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:

TELL ME IT WILL BE OK: The Practice

I invite you to check out TELL ME IT WILL BE OK: The Practice, a guided reflective journaling podcast for parents raising anxious kids in a worried world. This is not a list of things you’re doing wrong. This is not a bunch of one size fits all parenting advice. This is a place to remember what you already know. (And to learn some new stuff along the way.) Each session is approximately 30 minutes. I help us get grounded; share resources, inspiration, and information; and then using thoughtful prompts we journal together to move you forward in your understanding. It also includes access to our own private community. You can sign up for a free sample practice at my site: OpenBookParenting.com