Calming Children’s Anxiety Around Healthcare Settings

Children visit their primary care provider an average of 31 times from birth to young adulthood. But if medical anxiety runs amuck, kids may associate pain and other unpleasant experiences with their healthcare provider and refuse cooperation with examinations going forward.

We need to help kids of all ages mitigate their anxiety about medical appointments to invest in their long-term health. Naturopathic doctor Erin TeWinkel, who treats teens and families in her practice, says, “By helping our kids feel informed, confident, and in control of their healthcare, parents and providers set them up for a lifetime of better health outcomes.”

Symptoms of anxiety in children

Worry and fear are common among young children. In fact, it is developmentally appropriate for older infants to be wary of strangers as they learn to differentiate between their familiar caregivers and other adults they meet.

Kids often use behavior, rather than words, to communicate the emotions they feel. When your child feels afraid, helpless, or anxious, they may demonstrate aggression, withdrawal, lack of cooperation, and regression, such as bedwetting and thumb-sucking. Anxiety may also manifest in physical symptoms, like fatigue, headache, or stomachache. 

Take these signs of anxiety as a cue to have an open conversation about your child’s feelings before going to the doctor. 

Model positive behavior

Speak well about your own experiences of going to the doctor and the positive feelings associated with taking care of your health. 

Don’t diminish your own feelings of anxiety related to medical visits; rather, model bravery by doing things that make you feel nervous yourself. Share coping techniques you might use to combat your own medical anxiety, such as deep breathing or box breathing.

When you bring your young child to the doctor, speak in soothing tones, smile, and display relaxed body language. 

Advocate for your child’s health by asking questions to the doctor and encourage your child to do the same. Ask the doctor to rephrase confusing language so your child can understand. 

Prepare at home

Manage your child’s expectations about how the visit will go:

• Using age-appropriate language, explain what will happen at the doctor’s office. For older children, specify whether the visit will include physical exams, blood work, or vaccinations to alleviate fear of the unknown.
• Role-play with toy medical equipment so your young child becomes familiar with the appearance and function of a stethoscope, for instance.
• Watch kid-friendly videos about different types of doctor visits (family doctor, dentist, and eye doctor). 
• Have your child choose which activity they’d like to bring into the waiting room, and a comfort item they’d like with them during the visit. 
• Encourage your child to think about what they’d like to learn about their body and what questions they’d like to ask their doctor.
• Tell your teen that you can step out of the room if they’d like to speak with their doctor privately. 

Your child’s healthcare team

Having a caring, understanding practitioner who is confident working with children can make your child’s medical experience a positive one. Look for a clinic with friendly front-end staff and an inviting physical environment, both of which can help your child feel at ease.

Consider filling the gaps in your child’s healthcare by seeking the services of allied health professionals, such as a naturopathic doctor, chiropractor, or osteopath. “Having a discovery session with a provider before diving into an initial appointment is a nice way to ‘catch a vibe’ and see if you would be comfortable working together,” recommends TeWinkel.

This article originally appeared on alive.com as “Calming Children’s Anxiety Around Healthcare Settings.”