7. How do adults make kids' anxiety worse?

As parents, educators, and mental health professionals, we all want to be helpful to the children and teens in our life. And we all want to help them manage their anxiety effectively. However, in us wanting them to feel better, sometimes our actions can unintentionally make their anxiety worse. In today's episode, I discuss the common traps that caregivers (and all adults, really) fall into that can maintain anxiety in children and teenagers.

It's important to understand that knowing what maintains anxiety is far more crucial than figuring out where it came from. Pinpointing the exact cause of anxiety can be difficult, if not impossible, given the way our brain works (and its tendency to make irrational associations). However, understanding what keeps it going is essential. Because there is something we can do about it. As caregivers, educators, or mental health professionals, we cannot effectively help our anxious children and teens if we're not aware of the variables - including the things that we are doing - that are maintaining their anxiety. 

We need to stop falling into these traps if we are ever going to see progress with our kids.

This informative episode is essential to explore the traps that adults can fall into that maintain anxiety in children and teenagers. Learn how to identify and address these variables to help children and teens manage their anxiety better. 

Prefer to WATCH? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REUte_yLpqY)

*IMPORTANT! Sometimes people have a hard time listening to this message. It's crucial to understand that a strong, securely attached relationship with adults is foundational for any strategies I discuss to be effective. This approach is not about leaving children to "suck it up" but rather empowering them with the resilience and skills they need to manage their anxieties. Secure attachment ensures that children feel safe, supported, and understood, which is essential for fostering independence and emotional growth.

Remember: our responses are

ALWAYS supportive and empathetic. The strategies I discuss are designed to

strengthen a child's emotional resilience within the context of a secure and

supportive relationship. The goal is to avoid reinforcing anxiety through over-reassurance,

while still providing the necessary connection children need to thrive. This

approach is about finding a balance between supportive empathy and confidence

that promotes healthy emotional development. When

they can be the heroes of their own story, they will not experience trauma.

I also have FREE webinars for mental health professionals to learn more about the common mistakes we make that stall children's progress in managing anxiety. Be sure to check it out (https://koru-learning-institute.thinkific.com/courses/avoidingcommonmistakeswithanxiety), along with other training opportunities with me!

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Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/