Effective Parenting Skills for Anxious Parents

Apr. 11

It’s hard to believe that we are already in the month of August, and as summer comes to an end and parents prepare their children to return to school, this can be an especially triggering time for anxious parents. Young children may be going to school for the first time (“Oh Lord!”), and many adolescents and young adults are reaching milestones such as entering middle school, high school, and college (Double, “Oh Lord!”). As a parent, there are many fears and anxieties that exist when caring for your child/children, and this is normal and often an expression of love. The purpose of this blog post is to shed light on the effects that disordered anxiety can have on the development of your child and effective ways to manage anxiety in more adaptive ways to help anxious parents feel more enjoyment and fulfillment in their relationships with their children as well as approach parenting in a more positive way.

What Is Anxiety?

According to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America (2022), anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting about 40 million adults aged 18 and older. Anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), specific phobias, social anxiety disorder, panic attacks, and agoraphobia. The features that these disorders share are excessive fear and worry that is persistent (lasting 6 months or more). Anxiety differs from fear in that anxiety is future-oriented and marked by anticipatory thoughts of future threats, whereas fear is a normal response to real or perceived imminent danger or threat (APA, 2022). Therefore, individuals with anxiety tend to play several “what if” scenarios in their minds. An individual with anxiety will be more likely to engage in avoidance behaviors (i.e., driving thousands of miles instead of flying).

Risk Factors

While an individual can develop anxiety at any time, there are key risk factors that exist when determining whether an individual is more prone to anxious behaviors:

Personal or family history of anxiety or mental illness.
Shyness in childhood.
Stressful and negative life events.
Physical or medical conditions that can aggravate anxiety symptoms.
Alcohol consumption, drug use.
Financial concerns.

How This Affects Your Child

Studies show that children of parents with anxiety are at a higher risk of developing mental health disorders such as major depressive disorder, separation anxiety disorder, ADHD, and conduct disorder (McCabe, Zerr, Cook, Ringlee, & Yeh, 2022).

In addition, parents may verbalize and speak to their children about their feelings of worry and stress which can lead to their child developing phobias, feeling worried about the future, or avoidance in trying new things. Children can also develop somatic symptoms such as gastrointestinal distress, heart palpitations, or shaking (Rowden, 2022).

Helpful Tips

Below are helpful tips that you can begin implementing now to reduce symptoms of anxiety and deepen your relationship with your child:

Be Open – Accept that you are fearful.
Be Kind – Self-care is the most compassionate thing you can do for yourself.
Be Mindful – Reduce screen time and limit watching the news.
Be Calm – Practice self-regulation.
Be Active – Exercising regularly has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety.
Be Human – It’s OK to make mistakes.

Final Thoughts

If you are a parent suffering from anxiety, it is recommended that you seek support from a mental health professional to provide you with evidence-based strategies and coping skills to live a more fulfilled and balanced life. I pray you found this post helpful, and if you know someone who would benefit from this information, please share it with them. If you'd like to learn more about mental health topics, contact me at connect@humanfreely.com.

Insight Corner

1. How would your life be different without anxiety?

2. How would your parenting style be different without anxiety?

***Call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or dial 911 if you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency.

References

ADAA. (2022). Anxiety disorders - Facts & statistics. Retrieved from https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/facts-statistics.

American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental health disorders (DSM-5 TR) (5th ed., Text-Revision). American Psychiatric Publication, Inc.

Frost, A. (2020). Are you an anxious parent? Here are 8 proven strategies to ease the worry. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/parenting/parental-anxiety.

McCabe, K. M., Zerr, A., Cook, M., Ringlee, L., & Yeh, M. (2022). The Relation between parent mental health and child internalizing symptoms in Parent–Child Interaction Therapy. Journal of Child & Family Studies, 31(8), 2065–2076. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-022-02254-9.

Rowden, A. (2022). What causes parental anxiety and what effects does it have? Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/parental-anxiety.

About the Author

Erica Krider, MA, is a dedicated mental health professional and the Founder & CEO of Human Freely® LLC. With a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from South University, West Palm Beach, FL, Erica is on her way to becoming a fully licensed counselor in Florida. She is also a Board Member for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (www.afsp.org). Passionate about faith, family, and fostering resilience, she empowers communities with hope and healing. Erica also hosts the popular podcast, Mental Health Insight with Erica Krider, where she shares valuable mental health resources and insights. Explore more about her work and find helpful resources at www.humanfreely.com.

Erica Krider