Identifying anxiety, panic, and fear in our kids with Ken WIlgus

Feeling anxious? 

You’re not alone. Studies indicate that over a third of Americans report feelings of anxiety and depression as COVID-19 numbers continue to spike. There’s no playbook for how to navigate life in a pandemic. It can leave us (and our kids) feeling discouraged as we ponder the future. 

But even without the stress of a pandemic, our kids face varying degrees of fear and anxiety throughout their lives, critical topics for all parents to consider. 

Ken Wilgus is a licensed psychologist who specializes in the treatment of adolescents and their families. He’s joining us today to talk about parenting our kids through fear and anxiety. May I just say, you’re not going to want to miss a second of this! 

Here are some of the areas we cover: 

• The difference between fear, anxiety, and panic
• Identifying when our kids are struggling with anxiety
• The physical components of panic
• Unhelpful things parents do 
• The genetic components of anxiety and recognizing it in our own lives
• Healthy coping mechanisms when our kids are fearful or anxious
• Practical tips to prevent fear and anxiety before they occur

A friend sent me the link to Dr. Wilgus’ discussion on this topic, published on his podcast, Feeding the Mouth That Bites You. I knew it was just the word we need as we begin to think about back-to-school and all it entails. 

I can’t wait for you to hear Dr. Wilgus today. And I have a feeling that you may even want the teens in your life to listen as well. (I know I did!)