January 25, 2021
The pandemic has greatly impacted all of us. Professionals are now acknowledging the rise of mental health struggles in adults, in fact there is a great deal of information on the issue. But, what about the young generation? There’s no doubt that mental health issues among children have increased since the pandemic hit. They’re struggling with all the losses they’ve encountered: loss of social activities and social gatherings, lack of visits with extended family, disappearance of sporting events, and being forced to adapt to the new way of life at school.
How can we as parents, teachers, and caregivers help them understand their newfound feelings and emotions? I believe the first step is to start talking to our children about anxiety, fears and worries.
It’s important to let them know that they’re not alone. Let them know that all of us experience some sort of worry or fear throughout our lifetime. Emphasize that everyone has worries and fears, but if we choose to focus on the worries instead of the good things in life then worries can grow and lead to stress and anxiety. Explain how worries can eventually cause physical symptoms, such as stomach aches, stiff muscles, headaches, difficulty sleeping or a racing heart. Ask them what their physical symptoms are; awareness is the first step.
Describe to them the many strengths of an anxious brain- compassion, empathy, and creativity are just a few. Let them know that children who suffer with anxiety are the bravest kids of all. They get up every day and go into the world to face their fears. This makes them extremely brave!
Validation is crucial. Validate them- “it is tough, I get it”- let them know that you hear and see them, and that their being here matters. They must know that there is nothing wrong with them. Validate their feelings!
Connection is imperative. One of the ways we can form these connections is through conscious listening. Conscious listening shows children that you are present and genuinely interested in what they are saying. Try to become aware of their feelings and emotions and let them express themselves without interrupting or judging. Children love to be heard!
We must cultivate a sense of belonging by telling them how important it is that they are in this world. Let them know that each of us has unique gifts and their superpower is that there’s nobody in the whole world like them! Ask them to share some of their strengths.
Lastly, confirm that anxiety, worry, and stress is ok- it’s not a stop sign. Show them that there are tools and strategies that we can use to manage and control it. Then, introduce the strategies.
Some of the strategies that I’ve used with children and found very beneficial are: mindfulness, breathwork, meditation, positive self-talk and gratitude. I expand on all of these strategies in my new book, “Empowering our Future.” Just reinforce to your children that we all have struggles and there are things we can do to manage them.
I believe the first step is helping children to become aware and understand their worries, fears and anxiety. I hope that in this blog post you find helpful tips on how to approach it!
Until next time...we’re all in this together! My support is with you!