I am a parent of high school age children. School has started and they are both anxious. They have watched the news and shootings of children. They have gone through previous years with lock downs when there is suspicious activity. They both would rather do on line high school. The truth is I am anxious also. I don’t know what to say to my kids, heck, I don’t know what to do myself. Help, signed super anxious mom.
Quick: These are anxious days. Terrorist attacks, police shooting unarmed citizens, lock downs on school campuses… all of these events and more contribute to an overall sense of anxiety for many children and adults. I would encourage you to be honest and supportive of your children. Encourage multiple ways to relax, unplug and calm yourselves. Doing on line high school is not a viable solution for anxiety. Avoiding your fears will only make things worse. Acknowledge fears and then work to shift focus to soothing, relaxing positive aspects of reality.
Quack: Parenting is riddled with anxiety, fears and concerns. Maybe your toddler will bash his head open on the glass table top, maybe your daughter will be abducted when she walks to school, maybe your child will ski into a tree while on the school ski trip, maybe an accident when they get their license, maybe drugs, alcohol, pregnancy, incurable disease. The list is endless. All of the possibilities are real. But you can’t live in unremitting anxiety and you can’t put your children in a protected cocoon. Teach your children safety planning for their most common place environments. Now teach yourself and your kids anxiety reduction strategies. I’m guessing as your anxiety decreases some of your children’s anxieties will reduce.
Hey, Dr. Quick, I think we should write a book about how to cope with anxiety in general and parenting anxiety in particular.
Quick: I think many of us have been living in an “orange alert” state since September 11th. We make lousy decisions when we are scared; it is well worth your while to learn a variety of skills to relax and self-soothe. A book sounds like too much work but a good tool kit for anxiety is essential.
drs quick and quack 