MANIFESTATION OF ANXIETY IN CHILDREN:
In children, certain situations like time at the play ground, before going to sleep, starting school, going in the dark etc usually bring out the anxiety. Young children experience very strong feelings when separated from parents. These fears are normal reactions, but manifest into anxiety when they become frequent, bigger and stronger than the situation normally warrants. Children develop fear of strangers, ghosts, insects. As they grow into teenage, they might become shy and reserved. Identifying and differentiating between normal fears and anxiety as an ailment is essential and requires skill, understanding and patience on part of the parent.

SYMPTOMS OF CHILDHOOD ANXIETY:
Symptoms can widely vary as different children react in highly different ways to deal with or express their emotions and anxiety. Apart from the normal symptoms like forceful or faster heart beat, feeling of tightness, sighs, quick and shallow breathing, headaches, muscular tension and pain, excessive sweating, blushing, or a constant need to urinate or defecate, insomnia and restless sleep etc, children might also cry, become extremely restless and worked up, experience panic attacks and sometimes tantrums.

IDENTIFYING ANXIETY:
As children find it hard to explain or talk about anxiety, it is our responsibility as parents to be aware of any changes in the child’s habits and the way he or she deals with feelings. Any changes of concern lasting more than 3 or 4 weeks have to be closely monitored as normal fears or normal anxiety do pass very quickly. If a child withdraws too much, a bright child starts falling back in school, if a child experiences unusual sleep patterns or high stress levels etc, this might need professional help.
Not every fear or worry of the child is an anxiety disorder. It is important that parents do not panic and treat every reaction or worry of the child as an anxiety disorder. This could indeed be most harmful for the child’s development. Also it leads to the child unnecessarily believing that something is wrong with them. The 3 points to look for are:
1.) The fear or anxiety does not go away.
2.) The worry / fear gets worse with time.
3.) It shows in other parts of their life.

HOMEOPATHIC APPROACH:
Subjecting the child to psychological counselling and various medication for stress and anxiety in itself may be very tasking on the young mind of the child. Homeopathic remedies have proven to be non invasive, extremely gentle yet powerful medication with a proven track record in treating various childhood ailments including Anxiety. The Homeopathic remedy takes every aspect of the child (physical, mental and emotional state) into consideration to address the anxiety disorder. The child will also ingest the medicine with enthusiasm due to their sweet taste.
Parents, friends and family play a vital role in identifying the disorder and in providing continuos and honest support to the child.
• Maintain good communication
• Spend time talking with your child about their day
• Don’t trivialise a child’s fears or concerns
• Be emotionally supportive
• Nurture a sense of trust between yourself and your child
• Guide, rather than control
• Assist the child to develop their own problem-solving skills
• Express pleasure in their efforts, not just their successes
• Teach by your own example
A nutrient-rich, wholesome diet, with limited sugar intake, will also greatly improve mental state, as will regular outdoor play and a supportive home environment. A healthy family interaction and a peaceful home with lots of love and understanding coupled with gentle Homeopathic remedies will prove effective in treating childhood anxiety.

You may ask your personal query to Raj Kothuru (Homeopath) via email drraj@aurahealth.com.au or by phone 0425 761 826 / (03) 9077 5044 regarding your health problems. You will be offered authentic information and an opinion as to what best can be done pertaining to your ailment.