How to support a young and teenage child in dealing with emotional pain caused by anxiety, sadness and anger?
Remember that children read parents’ reactions well, even when parents don’t say anything. Children sense that something has changed, something is wrong. Therefore, at first, it is very important for a parent to take care of themselves, learn to recognize their emotions and work through them. If you want to be a support for your sick child, you need first and foremost to take care of yourself, which means learning to lower your stress levels so that you can be a support for your child, not another source of anxiety. When a child senses tension or emotional pain in a parent, they may choose to suffer alone, as they want to protect the parent from their difficult emotions, rather than add to the parent’s worries. A child will go through a treatment process much better if the parent, to the best of their ability, takes care of themselves in this difficult situation.
Breathing exercises
Conscious breathing effectively reduces tension in the body. Sit comfortably, inhale, hold it for a moment, and then exhale, saying to yourself in your head: relax. Breathing like this several times, regularly, you will see your mind quieting and your body becoming less tense. This way of lowering tension will also help your child a lot.
Instructions for a child
Now let’s play with a balloon. We will be balloons. Our belly is a balloon. Slowly take a deep breath and fill the balloon with air, hold the air in the balloon while counting to five, and then let it out. While breathing, say the word „relax” in your head.
Repeat this game a few times and you will feel tension in your body decrease and you will feel more calm.
