworlddangersareformedatthisage.Experienceteachesthemthattherisksareremoteratherthanimminent.Inmiddleschool,socialstatusleadstocomparisonsandworriesaboutsocialacceptance.Athleticandacademicabilitiesarecompared.ContinuingintoHighSchool,adolescentsgaininsightintovariousphysicalandmentaldiseases,andconcernsabouttheirfuturesuccessdevelops.

• Worryingandavoidanceareautomaticresponses.

• Becomeseasilydistressedoragitated.

• Complainsofbodyachesandpainswithnoknowncause.

• Asksrepetitivequestionsforreassurance,“whatif”concernsanddoesnotacceptlogicalexplanations.

• Isself-criticalbeyondthenorm.• Sleepdisruptions,(i.e.can’t

sleepalone,hasfrequentnightmares,difficultyfallingasleep).

• Parentsoftenfindthemselvesspendingexcessivetimecomfortingtheirchild.

• Cannotenjoyageappropriateactivitiesduetoanxiety.

• Causesdisruptionindailylife:Avoidanceofschooloractivities.Spendingexcessivetimeonnormalactivities:i.e.hygiene,homework,andmeals.



(215) 348-3300


Typical Stages and Fears

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