Autism Spotlight - Kemi Omijeh, anxiety in children
This week we caught up with Kemi Omijeh, a child and adolescent therapist to discuss anxiety in children.
Anxiety can be common in children; it’s often how they respond to stressful situations around them. or situations that are out of their control. A global pandemic certainly ticks both those boxes. When the stressful situation goes away, the anxiety can go away. When anxiety starts to interfere with everyday life, it can be a problem.
Physical symptoms of anxiety in children
Anxiety in children differs from worries via physical symptoms, children may complain about stomach pains or need frequent trips to the toilet. Physical symptoms that don’t go away with other attempts to treat them or only appear when they are anxious. Please note that everybody is different and we are all going to have our own individual different physical responses to anxiety so the examples given are just that, examples. It can also affect their sleep patterns and they might complain of bad dreams. Children don’t often have the language to articulate their anxiety so they express it via anxious behaviours such as acting out, avoidance of the situation they are anxious about as well as demonstrating clingy/needy behaviour. Their behaviours are then often misunderstood for something else when deep down they are anxious and having difficulty explaining this.
Anxiety is there to protect us
It’s important to note that the function of anxiety is to protect us, our body or mind perceives something or a situation as threatening and our hormones kicks into safety over drive. This is true for both adults and children. The trick to coping with your anxiety or supporting your child with their anxiety is to remind your brain that you are not actually in danger, it’s a perceived threat. There are a number of ways this can be done with children. Children can pick up anxious behaviours from the people around them. So, be conscious of your responses and reactions, try and stay calm and use gentle reassuring tones. Keep your words simple and short and allow the brain to process whatever information you are giving them. Identifying your child’s triggers, what is likely to set their anxiety off can help you anticipate and plan for supporting them. Give them as much information as possible and allow them to have some control by giving them choices over little things that you can.
Being mindful and managing anxiety
Mindfulness and deep breathing exercise can also be a good way to manage anxiety. When you are anxious, you are in a heightened state, deep breathing gives the brain that much needed oxygen it needs to calm down. Mindfulness can be as simple as helping them find a spot to focus on in the distance or looking around and naming the things they see or counting backwards from 10. This act connects your brain with the here and now and distracts those anxious thoughts momentarily.
To address anxiety on a longer-term basis, some work with a qualified professional is needed. Anxiety can affect daily life and steal those moments you are meant to be enjoying. It can affect your thoughts so much that you experience the world and things around you through an anxiety filter. It’s not something you or your children have to live with, seek a professional’s help.
About Me
I am Kemi Omijeh, a MBACP Registered Therapist working with children and families for 15 years. I offer children’s therapy, parent consultations and mental health training and consultations. I believe in the importance of prioritising our mental health and making mental health accessible and inclusive for all.
I have developed an online course to support parents and equip you with practical strategies to help your child with their anxiety. The course can be accessed in your own time and at your own pace. You will also have the bonus of being part of a private group where you can ask me questions you may have about your child’s anxiety.