Raising children and being worried about their well-being can bring up a whole lot of anxiety. Imagine being a parent already with anxiety and making a number of mistakes as a result of it. By learning how to manage your anxiety, you can teach your child how to be confident and resilient compared to letting your anxiety get the best of you and your children.
Overprotecting Your Child
It is one thing to worry about how your child is doing or try to protect them. It is another if your anxiety is always trying to stop your child from making a mistake or experiencing fear. This can lead to your child becoming a perfectionist, which is unhealthy as we all need to learn from our mistakes.
While you have a right to be concerned for your child’s safety, you also need to let go of the reins to help your children grow into their independence. It is important to let go of your concerns to avoid your children becoming fearful of the world and allow them to make their own mistakes.
Too Much Reassurance
When something bad happens to your children, it is always important to comfort and reassure them. On the other hand, too much reassurance can contribute to your child’s anxiety. It is easy for a parent with anxiety to pass off their anxiety onto their child without meaning to. But, constant reassurance can bring up more worries for their child when they are trying to find peace. Move on from comforting your child and let them come to you if they still need to talk.
Not Helping Your Child Socialize
If you are suffering from social anxiety, your child is not going to want to socialize if you bring your fears into their world. Instead of invoking your social fears onto your child, take a brave step in helping your kids socialize. The coping mechanisms you use on yourself to better treat your anxiety are what you can use on your kids. If you are struggling with anxiety and it is negatively affecting your parenting skills, it is important to see a therapist to better manage your symptoms. By getting help for your anxiety when you need it, you will set a good example for your kids.
Anxiety can be contagious as a parent if you pass on your anxious worries to your children. Subconsciously teaching your kids to be fearful through your anxiety will give them a perfectionist personality. Treatment can teach you about how not to let anxiety interfere with your parenting. At Alta Loma, we understand how anxiety can affect parenting, and we are here to help you. Our transformative treatment center in Georgetown, Texas, can provide you with individualized therapy, life and coping skills education, family therapy, and a long-term continuum of care. Please give us a call at (866) 457-3843 to learn more.
