In this episode of the Child Anxiety FAQ Podcast, Dawn Friedman addresses a listener's question about whether to step in and help a child calm down or focus on teaching distress tolerance. Dawn explains how child anxiety leads to avoidance, not just of feared objects or situations, but also of the discomforting feelings themselves. She discusses strategies to help children tolerate these feelings, providing real-world examples. Additionally, Dawn examines how a parent's own anxiety can fuel their child's anxiety and shares various methods families can use to manage these challenging situations. The episode emphasizes the importance of understanding and managing feelings rather than immediately striving for calm.

00:00 Introduction to Child Anxiety FAQ Podcast

00:43 Understanding Child Anxiety and Avoidance

01:39 Practical Example: Dealing with Fear of Spiders

03:18 Teaching Distress Tolerance

06:05 Parental Anxiety and Its Impact

08:09 Strategies for Managing Meltdowns

10:46 Creating an Exposure Plan

11:31 Conclusion and How to Submit Questions

Mentioned in this episode:

🌟 READY TO FIND YOUR ROOM TO BREATHE?

Parenting has never been more challenging especially for empathetic parents of sensitive kids. TELL ME IT WILL BE OK: The Practice is a weekly, guided practice that gives quiet, calm, reflective space for you to connect with your wisdom and intuition. For July, we're writing about and exploring the topic of ANGER -- ours, our own, and what we are trying to understand about it. 🧡 This is not a list of things you’re doing wrong. 🧡 This is not advice. 🧡 This is a place to remember what you already know. Learn more and get a free session by going to OpenBookParenting.com