Do thunderstorms with lightning and strong winds freak your child out?
Some anxiety in the face of violent weather is normal. But some children develop storm phobias that interfere with their everyday lives, said Stephen Whiteside, a psychologist and anxiety prevention expert.
Worries about weather can make it hard for kids to concentrate in school, Whiteside said. Some will routinely check weather forecasts or become afraid to leave the house.
It's essential that parents not tell their anxious children they are being silly or otherwise dismiss their fears, he said.
"The important thing for parents is to remember to be warm and supportive of your child," Whiteside said. "If you get anxious or frustrated or upset, that's just going to make things worse. Try to stay calm and help your child gradually face their fears in a step-by-step fashion."
Mental health experts typically advise parents to shield their children from media coverage of natural disasters and to be available to those who need reassurance or comfort.
When talking to children about their weather-related worries, Whiteside recommends the following:
- Be calm and supportive. Tell children that things like thunder won't hurt them. Explain that storms are a normal part of nature.
- Talk about storms matter-of-factly. Some kids may seem afraid of storms, but are really interested in learning more about them.
- The same type of exposure-based behavioral therapy used to treat many worries and phobias works well with weather-related phobias. It boils down to helping children face their fears by gradually helping them learn they can handle a fear — and other uncertainties of life — on their own.
- If the anxiety doesn't diminish, or begins to create greater stress for the child or the parent, get the assistance of a mental health professional.
About 8 percent of teens ages 13 to 18 have an anxiety disorder, with symptoms commonly emerging around age 6.
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