Psychologist urges children to talk openly about anxiety

Children should be encouraged to talk openly about anxiety, Minna Kruus, a psychologist at Peaasi.ee, told Vikerraadio’s Huvitaja programme, ERR reported. She said parents could share their own experiences to show that anxiety is a common human experience and does not make a child weak or inferior.

“A little anxiety before school is natural,” Kruus said, noting that the end of the holiday period can also make adults feel more anxious. Parents could explain what helps them cope and think together with their children about what might help them, she said.

Kruus said children themselves turn to the Child Helpline more often in autumn with anxiety-related concerns. Today’s children are so well informed that they sometimes seek help before their parents do, she said.

While a certain amount of anxiety is normal, excessive anxiety can cause younger children to complain of headaches or stomach aches. Avoiding a particular lesson or refusing to go to school, for example because of poor relationships there, is also a significant sign of anxiety, Kruus said. Avoidance only makes anxiety stronger and is one of the worst responses to it.

Parents should listen to their children and never minimise their concerns, she said. A seemingly small remark, difficult relationship or conflict with a teacher can feel very serious in a child’s world.

Kruus also stressed the importance of family support. Families cannot create lives in which children never experience anxiety or other negative emotions, but they can give them the confidence that they can cope with difficulties and are not alone. Peaasi.ee offers counselling for children together with their parents, as well as separate conversations for parents about their children.