The Solution to Social Anxiety in Kids is Not what People Think I have spent 47 years with Social Anxiety Disorder. It is an ugly, devastating disorder that tears you down from the inside out. It can demolish any shred of self-esteem you have. It can paralyze and isolate you. But the solution to social anxiety is not what most people think. In fact, I […]
A Parent’s Journey Through Anxiety and Autism Autism can be a confusing disorder because it often comes with so many other comorbid conditions. Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can show signs of anxiety, OCD and ADHD. Initially it can be hard for parents and even professionals to get an accurate diagnosis. In this month’s AT Parenting Survival Podcast segment Member Spotlight, I talk to […]
Helping Kids with Depersonalization: When They Worry They are Not Real There is a type of anxiety that many people don’t talk about or understand – that is depersonalization or derealization. Both issues can be alarming for both a child and their parent. When kids worry they are living in a dream, it is hard to know what to say. When they feel like they […]
Helping Kids Who are Scared of Video Calls Our “new normal” is bringing with it some new fears. Most of our kids have been thrown into the world of video calls. Daily video sessions for school. Casual video calls with friends. Video family gatherings. Honestly, the list of video calls do not end. For many people this is a great consolation for not being able […]
Moving our Kids with Anxiety or OCD from Dependency to Resiliency We all do things for our kids. But there comes a time when we do too much. We inadvertently send a message that they are not capable of doing things for themselves. Ironically this directly impacts their ability to independently fight their anxiety or OCD. In this episode of the AT Parenting Survival […]
Helping Kids Who Get Scared of Strange Noises “What was that?!” – is usually how it starts. A Bump. A thump. Anything unusual (or not that unusual) sends our children’s anxiety into a tailspin. Anxiety is on high alert. It is quietly scanning the environment for anything and everything that doesn’t sound “normal.” Unfortunately that includes noises like the air conditioning, the ice maker or […]
Three Ways to Help Anxious Kids with Picky Eating If your child is anxious, they are more likely to be a picky eater as well. This makes sense if you really think about it. Anxiety loves to scare our kids. It’s too dark. It’s too dangerous. Anxiety likes to whisper things about food too. It’s too chewy. It’s too smelly. What if’s like to have […]
A Parent’s Journey Through Separation Anxiety Clinical Separation Anxiety isn’t a toddler problem. In fact, symptoms often start to show up when kids are in elementary or middle school. Separation Anxiety Disorder isn’t about having a toddler follow you around. It is about having a child who experiences sheer panic when they are not by your side. It is about having a child who needs […]
Helping Kids Realize that Avoidance Grows Anxiety & OCD One of anxiety and OCD’s favorite behaviors is avoidance. Avoidance grows these struggles quicker than any other behavior. Anxiety will whisper, “just don’t go.” OCD will plead, “just don’t touch it.” The more our kids avoid (and the more we help them avoid), the bigger these issues grow. In this week’s kids YouTube video, I talk […]
As a parent to children with anxiety or OCD, our “normal” wasn’t that “normally” anyway. But now this new normal is taking us to new heights of abnormal.
In this week’s podcast episode I tackle the most common struggles parents are having as they continue to raise kids with anxiety and OCD during this pandemic.
Many anxious kids jump to extreme conclusions. They often take everything personally. A redirection is a yell. A suggestions is a criticism. A friend being busy, is a declaration that their friendship is over.
Raising a child during a pandemic is a BIG challenge. But when you add anxiety and OCD to the mix, it can be a tall order to handle.
Many of our kids have a hard time being social with other kids. Some have social anxiety that makes them fear rejection and criticism. Others often feel too overwhelmed and depleted to be social. Unfortunately with the global shutdown, many kids are finding themselves even more isolated from their peers. School closures are limiting social connections and for those with social issues – the isolation is even more severe.
When you are a parent raising kids with anxiety or OCD you can encounter some awkward situations. Like what do you do when a close friend says ignorant things about your child’s anxiety or OCD. Or how do you handle sleepovers when you know your child might not make it through the night?
How to Help Kids Handle “What-If” Worries Anxiety loves the What if game. What if…I die? What if …you die? What if… I throw up? What if…the world explodes? When kids play the What if game with anxiety, they will almost always lose. In this week’s Ask the Child Therapist Kid/Teen Youtube video, I talk to kids about how to handle What-if thoughts and stop them […]
