What kinds of changes might you see in children when they become anxious?

This article is about What kinds of changes you might see in children when they become anxious. In such uncertain circumstances, it is natural for caregivers to have unusual feelings or reactions. Those feelings or reactions are an important resource that can help you realize your fatigue.

Please don’t worry even if you cannot do everything which is written here. First of all, please take care of yourself and that is very important. actually taking care of yourself is the most important thing.

****

Children may display various behaviors; not simply expressing their feelings through words:

・Increased bedwetting, frequent urination, etc.
・Eating less / Having difficulty falling asleep / Waking up in the middle of the night
・Having physical symptoms like abdominal pain
・Acting needy; Being afraid of being alone
・Less communicative; Hesitates to say something during conversation・Being more fussy than usual; Obsessive thoughts or behaviors
・Being antsy more than usual; being nervous or irritated 
・Having sibling squabbles more often・Unable to focus on studying

These are examples of how children might display behaviors that reveal underlying thoughts or feelings. 

So, please monitor children carefully and observe whether there are any significant changes. The younger they are, the more likely they are to display changes through non-verbal expression. Some children may try to be patient by hiding their anxiety, sadness, or fear. Even though they may look normal, it does not mean that they don’t have anxiety.

Children also express what they have inside through playing. If they try to express themselves by acting out scenarios related to this infectious disease, please don’t stop them. Just monitor what they do. If there is some possibility that their scenario would end tragically, help them to create a better ending.

As it is not an easy time for parents either, it might be hard for them to take care of their children only by themselves. So, please pay attention to the children around you. (Various people have created safe spaces for children in their communities. I’ll introduce those activities to you in the near future.

First of all ,please take care of yourself and remember you are an important person.

▶︎The original article（written in Japanese）

translator: Miwako Dias

このページは、「クリエイティブ・コモンズ 表示 - 非営利 - 改変禁止 4.0 国際 ライセンス」のもとで公開しています。クレジットと元URLを出典として記載していただければ自由にコピーしていただいて構いません。ただ、営利目的での利用や、内容を改変しての利用はご遠慮ください。上記の範囲の利用であれば事前の許諾は必要ありませんが、もし活用していただいた場合はご連絡をいただけると嬉しいです（必須ではありません）。ライセンスの範囲を超える利用についてもご相談に応じますのでお気軽にご相談ください。

This page is published under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License. You are free to share :copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format.
You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.You may not use the material for commercial purposes. If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you may not distribute the modified material.