It helps to start by acknowledging your fears and learning the real risks and facts. Tips for managing parental anxiety Accept that you’re fearful, and learn the real risks and facts The irony here, of course, is that this may only make anxious parents more anxious, causing a cycle of worry.įinding relief from anxiety can help ease these effects. Scientists say anxiety disorders do have a hereditary component, meaning that if you have anxiety, it’s possible that your child is already genetically predisposed to have it as well. Whether it’s inherited literally (through genetics) or learned throughout childhood, there’s no doubt children pick it up. It’s important to remember that our kids inherit more than just our physical characteristics - they can also inherit our anxiety.
It suggests that the emotional effects of anxious parenting impact both the child and the parent-child relationship for life, and can even lead to depression and anxiety symptoms in the children.īut researchers also acknowledge that these anxious parenting characteristics tend to counterbalance negative ones. One study demonstrates the two-sided nature of anxious parenting. Scientists are torn in this regard, as anxious parents do tend to provide very safe and loving homes to children. One of the most difficult effects for anxious parents to consider is whether their own anxiety is rubbing off on their children. These are valid concerns (with sometimes contradictory answers), but if they’re consuming your time, you may be dealing with parental anxiety. with your phone under the covers, googling the best glass bottles so your child doesn’t get cancer?Īre you spending weeks agonizing over which water bottle they should have for their lunch box, or whether the growing pains in their legs are a sign of something more serious?
(That being said, no one wants to see their child unhappy.) You may spend an excessive amount of time researching parenting questionsĪre you awake at 2 a.m. If your child’s minor argument with their BFF consumes your own thoughts and worries, you may be in an unhealthy place mentally and emotionally.
You may not have your own life outside your kids’ problems When you start thinking of tragic events - school shootings and pool drownings and the like - as probabilities, you may have parental anxiety. You may quickly move unlikely situations from a possibility to a probability If you find yourself having conversations about your fears within earshot of your kids, you may underestimate how much they can hear you and internalize their own anxiety. But when it becomes a constant, it can be a sign of anxiety. We all want to protect our children, and fear is normal. And avoidance behaviors involve specifically removing yourself or your child from situations that you find fearful.įor example, you may refuse to let your child ride the bus out of fear of bullying - even if bullying isn’t a known issue on your area’s school bus. If you find that you’re trying to prevent anything negative from happening to your child at every turn, you may be trying to “shield” them from harm. Parents going through this may experience the following: You may demonstrate shielding and avoidance behaviors
These are all valid fears that can overtake you when you’re having parental anxiety. Or the teacher not appreciating their fun quirks or personality. Or other kids picking on them on the bus. Maybe you’re imagining them needing you or not being able to get the help they need. Picture this: It’s the first day of school, and you’re having worse separation anxiety than your kid.
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