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The Anxious Child
Raising a Healthy Child in a Frightening World
By Mary Ann Shaw, Ed.D.
Today, researchers theorize that anxiety, which is a constant troubled state of mind that is to some degree debilitating, is caused either by a single serious traumatic event in one's life or by a series of smaller traumas or stresses. Certainly the reality of today's world, especially in urban areas, feeds both of these theories. Whether a single event, a series of stresses or both cause anxiety, our world offers plenty of cause for anxiety.
Regaining Control
With crime leading the evening news every night, many children are afraid of what might happen to them. Some kids may begin to withdraw from situations they believe are dangerous after witnessing them on television. They may even refuse to leave home or go to school. Unfortunately, you can't honestly tell children that nothing is going to happen to them, because the truth is that our streets and cities are dangerous. What you can do, though, if their anxiety becomes crippling, is to help them regain some sense of control. Teach them how to dial 911, how to use the security system and how to lock the doors. Let them take karate or other self-defense courses that may ease their anxiety and help them feel more powerful over their environment. Make sure you don't leave them alo
