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Supporting Youth with Anxiety: Tips and Resources

Supporting Youth with Anxiety: Tips and Resources

Children Mental Health

Youth anxiety is a growing concern, impacting many young people across the country, including Maryland. Anxiety can affect a child’s emotional well-being, academic performance, and social interactions, making it difficult for them to navigate daily life. At Advanced Behavior Health Inc. (ABH), we are committed to providing the support needed to help youth manage anxiety and thrive. This article offers tips and resources for parents, educators, and youth workers to support anxious youth effectively.

Understanding Youth Anxiety

Youth anxiety can manifest in various forms, including social anxiety, generalized anxiety, and performance-related stress. These feelings can stem from academic pressure, social challenges, or significant life changes. Recognizing anxiety in its early stages is critical to providing the right interventions to help young people cope.

Common Signs of Anxiety in Youth

Recognizing anxiety symptoms in children is key to delivering timely support. Some common signs include:

Emotional Symptoms: Constant worry, nervousness, irritability, and fear of everyday tasks.
Behavioral Symptoms: Avoidance of school, social withdrawal, inability to concentrate, and frequent emotional outbursts.
Physical Symptoms: Headaches, stomachaches, trouble sleeping, and fatigue.

These symptoms may vary in severity and interfere with a child’s ability to function effectively in school and social settings.

Tips for Supporting Youth with Anxiety

Encourage Open Communication: Create a safe space where your child feels comfortable sharing their feelings. Listening without judgment and offering reassurance can help alleviate some of their anxiety.
Teach Coping Skills: Introduce coping mechanisms such as deep breathing, mindfulness, and grounding techniques to help your child manage anxiety when it arises.
Establish Routines: Consistency is soothing for anxious children. Set up predictable routines for daily activities like schoolwork, meals, and bedtime to provide a sense of stability.
Limit Screen Time: Excessive screen time, especially before bed, can worsen anxiety. Encourage screen-free periods and ensure digital devices stay out of the bedroom at night.
Seek Professional Help: If your child’s anxiety is persistent or interfering with daily life, professional help may be needed. At ABH, we provide comprehensive treatment options tailored to each child’s needs.

Resources for Managing Youth Anxiety

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is a proven therapy for treating youth anxiety. It helps children identify negative thought patterns and develop healthier responses to stress.

2. Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques: Mindfulness practices and relaxation exercises, such as deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation, help children stay calm and centered in anxiety-inducing situations.

3. Professional Counseling Services: ABH offers personalized mental health treatment plans, including intensive outpatient programs and individualized care. Our team works closely with youth to create a supportive environment for overcoming anxiety.

When to Seek Professional Help

While some anxiety is normal, persistent anxiety that disrupts daily activities may require professional intervention. If your child is struggling despite efforts to manage their anxiety at home, consulting a licensed therapist may be the next step.

At ABH, we offer expert mental health services in Maryland to help youth overcome anxiety and build resilience. Our compassionate team specializes in working with children and teenagers, providing the support they need to thrive.

Why Choose Advanced Behavior Health Inc.?

At ABH, we understand the impact anxiety can have on youth and their families. Our personalized approach to mental health ensures each child receives the care they need to manage anxiety effectively. Our services include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness training, and, when necessary, medication management.

We believe that with the right support, children can learn to manage their anxiety and build a bright, confident future.

Contact Us Today

📞 301-345-1022

Anxiety doesn’t have to hold your child back. With the right guidance and care, they can overcome their anxiety and thrive. Let ABH help your child take the first step toward a healthier, happier life.

When you think of the well-being of a child, you first think of basic needs: food, water, and shelter. Once these needs are met, however, it’s crucial for a child to have emotional and social wellness as well. In this article, we will explore the impact social wellness has on the overall health of a child and great ways for children to garner social support in their lives.

It comes as no surprise that as human beings, we all need connection with others, no matter what stage of life we are in. In fact, having social support is a social determinant of health (SDOH) that significantly impacts the health of an individual. After spending the last few years in and out of isolation due to the Covid-19 outbreak, social support is more important now than ever before. Having social support means having family members and friends you can talk to and seek advice from when life feels challenging and overwhelming. Knowing you’re not alone in your life journey, especially as a child, creates a sense of belonging and empowerment throughout one’s life.

4 Types of Social Support

Emotional Support. This type of support lets you know that people care about you and have empathy for your experiences. Emotional support often looks like people checking in on you to let you know they’re thinking of you, and that they are there if you need anything. As a parent, make sure your child knows you can be a sounding board for them. If you have family members who can also show up for your children in this way, even better!

Practical Help. This type of support is when people give you something tangible or offer a service to help you out. This could be in the form of money, making food when you are sick, or helping to pack when moving. Having family and friends show up in this way shows your child what it looks like to be present for people you love.

Sharing Points of View. This type of support can often come in the form of affirmations and encouragement. For example, pointing out your child’s strengths to them and reminding them they can do anything they put their mind to. It can also look like sharing another perspective if they are being hard on themselves. For example, if they are angry with themselves after receiving a bad grade on a test, you can help them see it as a learning experience and a way for them to grow.

Sharing Information. This type of support is when someone shares what they’ve learned from their own life experiences. For example, if another parent has a child who struggles with socializing, they can share some tips and tricks they’ve learned to help their child find and create social support.

The Importance of Social Groups and Extended Support

Children who are connected to their family, friends, and people in their community have opportunities to learn how to speak, share, and get along with others. When your child feels connected to people in your neighborhood, it often allows them to feel physically safe which can alleviate stress and worry. Simply riding bikes, going on walks, and saying hello to neighbors with your kids can create this sense of security for them.

In addition to engaging with your neighbors, getting involved in local organizations can also create social support for your child. Signing up for a sports team, musical theater, art class or summer camp are all great ways to help your child meet new friends and learn important social skills that can carry them through their lives.

Tips for Helping Kids Make Community Connections:

Spend time outside in your neighborhood playing on the playground, going to a local farmer’s market, or scheduling a playdate with neighborhood kids.

Show your kids that connection is a two-way street. If your neighbors or friends go out of town, offer to get their mail, or water their plants and take your child with you when you go. This will show your child how you show up for people you care about.

Make sure you make time for socializing with friends as well. Your child looks to you first and foremost for how they should act and live their own life.

Encourage your child to step out of their comfort zone and do something they may be scared to do. As a parent, it’s your job to push them into something social for their own well-being at times.