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Child Anxiety Treatment

12 Minutes

Edited & clinically reviewed by THE BALANCE Team

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CONTENTS

Children and teenagers have a lot of anxieties, worries, and worried thoughts. Kids form their feelings and thoughts about possible threats and sources of stress as they develop and discover the world around them. While many young kids have phobias of the darkness, animals, and monsters (to mention a few), older kids may be concerned about dying, bereavement, and their safety.

Anxiety is a completely natural element of childhood and adolescent growth. Some children, on the other hand, are overcome with fear and anxiety. Some people suffer from panic attacks. Some people get so focused on their stressors and symptoms that they can’t focus on their regular routines. Childhood anxiety can have a severe impact on a child’s academic performance, parental connections, peer interactions, and even physical wellbeing.

Anxiety disorders can influence children and teenagers in a variety of ways, and establishing an appropriate diagnosis is the first effort toward therapy.

Assessment

Your kid’s level of coping and the best treatment plan will be determined via a proper assessment. The following will be included in the review:

A detailed examination of current symptoms, their length, and intensity. Before this consultation, it’s a good idea to take down any patterns of symptoms you and your kid have noticed.
A look into your kid’s upbringing and history.
A thorough family history, along with any history of psychiatric illness in the family. Anxiety disorders can be passed down through generations.
An assessment of your mental health.

Making a Treatment Strategy

Treatment that blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and prescription medication is most likely to benefit children with anxiety disorders, as per research sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health, but either intervention can be beneficial on its own.

It’s also critical to forming a therapeutic team that can assist children and teenagers across different areas. Parents or caregivers, the prescribing physician, the therapist or psychiatrist, the classroom instructor, and the school counselor are all possible candidates. Family counseling and training can enable an anxious child to flourish at home, and school adjustments can allow children and teenagers to deal with their problems in the classroom.

CBT is based on the idea that how our thought processes and actions have an impact on how we feel. Our emotional health improves as we learn to modify spurious thinking and dysfunctional behavior. Anxiety affects children and teenagers in the form of cognitive abnormalities that exacerbate their anxiety. Kids can learn to manage their emotions by learning to recognize their stressors, learn how anxiety influences their behavior, and how to substitute their cognitive distortions with cognitive retraining.

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Kids learn to deal with their stressors in little steps using CBT. Children are taught to change negative thinking with positivity, as well as to distinguish between genuine and false thoughts. CBT includes some “homework” for kids to practice new patterns of thought and adaptive coping skills at home, and it equips them with lifelong skills.

To know how CBT works, it is necessary to first fully understand how anxiety functions. Since the kids learn that avoiding the stressful situation helps in reducing worry, at least temporarily, serious unmanaged anxiety is likely to get worse over time, rather than getting better. However, when the child — and, in fact, the entire family — tries to prevent arousing those concerns, they grow in turn grow stronger. The goal of cognitive behavioral therapy is to erase avoidant behavior.

Exposure and systematic desensitization are some of the most essential CBT approach for kids with anxiety. The underlying notion is that kids are exposed to the things that make them anxious in a controlled, gradual manner and a safe environment. The anxiety decreases as they become acclimated to each of the prompts in turn, and they are prepared to undertake more intense ones.

Conventional talk therapy, in which the client and therapist investigate the causes of their anxiety to modify their behavior, is significantly different from exposure therapy. We attempt to change behavior in exposure treatment to get rid of anxiety.

Separation anxiety, fears, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and social anxiety are among the conditions for which exposure therapy is useful.

The Bully in the Brain

For kids with anxiety disorders, the procedure begins by supporting them and their families in separating themselves from the anxiety and perceiving it as a separate entity from themselves. The clinicians do this by having students think of it as a “bully in the brain,” and push the kids to name the bully and speak back to him.

We explain that we will teach youngsters how to deal with bullies, giving them the impression that they can control their worry rather than having it control them.

It’s also critical to assist children in comprehending how their worry is influencing their lives. I might draw a diagram showing what a child can’t do because of their anxieties, such as sleep in their bed, visit a friend, or have meals with their own family, and how it makes them feel. It’s critical to help youngsters comprehend how anxiety works and gain their trust since the next stage — facing their anxieties — is contingent on them believing me.

Exposure therapy, based on Robert Frost’s observation that “the only way around is through,” gradually and methodically helps the child face his or her fears so that they can learn to handle their anxiousness until it passes rather than responding with assurances, fleeing, prevention, or ritualistic behaviors like hand washing.

Recognizing triggers is the first step. We create a “ladder of anxieties” — a sequence of small difficulties that are all manageable and add up to great progress. Rather than thinking in absolutes like “I can’t touch a dog” or “I can’t cross a bridge,” children are encouraged to think in terms of difficulty levels. “On a scale of 1 to 10, how difficult would it be to touch the door handle with one finger?” we may ask kids with contamination anxieties. To open the door by touching it?”

