Anxiety estimated to affect 13% of the children in the US. It also has been found to be prevalent in children as young as 3 years old. As healthcare providers and in a setting where children spend the majority of their time, it is important to know how to help. Anxiety presents itself in an array of ways, that school nurses are very famiiar with, headaches, stomachaches, nausea and the list goes on.
One approach that Dr. Clabby spoke about involved 'motivational interviewing' and he asked the school nurses present to BATHE with their students and families! That's right! When having discussions, you want to stimulate the students and/or family members to provide insight about their emotions, feelings and concerns. Here are the leading approaches to guide the conversations.
Dr. Clabby also discussed that the top two treatments for anxiety are: easy breathing and exposure to the feared experience. By providing students with autogenic training techniques (muscular relaxation, peripheral warming, appreciating what one has, mindful breathing and avoiding overthinking) will aid in the school success and more importantly life success.
One approach that Dr. Clabby spoke about involved 'motivational interviewing' and he asked the school nurses present to BATHE with their students and families! That's right! When having discussions, you want to stimulate the students and/or family members to provide insight about their emotions, feelings and concerns. Here are the leading approaches to guide the conversations.
- Background – Tell me one thing that is going on in your life
- Affect – How do you feel about that?
- Trouble – What troubles you the most about that?
- Handling – How are you handling that?
- Empathy - ________must be very difficult?
Dr. Clabby also discussed that the top two treatments for anxiety are: easy breathing and exposure to the feared experience. By providing students with autogenic training techniques (muscular relaxation, peripheral warming, appreciating what one has, mindful breathing and avoiding overthinking) will aid in the school success and more importantly life success.