Therapeutic tools to help you soothe your child’s anxiety

It can be tough to know how to best soothe a child who is experiencing anxiety, so we’ve put together a list of therapeutic tools that you can try at home. Remember that you don’t have to navigate anxiety alone. Reach out to the team at Bend anytime you could use some extra support. 

What is anxiety? 

Experiencing worry or anxiety is completely natural and can help warn children of dangers and motivate them to complete tasks. This feeling can also boost resilience when children are able to face fears and problem solve on their own. But anxiety can become overwhelming and start to affect how a child feels and acts in their daily lives. 

Every child is different, but some signs of anxiety may include: 

• Changes in sleep or eating patterns
• Changes in mood 
• Being socially isolated or withdrawn 
• Not wanting to go to school or changes in grades 
• Physical complaints (such as stomachaches or headaches) 
• Difficulty concentrating or sitting still

Tools to help your anxious child cope

• Try a therapeutic intervention, like Turbobo. Our clinical team is over the moon for the Turbobo dog - a therapeutic stuffed animal designed to reduce the physiological symptoms of general stress and anxiety for children and teens. Turbobo can help children when they’re feeling overwhelmed, can address sensory challenges, and can support focus. Turbobo has a weighted body, aromatherapy oils, a cooling and heating feature, as well as a fidget tail. Many members have even found it helpful to incorporate the Turbobo dog into sessions with their Bend therapist or coach! It can be when feeling overwhelmed, sensory issues, as well as fidgeting due to ADHD.

• Create a Calming Corner. Find a quiet space within your home where your child can go anytime they feel anxious or overwhelmed and need help regulating their emotions. It doesn’t need to be complicated, and you don’t need to buy anything. It can include things like pillows, books, blankets, a journal, headphones, or twinkle lights.
  
  
• Tap into relaxation practices. Breathing exercises can calm both the body and mind when your child starts to feel panicked. You can use a guided breathing exercise online or teach “box breathing.”  It looks like this:
  
  

Breathe out slowly and release all of the air in your lungs. 

Breathe in through your nose, slowly counting to four.  

Hold your breath for a count of four.

Exhale for a count of four.

Hold your breath again for a count of four.

Repeat for three to four rounds.

Figuring out how to best cope with anxiety can be overwhelming for families, but rest assured that help is available to you. Get in touch with the team at Bend if you could use support in navigating small worries, big anxieties, and everything in between.