Pediatric Home Health Care in Deerfield Beach FL
Anxiety is a normal part of life for most adults, due to upcoming projects at work, an overwhelming amount of bills, or trying to balance work and personal lives. While most of us know how to cope with these feelings, anxiety is something that many children receiving pediatric home care do not know how to control. Children who have medical needs and have had to make numerous trips to the hospital for physical exams, blood draws, surgeries or other lab work usually get nervous over upcoming appointments or procedures. To help calm the nerves of these children and help them manage their anxiety, here are some signs of anxiety to look for, as well as coping mechanisms.
Signs of Anxiety
For children who have had to undergo many medical treatments in their short lives, they may understandably be anxious over any doctor’s appointments that are coming up. If you are wondering if these are feelings your child is having, look for the following signs:
- Nightmares
- Crying
- Kicking
- Unexplainable temper tantrums
- Unusual clinginess
- Screaming
- Attempting to avoid the event
- Heavy breathing or feeling like they can’t breath
- Increased pulse rate
- Bright red face
Not all children will respond to these scared, nervous feelings in the same way, but if they are showing any of these signs, then the child may need your help coping with them.
Managing Anxiety
Anxiety is not necessarily a medical condition that can be cured, but it is something that the child in your care can learn to cope with.
- Let them know it is normal: Let the child know that feeling scared and worried over a medical visit or upcoming procedure is perfectly normal, but this is an appointment that can’t be canceled.
- Be aware of your own anxiety: Children pick up on the moods and feelings of the adults around them by watching their body language. If they catch you modeling anxious behavior, they will most likely follow suit. Be aware of your own behaviors in order to keep the child calm.
- Determine when to tell the child of an upcoming appointment: If they are going to be anxious from the moment they find out about an appointment, it may make more sense to tell them about it hours before the appointment instead of days. Do not hide the appointment from them in order to avoid these scared feelings the child has because they will feel even more anxious not knowing anything about their medical visit.
- Do not hide any information: Prepare them for their appointment by informing them of what they need it for and what the doctor will be doing. By hiding any of this information, the child may be fearful over any part of the appointment that you did not discuss with them.
- Teach your child how to cope: While we can’t snap our fingers and make the child’s anxiety go away, we can teach them how to calm their nerves and cope with it. Slow, deep breathing or slowly counting may help relax them. Ask the doctor for coping mechanisms or do your own research to help find the method that will work best for your child.
- Try to distract them: When waiting for the appointment to begin, try to distract them by talking about the plans you have after the appointment, a future vacation, or a topic they enjoy.
With these tips, your little one should feel more at ease when a doctor’s appointment is on the horizon.
If you or a family member near Deerfield Beach, FL are in need of pediatric home health care services, call the caring professionals at Star Multi Care today at (954) 870-4770. Providing Service in Ft. Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Pompano Beach, Delray Beach, Coconut Creek, Taramac, Margate, and surrounding Florida cities.
Source
Pediatric Home Service. “Easing anxiety in children with medical complexities.”
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