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CHILDHOOD ANXIETY
Simmons Counselling Services Fun-Wey Tutoring Services,
West Vancouver http://simmonscounselling.ca North Vancouver http://fun-wey.com
What Adults Need to KnowNorlan Cabot• Special Education Consultant, • Fun-Wey Tutoring Services in North Vancouver
Johanna Simmons• Child and Family Counsellor• Simmons Counselling Services
Linda Greven• Owner and Manager• Fun-Wey Tutoring Services
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CHILDHOOD ANXIETY
A Few Reminders
No Cell Phones Please
Note Taking not needed
Slides on Web-Site
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CHILDHOOD ANXIETY
DisclaimerMedical Health Model
Not Qualified to Diagnose
Seek Professional Guidance
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CHILDHOOD ANXIETY
Many, many, ways itappears
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• Anxiety is a normal response essential for survival - “fight or flight”
- threat cues
- safety signal
• Everyone is different
When is anxiety useful?
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Infancy strangers, loud noises
Early childhood separation, monsters, new situations
Middle childhood real-world dangers,new challenges
Adolescence social status, social group,performance
Developmentally Appropriate Fears
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CHILDHOOD ANXIETY
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CHILDHOOD ANXIETY
Anecdote:The story of a young boy who had a mental breakdown.
Simmons Counselling Services Fun-Wey Tutoring Services,
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Common Features
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• Not Sleeping:
• Sleeping:
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• OCD• Crying:
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CHILDHOOD ANXIETY
OCD – or is it CDO?
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• Angry Outbursts • Bullying:
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tantrum
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• Defiance • Tantrum • Aggression
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• Clingy
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• Low Self-esteem • Seeking Approval
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CHILDHOOD ANXIETY
In the classroom, or tutoring session
Attitude
•Sullen and reluctant to work
•Passive/Aggressive
Behaviour
•Clingy and dependent
•Disinterested
Output
•Minimal output
•Like pulling teeth
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• Anecdote:• Sam and how he hates math!
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The Body’s Response
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• Nail Biting: • Migraines
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• Bed Wetting • Difficulty Sitting Still
• Stomach Ache
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What They Feel
Adapted from F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Program
Difficulty sleeping
Butterflies in stomach
Stomachache
Shaky knees
Need to go to the bathroom
Headache
Blushing
Stuttering
Lump in throator sore throat
Short of breath
Sweaty palms
Heart beats faster
Lips shakingVoice trembling
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CHILDHOOD ANXIETY
Anecdote: The story of Susannah and her craving for apple juice!
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…but my child shows all of these symptoms!
• Need to appear in clusters• Persistent and present for several weeks• Debilitating
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What is your child made of?
• Sugar and spice and all things nice?
• Frogs and snails and puppy dog tails?
Actually• Birth order• Temperament• Development• Belief about self
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10
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______________________________
Full blown anxiety
Breathing, relaxation, drink of water, think of safe place,take a break, go for a walk …
A is for anxiety - developed by Johanna Simmons
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Mirror Neurons
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CHILDHOOD ANXIETY
What Parents can do to Help (1)
Encourage
•Independence
•Efforts
Support
•Listen, Normalize, Educate, Model
•Avoid giving excess reassurance
Reduce
Stress
•Be consistent and predictable
•Schedule unstructured play time
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CHILDHOOD ANXIETY
What Parents can do to Help (2)
Nutrition
•Anxious kids often just graze
•Provide healthy snacks
•Cover all food groups during the day.
Self-Estee
m
•Plan for S-U-C-C-E-S-S!
•Time Management
•How to Reward themselves
Routines
•Routines reduce anxiety
•Prepare children ahead for change of plans and/or transitions
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Simmons Counselling Services Fun-Wey Tutoring Services,
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Morning Routine Chart7:45 Get dressed
7:55 Make bed
8:05 Eat breakfast
8:30 Brush teeth
8:35 Brush hair
8:40 Put lunch and homework in backpack8:45 Put on shoes/boots
8:47 Put on coat
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• Bedtime routine (15 - 30 min) Have a ritual
• Warm milk/snack• Warm bath• Story• Chat time• Music• Check in every 5 min. (10 - 15 for older kids)
Routines
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How to…
RelaxCalm breathingo Blowing bubbles/balloon blowing
Mental imageryo Safe place/quiet place
Progressive muscle relaxationo Spaghetti legso Rag doll
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How to…
Cope with worriesLock worries in a worry boxSchedule worry timePull the plug on worriesReplacing scary thoughts or worries with realistic thinking
(older children)
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• Depersonalize anxiety
How to…
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Be Firm, Friendly and Follow through
Consistency and predictability is comfortingSet limits - natural and logical consequences
Life is predictableThey know what is expected of themThey know what the consequences will be
The Three Fs
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What to doContact your GP
Ask about an assessment
CounsellingPlay therapyEMDRCBT (older children and teens)
Pharmaceutical intervention – Antidepressants (SSRI) or benzodiazepines
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ResourcesHelping Students Overcome Depression and Anxiety. Kenneth Merrell (Guilford, 2001) A Handbook of Childhood Anxiety Management. Kedar Nath Dwivedi & Ved Prakash Varma (eds.) (Arena, 1997) Catch a Falling Star: A Tale from the Iris the Dragon Series. Gayle Grass (Stoddart Kids, 2002) Helping Your Anxious Child: A Step-by-Step Guide for Parents. Ronald Rapee (ed.) (New Harbinger, 2000) Your Anxious Child. John Dacey and Lisa Fiore (Jossey-Bass, 2000) Taming Worry Dragons: A Manual for Children, Parents and Other Coaches. Jane Garland and Sandra Clark (BC Children’s Hospital, 1995 (revised 2000)). Also available in 2001 editionsAnxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents. John March (Guilford, 1995)
Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents: Research, Assessment and Intervention. Wendy Silverman & Philip Treffers (Cambridge, 2000) Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents [Clinical Practice, No. 22]. Syed Arshad Husain & Javad Kashani (American Psychiatric Press, 1992) Treating Anxious Children and Adolescents: An Evidence-Based Approach. Ann Wignall et al. (New Harbinger, 2000) Goosebumps and Butterflies. Written and illustrated by Yolanda Nave (Orchard, 1990) Keys to Parenting Your Anxious Child. Katharine Manassis (Barrons, 1996) The Developmental Psychopathology of Anxiety. Michael Vasey & Mark Dadds (eds.) (Oxford, 2001)Peaceful Piggy Meditation. Maclean, K.L.,(Albert Whitman & Company, 2004)Starbright: Meditations for Children. Garthm M. (HarperOne 1994)Moody Cow Meditates. Maclean, K.L. (Wisdom Publications, 2009)
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Websites
www.cmha.ca (Canadian Mental Health Association)
www.learningmeditation.com
www.adaa.org (Anxiety Disorders Association of America)
www.caringforkids.cps.ca (Can. Pediatric Society)
www.anxietybc.com
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Blogs• [email protected]
• http://fun-wey.com/tutor-blog/
Simmons Counselling Services Fun-Wey Tutoring Services,
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