THE POWER OF FACING FEAR

THE POWER OF FACING FEAR

"Come on, stop being afraid," "I am really tired of how scared you are to switch off the light," or "Stop being such a cry baby." We often use these words with our children, sometimes in right situations, but many times just because we feel they should do whatever we want them to do, however much it may scare them. Our children grow up with anxieties and fears, and then grow out of them. It is when these anxieties and fears persist, that problems can arise in our children. As much as we parents hope our little ones will grow out of it, sometimes the opposite occurs, and the cause of the anxiety looms larger and becomes more prevalent. The anxiety becomes a phobia, or a fear that's extreme, severe, and persistent.

A phobia can be very difficult to tolerate, both for kids and those around them, especially if the anxiety-producing stimulus (whatever is causing the anxiety) is hard to avoid (e.g., thunderstorms).

Many children experience age-appropriate fears, such as being afraid of the dark. Most kids, with some reassurance, and perhaps a night-light, will overcome or outgrow it. However, if they continue to have trouble, or there's anxiety about other things, the intervention may have to be more intensive.

We can help our children develop the skills and confidence to overcome fears so that they don't evolve into phobic reactions. Here are some steps that may us in helping our children deal with their fears and anxieties:

The key to resolving fears and anxieties is to overcome them. Using these suggestions, we can help our children better cope with life's situations.

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