There are many words that usually come to mind when we hear the word “anxiety”: anxiety, irritability, discomfort, distress, etc. Much less often will stress be associated with a positive feeling or reaction. But is it as dangerous as many tend to believe?

Childhood stress

Anxiety, according to Babiniotis, is defined as “an emotional state, either transient and low-intensity (so you feel normal) or persistent and high-intensity (so you feel pathological), which results in the feeling of danger or an unpleasant situation in general and has particular manifestations in body and behavior (eg changes in autonomic nervous system, nervousness, etc.) “.

Most often, severe anxiety is accompanied by (a) physical symptoms (eg tachycardia, headaches, excessive sweating, difficulty in breathing, etc.), (b) emotional reactions (eg, fear, frustration, reduced self-esteem and self-esteem etc.) and (c) behavioral reactions (eg concentration difficulty, negative thoughts, comparisons with others, etc.). It is considered abnormal when it is excessive and has a negative impact on one’s functionality.

Presentation on 5 February 2020

During a presentation on February 5, 2020, at Spacekids by Oriental playground, we discussed, among other things, ways to manage both child and parent stress in cases where they do not know how to help their children.

Some of these ways were:

• Avoiding phrases like “don’t worry”, “it’s all in your mind” etc. Instead, parents have been suggested to listen actively to what their children are saying, to empathize, to understand and to notice their reactions.
• Describing the personal experiences of parents where they may have felt something like their child. This way the child will feel that he is not the only one going through these difficulties.
• Creating a “reaction / relaxation box” in which he can find some ways to help himself relax.
• The choice of relaxing music, the writing of a diary.
• Understanding the concerns of parents themselves that may affect their child, etc.

Finally, it was reported that in cases where children’s anxiety becomes excessive and interferes with their daily lives, then it would be advisable to consult a professional (eg psychologist, school counselor, etc.) who can help by providing specialized advice.

Papageorgiou Anthoula
Registered Educational Psychologist (Register No. 460)