6 yo with anxiety | Imamother

amother

Firethorn

Mon, Oct 14 2024, 8:37 pm

my child has this. I take him for bodywork and some traditional therapy. it's helping but slowly. also, I need to be very calm and reassuring and firm. he needs to know that as much as possible things are the same and reliable.

amother

Lime

Mon, Oct 14 2024, 8:42 pm

You can look for a therapist. You can teach your child coping techniques like breathing deeply and slowly or splashing cold water on the face. Yoga, taking a walk. Power of positive thinking. You can talk him/her through scenarios and discuss what she thinks will happen based on what has happened in the past. You can avoid phrases like "don't worry" and say more "I am here for you". Remind him or her that it will be OK no matter what happens because usually it is. At this age you might be able to nip it in the bud with a good therapist. I waited until 9 to consider medication but we had covid break out when she was 7 and it made it so much worse.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Mon, Oct 14 2024, 9:05 pm

amother Peru wrote:

Is he exposed to any adults yelling, punishing, blaming, threatening him? Those things usually cause anxiety

He gets anxious about school (diagnosed ADHD and dealing with a lot at school).

amother

Acacia ↓

Mon, Oct 14 2024, 9:44 pm

Not a popular opinion on here but most kids that age with significant anxiety have some form of pandas/pans/brain inflammation going on and thing that will help most is addressing the infections and the inflammation. Speaking from personal experience.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Mon, Oct 14 2024, 9:45 pm

amother Acacia wrote:

What causes that and how would I know? Wouldn't a course of antibiotics get rid of that?

amother

↑ Acacia ↓

Mon, Oct 14 2024, 9:46 pm

amother OP wrote:

What causes that and how would I know? Wouldn't a course of antibiotics get rid of that?

No it generally takes much more than a single course of antibiotics. Unless it's caught right away.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Mon, Oct 14 2024, 9:47 pm

amother Lime wrote:

Thanks. Bh we do all that at home with him.
I haven't thought about trying to do yoga with him.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Mon, Oct 14 2024, 9:53 pm

amother Acacia wrote:

There isn't always a simple fix but the gold standard is long term antibiotics and motrin + benadryl for flares

So you only know if that is the issue by treating it? What dr would do that?
Also this is not something new in particular.

amother

Steelblue

Mon, Oct 14 2024, 9:57 pm

There are so many reasons why he may be showing anxiety. YOu need to determine if it's an event, his physiology, or as someone mentioned medical/neurochemcial. The Guttman sisters helped me so much with my little on that had anxiety. I just got a flyer that they are doing a webinar on this. You may want to check it out.Part of their community work. It's free. https://handsonapproaches.com/.....iety/

amother

Black ↓

Mon, Oct 14 2024, 10:00 pm

amother OP wrote:

He gets anxious about school (diagnosed ADHD and dealing with a lot at school).

That sounds anxiety provoking! How are you supporting him through this?

Does he get anxious about other things too? Or mainly this?

amother

↑ Acacia

Mon, Oct 14 2024, 10:03 pm

amother OP wrote:

So you only know if that is the issue by treating it? What dr would do that?
Also this is not something new in particular.

It doesn't have to be new.

The fact that he has adhd points in this directions as well. Adhd symptoms can be caused by pandas/pans/brain inflammation.

There are tests a dr can run to give them a clue if this is indeed what's happening in his body but there isn't really any way to know for sure. A pandas specialist will diagnose and treat based on their symptoms and medical history.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Mon, Oct 14 2024, 10:15 pm

amother Black wrote:

That sounds anxiety provoking! How are you supporting him through this?

Does he get anxious about other things too? Or mainly this?

I am trying to ask here how I can support him Smile

We are very much in connection with his school and teachers.
He is on ADHD meds and we are looking into therapy for him. We also are in collaboration with his pediatrician about all of this.
He is so down on himself so we try to help his notice the positive. We try to talk him through what he is upset or anxious about.

amother

Oatmeal

Mon, Oct 14 2024, 10:24 pm

Had this.
Ds is now 8
On the right track at this point
100% related to inflammation in our case
But the prob is that stress causes inflammation and information causes stress so you're in a catch 22
we did a strong broad Spectrum antibiotic, on a little dose for a while. Made a huge difference
Now giving anitinflamatory vitamins etc
Also did a workbook on fear and anxiety that helped tremendously

Now I see that anytime anything is out of routine or unexpected or scary to him there's a bit of a relapse but we bound right back bh

amother

↑ Black

Mon, Oct 14 2024, 10:25 pm

amother OP wrote:

I am trying to ask here how I can support him Smile

You sound like such wonderfully supportive parents. He is lucky to have you. It must be difficult for all of you.
So you are saying that your son is struggling in school, due to adhd and he gets worried and down on himself, and you are looking for ideas how to support him?

I think it makes sense to worry when going through such a challenge, and that you are on thr right track in helping him navigate it. If you are interested there are books and courses on parenting kids with adhd & teaching executive function skills. Having tools (which therapy should help with too), can help him feel more confident and less anxious.

I'll add, that some kids can be more anxiety prone and there would be other drivers, but I don't get the sense that that is your issue. It sounds more like he is in a difficult situation and learning how to navigate it.

amother

↑ OP

Mon, Oct 14 2024, 10:31 pm

amother Black wrote:

Thank you. We are trying really hard to help him succeed. I would appreciate any books or courses (online) you have to recommend. It is just so hard to watch him go through this and I'd like advice or help from anyone who has gone through this.