Anxiety in children is more common than many of us realise.
According to the CDC, about 9.4% of children aged 3-17 years have been diagnosed with anxiety. That's roughly 5.8 million children in the U.S. alone. Comorbidity: About 37.9% of children with anxiety also have behaviour problems, and 32.3% also have depression
If you're a parent, these numbers might feel overwhelming, but understanding and managing your child's anxiety can make a significant difference.
Here are the steps to one systematic approach that I've 'designed':
ENTER the HEATMAP
Step 1: Track Anxiety Episodes
The first step in managing anxiety is to track it. Creating a log to record anxiety episodes can help you identify patterns and triggers. Here's what to include in your log:
- Date and Time: When did the episode occur?
- Location: Where was your child?
- Who was present: Who else was there?
- Situation/Context: What was happening?
- Intensity: Rate the episode (mild,...