Is your child or teen struggling with anxiety? Are you looking for practical, easy-to-implement advice to help them navigate through their fears and worries? Welcome to The Child Anxiety FAQ Podcast, the essential weekly podcast for parents seeking expert guidance on managing anxiety in their children. Each week, Dawn Friedman MSEd -- a seasoned professional with over three decades of experience—answers listener questions about child and teen anxiety. Whether it's understanding the root caus ...
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Why did my anxious child's good work in therapy wear off?
11:57
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11:57In this episode of the Child Anxiety FAQ Podcast, Dawn Friedman addresses a listener's question about why a child's progress in therapy can seem to wear off over time. Dawn explains that anxiety in children is often reinforced by family patterns, termed 'Parenting Pitfalls', which unknowingly support avoidance behaviors. She discusses the importanc…
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How can I encourage my child to become more independent in managing their anxiety?
10:21
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10:21In this episode of the Child Anxiety FAQ podcast, Dawn Friedman addresses how to encourage children to become more independent in managing their anxiety. Dawn emphasizes the importance of self-education on child anxiety, modeling coping strategies, practicing these strategies with your child, and consistently offering encouragement. She also discus…
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What do I wish I'd done differently as the parent of an anxious child?
19:47
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19:47In this episode, I get personal and share lessons and reflections from my own parenting experiences—specifically, what I wish I’d done differently with my anxious child. Parenting is a wild ride; full of challenges, growth, and yes, some regrets, too. But don’t worry! We don't dwell there. Instead, we use these reflections as stepping stones toward…
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What do I do if I've pushed my anxious child too far?
11:04
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11:04Welcome to the Child Anxiety FAQ Podcast with Dawn Friedman, where listeners' questions about child and teen anxiety are answered by a seasoned child anxiety expert. In this episode, Dawn discusses what to do if you've pushed your anxious child too far, illustrated through a common scenario featuring 'Joan,' a 10-year-old with school refusal. Dawn …
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Is my anxious child coping or overwhelmed?
11:53
11:53
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11:53Welcome to "The Child Anxiety FAQ" podcast, where we dive deep into the everyday challenges and questions that parents face when dealing with child and teen anxiety. I'm Dawn Friedman, and with over 30 years of experience working with kids and families, I'm here to offer practical advice and support. In each episode, I aim to tackle the questions y…
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How do I deal with my child's hurt feelings when I push them to face their anxiety?
16:36
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16:36This is an issue that's present for many of the families with whom I've worked so I thought I'd bring it here to the podcast and talk about the underlying concerns for parents when they bring this up. Our empathy and concern can make anxiety intervention difficult and we have to address it as we move forward. Mentioned in this episode: Sign up for …
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Why shouldn't I ask my anxious child why they're anxious?
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14:26A better question might be WHEN shouldn't I ask my anxious child why they're anxious but this episode gives us a good start to the topic. Besides, of COURSE you're going to ask your anxious child why they're anxious but lots of us are anxious for no reason except that we have anxious brains. And getting too stuck in the question can keep our famili…
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How do I tell if it's my child's anxiety or mine?
12:15
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12:15In this episode, we explore the dynamics of family functioning patterns and what the research has to say about how to intervene when families are struggling. If you're not sure if child anxiety is an issue for your family, I recommend you take my Parenting PItfalls Quiz. This will help you identify where you're struggling (and where you should star…
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What does healthy coping with child anxiety look like?
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13:01In today's episode I'm talking about what healthy coping really looks like—it’s not always pretty, but understanding this helps us prepare to keep going even when it's hard. Realistic expectations and an understanding that (to quote Jessica Baird), "Crying is coping" makes it so much easier to power through as we support our kids in overcoming thei…
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How do I help my anxious child deal with worries about real life events?
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16:01In this episode we're discussing how to talk about real-life worries, the big worries that maybe are already keeping you up at note, too, like climate crisis, economic uncertainty, or natural disasters. It's hard to be a regular old adult when we're facing these kinds of anxieties let alone being a growing kid or teen who's just trying to get a han…
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How can I determine if my own anxiety is influencing my parenting of my anxious child?
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9:41(Sorry about the audio quality -- I'm having some issues with my editing software!) Welcome to The Child Anxiety FAQ podcast! Today's episode answers the question: "How can I determine if my own anxiety is influencing my parenting of my anxious child?" We'll talk about the ways in which parental anxiety can impact child anxiety, what the research h…
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How do I set limits for my anxious child without feeling guilty?
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11:06In today's episode, we're diving into the topic of setting limits for your anxious child without succumbing to guilt. We talk about the complexities parents face, particularly those who are working to heal their own childhood wounds while supporting their children. We'll address why feelings of guilt are a natural part of parenting and how understa…
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What are some practical steps I can take to encourage my child to tolerate their anxiety?
