Ängstliche Kinder unterstützen

Fears are a part of a child's development and can arise during transitional phases, after emotional upheavals, or crises. However, in some children, these states of anxiety persist longer or even become permanent companions. Unlike anxiety disorders in adults, fears in children not only affect them but also heavily involve the parents with their reactions and coping mechanisms. From a systemic perspective, parents represent the key figure who can either unintentionally contribute to the intensification and persistence of fears or help the child navigate developmental crises and overcome disturbances. Therefore, it is challenging to understand and treat a child's fears without also comprehending and changing the parental reactions. With the central image of the anchoring function, the authors advocate that, alongside protection and security through parental presence, supportive encouragement is essential. This way, the child can gather their strengths and learn to cope with the problem independently.