Way OT.. Kids, anxiety- Anyone with insight?

 sorry to hear this, Fawn, that sounds just terrible for her. I hope you can get it dealt with!!

((((((((((daughter)))))))

My 7 year old suffers with anxiety.  At this stage, my approach is to help him recognize it and manage it the best that he can with my support.  For instance, I ask him to try and identify the thought that is causing him the distress and then we do reality testing...how likely is to happen?  how could he respond if it does?  Often the fears aren't based in reality at all and then we identify the "hot thought" and create a counter thought to replace it..."I won't know anyone at daycamp and I will  have no friends" can be changed to "I'm a fun kid and I can make new friends anywhere that I go". 

Sometimes these things don't work at all and he just sweats it and I force him through it and surprise, surprise, the worst did not happen.  Then we talk about this as evidence for the next time..."remember when you feared x,y,z would happen and it never did".

He made need to access formal psychiatric support when he is older and may benefit from psych meds, but I personally don't believe in psych meds for anyone under 18 (although have no judgement on parents that choose differently for their kids).  My big thing is helping him to build insight...to accept this as part of his temperent and learn as many self management techniques as possible (including distraction from the fear and self soothing techniques) as well as building up courage to push himself past his comfort zone so that his life isn't unnecessarily limited by these anxieties and fears. 

Whether he needs professional hel*****t at a later date, this basic foundation should serve him well.  I also work on sending a message and I love and accept him as he is.