Should I step in to calm down my anxious child?
Description
In this episode of the Child Anxiety FAQ Podcast, Dawn Friedman addresses a listener's question about whether to step in and help a child calm down or focus on teaching distress tolerance. Dawn explains how child anxiety leads to avoidance, not just of feared objects or situations, but also of the discomforting feelings themselves. She discusses strategies to help children tolerate these feelings, providing real-world examples. Additionally, Dawn examines how a parent's own anxiety can fuel their child's anxiety and shares various methods families can use to manage these challenging situations. The episode emphasizes the importance of understanding and managing feelings rather than immediately striving for calm.
00:00 Introduction to Child Anxiety FAQ Podcast
00:43 Understanding Child Anxiety and Avoidance
01:39 Practical Example: Dealing with Fear of Spiders
03:18 Teaching Distress Tolerance
06:05 Parental Anxiety and Its Impact
08:09 Strategies for Managing Meltdowns
10:46 Creating an Exposure Plan
11:31 Conclusion and How to Submit Questions
United States
