Anxious about kids being anxious?

Kids and anxiety

Yes our children do get anxious. They have their own set of worries, apprehensions and fears in life. Adults feel that they have the worldly burden on their shoulders while childhood is carefree and joyous. It’s not always so. Childhood ‘ought’ to be happy-go-lucky and relaxed. And that is what we have to strive for in our kids. Anxiety has been better researched unlike other childhood problems such as autism, and ADHD. Children worry about the smallest issues and take great levels of stress. Possibly the demands that parents place on their kids overwhelms them. At other times children sense the stress in the household. They know when there is friction between parents or in laws or grandparents. They are more receptive and emotive than we ever realize. They have self-standards too besides the ones you set for them. All these can get quite overpowering and your little child cannot cope with it.

Sleep and related problems

Life and sleep

Human beings sleep for quarter to a third of their lives; hence sleep forms a pretty large expense of time of one's existence. Sleep and dreams have attracted interest since history but the importance of sleep is only becoming evident today, with the emergence of negative consequences of lack of good sleep.

Fears and phobias

Each one of us has a set of dreaded objects, real or imaginary. Someone may fear dogs or cats or rats or snakes or spiders; others may be consciously troubled by the thought of a natural calamity earthquake or flood or volcano; and yet others may quiver and faint at the sight or even the mention of blood. Some people are afraid of closed spaces while others may fear going to open marketplaces alone. All these apprehensions are irrational and uncalled for. They interfere with the way one normally thinks, feels behaves. They hinder one from living a so-called ‘normal’ life.

How are you, socially?

Being the center of attention is exciting. Limelight, propaganda, publicity are good when they get you positive attention. Human nature circumvents all potential uncomfortable situations and evaluations that may have negative consequences on one’s performance, ability or character. An examination or presentation for which one is unprepared is not exhilarating. Some have the ability to fight the situation; others react with nervousness. Social phobia is relatively common today.

Worry: The norm today

Typically nervousness and worry form a part of everyday small matters like work, finances, relationships, health and safety of loved ones; school or college assignments, job presentations and other routine tasks. The focus of worry usually keeps shifting from one task to another. Normally everyone is able to keep control over bothersome thoughts; and life's uncertainties ordinarily don't seem to be getting out of hand. But sometimes, defenses don't match up the stressors; demand overruns the supply of personal energies, and troubles do get out of subjective control.