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11:39In today's episode of The Child Anxiety FAQ, host Dawn Friedman MSEd addresses a crucial question from our listeners: What are some practical steps I can take to encourage my child to tolerate their anxiety? With over 30 years of experience working with children and families, I offer general strategies that can be adapted to different age groups an…
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How do I deal with my anger towards my anxious child?
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12:25Welcome back to another episode of The Child Anxiety FAQ, where your questions about child and teen anxiety are answered. I'm your host, Dawn Friedman, and today we're diving into a challenging but common issue many parents face: dealing with anger towards their anxious children. With over three decades of experience working with families, I'm here…
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How can I support my anxious child while also addressing their behavior?
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12:03In today's episode, we tackle a common but complex question: "How can I support my anxious child while also addressing their inappropriate behavior?" Using a real-life example of a parent dealing with their 10-year-old's morning meltdowns before school, I explore some of the root causes of school refusal, the importance of ensuring a supportive env…
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Should I let my anxious child have a phone?
16:08
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16:08Hey, everyone. Welcome to the Child Anxiety FAQ podcast, where we tackle your pressing questions about child and teen anxiety. I'm Dawn Friedman, your host, with over 30 years of experience working with kids and families. In this week's episode, we'll confront a dilemma many parents face: should you let your anxious child have a phone? This questio…
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What are some practical ways to address the academic pressures and expectations that contribute to my child's anxiety?
12:42
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12:42Welcome back to The Child Anxiety FAQ podcast, where we tackle listener questions about child and teen anxiety. I'm your host, Dawn Friedman, and with over three decades of experience working with kids and families, I aim to bring you practical advice and insights. As the school year kicks off, many parents are concerned about the academic pressure…
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Do already anxious children struggle more with anxiety as they enter adolesence?
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14:50In this episode of The Child Anxiety FAQ podcast, we’re talking about whether already anxious kids struggle more with anxiety as they enter their teenage years. I’ll be sharing my experience working with kids and families for over 30 years and diving into the effects of hormone changes on anxiety. Join me for a casual, informative chat about child …
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How can I create a bedtime routine that helps my anxious child feel more secure and comfortable?
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9:46Welcome back to The Child Anxiety FAQ podcast! In this week's episode, we're diving into the world of bedtime routines for anxious children. I share insight to help parents create a bedtime routine that fosters a sense of security and comfort for their anxious children. From the essential steps of a bedtime routine to addressing potential pushback …
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What are some tangible signs that my child's anxiety is impacting their sleep?
8:23
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8:23In this episode of The Child Anxiety FAQ, we talk about the tangible signs that a child's anxiety is impacting their sleep. Drawing from my extensive experience working with children and families, I explain how to recognize when anxiety is affecting a child's ability to sleep well. I also highlight the importance of addressing sleep issues alongsid…
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How can I prioritize both my child's sleep needs and my own well-being as a parent without feeling guilty or overwhelmed?
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11:11This month, we're focusing on sleep, to coincide with the launch of my 6-week coaching program, Bedtime Navigator. Today's question addresses the challenge of prioritizing your child's sleep needs and your own well-being as a parent without feeling guilty or overwhelmed. We'll explore how guilt and overwhelm affect sleep, why consistency is crucial…
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How do I know if my anxious child is having typical sleep struggles or something more serious?
9:34
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9:34In this episode of The Child Anxiety Back podcast, we dive into the topic of sleep and child anxiety. We address a common concern: how to distinguish between typical sleep struggles and something more serious. I emphasize the importance of recognizing the validity of a child's sleep struggles and discusses the strong link between child anxiety and …
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What are some ways to set limits and consequences for my anxious child's behavior without causing shame or distress? 2
14:17
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14:17In this week's episode of The Child Anxiety FAQ, we continue to explore the delicate balance of setting limits and consequences for anxious children without causing shame or distress. Addressing feedback from previous episodes, I delve into the challenge of protecting both the anxious child and their family members from the natural consequences of …
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What are some ways to set limits for my anxious child's behavior without causing shame or distress?
18:39
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18:39In this episode of The Child Anxiety FAQ, we challenge the notion of avoiding distress and emphasizes the importance of helping children learn to cope with discomfort, a fundamental tool in managing anxiety. We explore the difference between punishment and consequences, emphasizing the effectiveness of logical consequences in guiding children's dec…
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I am super busy, how can I prioritize working on my child's anxiety?
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14:12This week's question is a common one: "I am super busy. How can I prioritize working on my child's anxiety?" In this episode, we'll explore the importance of addressing anxiety, finding the time to do so, and a unique program designed to work with busy parents. So, if you've been wondering how to make anxiety a priority in your family's busy schedu…
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How can I help my anxious child understand their feelings of resentment and blame toward me as a parent?
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12:33In this week's episode we talk about helping anxious children understand their feelings of resentment and blame toward their parents. As children navigate the tumultuous teen years and battle with anxiety, it's natural for them to push back against their parents. We discuss the complexities of this issue, providing understanding and guidance for pa…
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