Anxiety Counseling in Calgary, Cochrane, and Online

What is anxiety?

Imagine that a child/teen encounters a stressful event or situation. Most of the time, the danger (perceived or real) will pass and they will move on. But, in some cases, a child/teen may begin catastrophizing the thoughts and feelings associated with the stressful event. This in turn creates more fear and thus a cycle begins. 

 

 

How do I know if my child is anxious?

Anxious children exhibit one or more of the following symptoms:

  • withdrawn
  • avoidant 
  • loner
  • stutter 
  • excessively worry
  • poor school attendance
  • poor sleep
  • racing heart
  • excessive sweating
  • tummy aches
  • mysterious illness
  • explosive anger
  • dissociate
  • poor impulse control
  • selective mutism
  • panic attacks

How can I support my child?

When children exhibit or communicate their anxiety, help them by:

  1. Help them label their emotions
  2. Validate their feelings
  3. Help them choose a soothing activity
  4. Help them refocus on the present moment
  5. Brainstorm appropriate solutions to what is causing them anxiety

How do I know if my child needs counselling?

Chronic anxiety is a result of many negative experiences that a teen encounters in early childhood. In most cases, anxiety is noticeable in teens when life stressors overwhelm them. School, relationships, body image, and illness in the family are all examples of stressors that teenagers are forced to deal with.  

 

It is crucial to obtain professional support with a person they trust. The sooner that support is accessed, the less severe the symptoms, and the less risk of further mental health issues. 

Will my child outgrow their anxiety without therapy?

No. This is because anxiety is an accumulation of many negative and traumatic experiences. With professional support your child will learn how to:

 

  • Identify stressful situations
  • Learn positive coping skills
  • Apply those skills
  • Become resilient

 

Only children who develop healthy coping skills will grow out of their anxiety. 

What happens if my child does not receive therapy?

To deal with the increasing severity of their anxiety, children who do not receive professional support for their anxiety may turn to unhealthy coping skills such as:

 

  • drug & substance abuse
  • promiscuous behavior
  • unhealthy relationships
  • cutting 
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