Greetings!

It's just that time of year.  The demands on us; the demands on our children~it makes us all stressed, doesn't it?? 

We have a great new workshop by Kim Birmingham, LMSW.  It's on Stress Busting!  Kim will give kids tools to conquer their anxiety.  See her great article below on the signs and triggers for anxiety in children.  How timely is that??

Leah Ethier, MA, LPC is also starting up an EDGE group for Young Women!  It is for 18-25 year old women who are so busy working on getting their adult life started!  Talk about stress!  If you know someone who would benefit, tell them to call now! 

Our highly qualified Clinical Team members on our Speakers Bureau continue to speak about topics such as mood disorders, self injury, self-esteem, marriage and addictions issues to groups in your community.  Please call us @ 248-244-8644 to schedule a speaker for your event, staff meeting or in-service. 

If you're not on our mailing list, what are you waiting for?  Our Fall Child & Adolescent newsletters recently arrived.  If you missed them, they are posted on our website for your convenience.   Note:  We do not send out unsolicited emails or physical mailings.  We do not share any information that you provide to us.  

Remember, You Need Not Walk Alone.  

 Perspectives Counseling Centers

Anxiety in Children  by Kim Birmingham, LMSW   

  When the demands of a new school year kick in, it is very common for parents to notice an increase of anxiety in their children.  According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders affect one in eight children in the United States. Untreated anxiety is a huge problem in this country.  It can lead to poor school performance, social avoidance, and substance abuse problems. 

Some anxiety is a normal part of childhood and adolescence.  In fact, a certain amount of anxiety is healthy, because it helps to motivate kids to accomplish things.  For example, it is very common for a child to experience a surge in anxiety right before they are about to hit a significant developmental milestone, such as walking, potty-training, entering a new school, learning to drive, or leaving for college.  For a child with an anxiety disorder, fear can be a catastrophic experience. 

How do you know if your child's s anxiety is problematic enough to warrant a professional evaluation?  A recent study put out by the University of Columbia identified two simple questions that were 85% effective in identifying kids who met the criteria for anxiety disorders:

1. Is your child more anxious or shy than other children his/her age?
2. Is your child more worried than other children his/her age? 

According to the study, if you can answer 'yes' to either of the above questions there is a high degree of predictability that your child will develop an anxiety disorder.  Some other signs of anxiety outside of the normal range may be avoidance of fun social activities (i.e. refusal to go to a sleepover or birthday party without a parent), persistent stomachaches and headaches, irritability, crying at bedtime, refusal to go to sleep and an inability to sleep through the night in a separate room. 

If you suspect that your child is struggling with an anxiety problem, the following steps may be helpful:

1. Deal with your own anxiety first. Anxiety disorders tend to run in families. You cannot be helpful to your child if you are struggling with your own issues.
2. Take your child for a thorough physical exam to rule out that the symptoms are not related to a medical problem.
3. Understand what triggers your child's fear.
4. Help your child to externalize their fear by actively listening to them without judging them or talking them out of their fear.  Anxiety lessens when it is no longer a secret.
5. Never let your child's anxiety be an excuse for bad behavior or for withdrawing.  Help your child to learn how to face their fears in a gradual and manageable way.
6. Help your child to recognize and challenge the "what if" questions that fuel their fears.
7. Provide your child with a safe, structured, predictable environment that is free of yelling and physical violence.
8. Communicate with your child's teacher so that they can provide the same consistent, predictable environment in the child's school environment.
9. Give your child the gift of faith.  People with a strong faith base tend to  have less anxiety. 
10. Seek professional help from a licensed mental health professional.

On Saturday, November 17th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Perspectives Counseling Centers is offering a one-day seminar for kids age 8-12 years.  We can teach them important skills to help them to cope with their anxiety.  

If you or a child that you know could use some help coping with thier anxiety, please call us to make an appointment or sign up to attend

Kim Birmingham's workshop at

248-244-8644

 Perspectives Counseling Centers