“How hard would it be to type the word vomit?” we may ask a child who is afraid of throwing up. If that’s a 3, announcing “I’m going to puke today” could be a 5. Seeing a cartoon of someone puking can get you a 7. It might be a 9 to view a true video of someone vomiting. The kid would most likely be consuming something that makes them vomit at the top of the food chain. By ranking these various concerns, children discover that some are less terrible and more controllable than they previously believed.

Then, in the least severe form, we introduce the child to the stimulus and assist them till the anxiety diminishes. Fear, like any other experience, fades with time, and youngsters learn a sense of control as their tension fades.

Intensive therapy

I might work with a kid who is extremely worried many times a week, for several hours at a stretch, for example, if they can scarcely leave their room for fear that their parents would die, or if they must wash their hands a dozen times a day to avoid contamination. We start with exposure in the clinic and then move outside once the kid feels comfortable.

For example, we could go out wearing goofy hats or walking a banana on a leash for somebody with social anxiety. We may take the bus jointly, hold hands with strangers, and then eat snacks without cleansing our hands for someone terrified of infection.

I provide homework to practice what we learned in the meetings once we’ve worked through a few exposures and they’re feeling more confident. Before advancing up the ladder, we want them to have a firm grasp of their exposures. Parents are also encouraged to aid their children’s progress by encouraging them to accept worried feelings rather than intervening to protect them.

Intervention for mild to moderate degrees of severity often takes eight to twelve sessions, and some children make more improvement if they are also taking anxiety medication, which can help them engage more fully in therapy.

It’s critical to recognize that exposure therapy is difficult for both children and their parents. However, as the dread fades, children return to their favorite activities, and the family reclaims a child they felt they had lost – which is a wonderful reward.

Time and perseverance are required for treatment modalities to work properly. CBT is not an instant fix, but it does help adolescents and children reframe their anxious thoughts and develop the capabilities of responsive coping mechanisms. As they work through such an approach, affected children would require parental support.

Even after receiving family therapy and CBT, some children struggle to cope with excessive anxiety, which restricts them from going to school or remaining focused, interrupts social and family life, and has a detrimental effect on other aspects of their lives. Even if you’re opting for CBT or another therapeutic intervention, keep an eye out for these signs of anxiety that prevail:

Worrying exceedingly on most days of the week
Starting to feel jittery or irritable
Disturbed sleep can be due to trouble falling asleep, oversleeping, or daytime fatigue due to sleeplessness.
Mood swings
Inability to concentrate or focus

These symptoms can harm a kid’s day-to-day performance, leading to poor educational outcomes, irregular eating and sleeping habits, and medical problems.

Before choosing meds for your kid, contact your doctor and treatment team to evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of meds, inform them about any recent improvements through Cognitive behavioral therapy and other non-medication approaches, and consider other options.

Types of Medication

The brain’s neurochemical serotonin is increased by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Since they are non-addictive and have few negative effects, SSRIs are frequently used for children with anxiety and depression. Citalopram (Celexa), fluvoxamine (Luvox), fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), fluvoxamine (Luvox), escitalopram (Lexapro), and paroxetine (Paxil), are all SSRIs.

Losing weight, gastrointestinal disturbance, tiredness, and headaches are common SSRI side effects that go away during the first several months of medication. Any adverse effects should be mentioned to the attending physician, and families should never discontinue taking SSRIs without consulting their doctor first.

For kids, benzodiazepines are used less frequently than SSRIs, however, they can be utilized to manage “acute” anxiety. Anxiety attacks and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder are examples of acute anxiety, which compromises a child’s ability to perform daily activities. This type of medication is only taken for a limited time. Adaptation to these drugs can develop in children, requiring higher dosages to achieve the same results. Diazepam (Valium), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clorazepate (Tranxene), clonazepam (Klonopin), and Alprazolam (Xanax) are all benzodiazepines (Valium).

Anxiety problems require time and the appropriate combination of techniques to treat. Parents frequently report that their child’s progress fluctuates throughout treatment. As children and teens learn to comprehend their anxiety, recognize their stressors, and develop coping mechanisms that work for them, their condition will gradually improve.

The following steps may effectively deter children from developing an anxiety disorder:

A home atmosphere that is consistent, secure, and support
Parenting techniques that foster self-esteem, assertiveness, and efficient coping skills
The degree of psychosocial stress or catastrophic occurrences is kept to a minimum.
Families and other influential persons in the child’s growth teach adaptive problem-solving and stress management skills.
Psychoeducation
Family-based interventions

Ginsburg performed a study to explore the efficacy of intervention programs in the prevention and/or alleviation of anxiety symptoms in kids of parents with any sort of anxiety disorder and obtained evidence to support the theory that family-based intervention can help children at risk for anxiety. A total of 40 children and their families were randomly assigned to either an eight-week cognitive-behavioral intervention program (20 participants) or a waiting list controlled group (20 participants). Within a year, neither of the children in the intervention program had developed an anxiety condition, whereas 30 percent of the children on the waiting list did.

