Jasmine and I first met when she was 7 years old. She was polite but very soft spoken and shy. Her mother was concerned that Jasmine worried too much about “everything.” She explained that Jasmine often complained of stomach aches in the mornings before school, which had led to many missed days of school. Jasmine would often cry and beg her father not to leave the house as she believed he would be killed in a car accident. She had frequent nightmares and often crawled into her parents’ bed at night telling them she was too scared to sleep alone. Jasmine was a good student but if she ever had to be redirected by her teacher, she would begin to shake and cry uncontrollably.
We decided to try therapy weekly for a bit before considering medications. In therapy, Jasmine learned to identify her feelings and how to calm herself down when she felt overwhelmed. It took a few months of consistent therapy, but Jasmine eventually found that her nightmares had stopped, she didn’t worry about her family members dying “nearly as much” and the school morning stomachaches had subsided.
“I felt so helpless when it came to helping my daughter deal with her worries. She worried about everything and it was negatively affecting our whole family. Understanding that she was dealing with an anxiety disorder helped me learn ways to help her and let go of the guilt of not being a good enough mom. She is so much calmer and happier now. I’m so thankful we sought care for her when we did.”
Lena, Cara's Mom“I didn’t know that it wasn’t really normal to worry about everything until I started therapy. I learned things that I can do to feel less worried and more happy.”
Regan, age 9Websites:
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As a parent, you want the best for your children. You may be concerned or have questions about certain behaviors they exhibit and how to ensure they get help. We have provided some guidance and resources to get you started.
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