Strongest Families, an innovative pre-diagnosis treatment for youngsters with disruptive behavior and/or anxiety disorders created by the investigators of one research, involves educated nonprofessionals monitored by mental health specialists. The intervention uses a guidebook, educational videos, and weekly phone calls to offer care. These telephone-based therapies resulted in significant reductions in the population of children identified with disruptive behavior or anxiety symptoms, according to the study’s findings; this intervention may be a choice for treatment who are not able to join face-to-face appointments.

Given the importance of academics and school learning in children’s and adolescents’ development, educational interventions have become increasingly popular. These kinds of initiatives should be regarded as therapeutic as well as a preventive measure.

Individual and group therapy are offered regularly in inpatient anxiety disorder treatment programs, as part of a multidisciplinary treatment regimen. Some programs allow kids to enroll in counseling sessions or engage in off-campus events. Furthermore, luxury inpatient anxiety treatment facilities provide a high sense of satisfaction, facilities, and a breathtaking environment that promotes recovery, as well as being close to wilderness, which is beneficial in and of itself.

As a parent, you have a significant influence on how your child is treated. You may help by doing the following:

Attend all of your consultations with your kid’s doctor. If you’ve been prescribed medicine, be sure your child is taking it exactly as prescribed. Any indications of side effects should be reported to your child’s healthcare professional.
Assuage your child’s fears. Your kid may not recognize that their anxiety is more severe than the occasion requires if they have GAD. You and other adults will have to reassure your child frequently.
Pay attention to your child. Know about their schooling and academic performance, online activity, and relations. Harassment is a severe problem that many children encounter, both in real and on social networks. Make it clear to your kid that they may talk to you about everything, particularly if they are feeling anxious or depressed to the point of considering self-harm.
Spend time with the kids that are fun and stress-free. Take a walk, eat dinner, or watch a movie.
Consult your child’s healthcare practitioner about additional professionals who will be involved in his or her care. Therapists, counselors, social services, psychiatrists, instructors, and psychologists may be part of your kid’s treatment team. The healthcare team for your kid will be determined by their requirements and the severity of their GAD.
Make other people aware of your child’s GAD. Create a treatment regimen with your kid’s healthcare practitioner and school. Inform your child’s teachers that he or she will require further reassurance.
If your kid’s GAD is preventing them from succeeding in school, they may be entitled to special protections and accommodations.
Seek assistance from local services in your area. It may be beneficial to connect with other parents who have children with GAD.

If your kid is experiencing any of the following symptoms, contact a healthcare provider straight away.

Feels a great deal of sadness, dread, worry, or rage toward himself or others.
Feels uncontrollable
Hears the voice that others are oblivious to.
Others cannot see what he sees.
Hasn’t been able to eat or sleep for three days in a row
Showing conduct that is upsetting to relatives, friends, or instructors, and others express their worry and request you to seek help.

GAD has been linked to an increased risk of suicide in children. Suicide threats are a plea for help. Such remarks, ideas, acts, or plans should always be taken seriously. Any kid who displays suicidal ideas should be assessed straight away.

If your kid has suicidal ideation, a death plan, or the tools to follow the plan, call 911 immediately.

Each anxiety disorder treatment center works together to ensure that at the end of their treatment program, their patients can manage their anxiety. On the other hand, executive residential anxiety treatment institutes offer substantial advantages over traditional treatment centers. Because they are meant to seem like resorts, luxury anxiety treatment facilities provide a more relaxed atmosphere.

It’s much easier to manage anxiety disorders when you’re in a tranquil environment. Individuals at luxury treatment centers like being massaged in spas and burning calories in fitness centers and tennis courts while they develop coping skills for when they return home. Individuals suffering from anxiety as a result of hospital or medical visits may benefit from private anxiety treatment centers that resemble five-star hotels.

If your child or a loved one is dealing with anxiety and needs the services of a tranquil and luxury private anxiety treatment center, please contact us right away.

HOW THE BALANCE CAN HELP WITH Anxiety

The Balance RehabClinic is a leading provider of luxury addiction and mental health treatment for affluent individuals and their families, offering a blend of innovative science and holistic methods with unparalleled individualised care.

A UNIQUE METHOD TREATING Anxiety

a successful and proven concept focusing on underlying causes

ONE CLIENT AT A TIME

TAILORED LASTING APPROACH

BIOCHEMICAL RESTORATION

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY & HOLISTIC

TECHNOLOGY BASED TREATMENT

TRAUMA INFORMED THERAPY

Anxiety TREATMENT LASTING APPROACH

0 Before

Send Admission Request

0 Before

Define Treatment Goals

1 week

Assessments & Detox

1-4 week

Psychological & Holistic Therapy

4 week

Family Therapy

5-8 week

Aftercare

12+ week

Refresher Visit

Anxiety Insights

Panic Attack vs. Anxiety Attack

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