Grief Speaks
Fears and Worries in Kids
  
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What are fears and worries?

 

Fears and worries are not always bad. There are good reasons to be afraid or worried like if a growling dog is circling around you or if a bully wanted to punch you. It is a positive thing to be afraid as the fear is actually serving to protect you. When our body senses danger it begins to make chemicals that get us ready to fight, run away or stay perfectly still.  Experts call this fight, flight or freeze. These reactions in our body happen in seconds. We can not help that our bodies react this way, it is the way they are made. Long ago we had to protect ourselves from wild animals and other dangers. Sometimes you can even see animals do this when they are in danger: fight, flight or freeze.  Freezing helps us not to be noticed. 

 

So what happens in our bodies?

When we go into fight mode:  our heart pumps more blood so that we have the strength to fight. Adrenaline flows through our body which gives us a short burst of energy.

When we go into flight mode:  Our body revs up so that we can run faster and the blood flows to our legs so that we can get away. This helps us to run away and escape danger.

When we go into freeze mode:  Our body makes us stop and stay still. We can't move even if we wanted to . We feel revved up, but the energy isn't used to fight or to run away.

 Other things happen too: these are all perfectly normal reactions. They go away when the adrenaline stops flowing:

  • we may break out in a sweat all over
  • we may feel our hands and feel to be cold and/or sweaty
  • we may have goose bumps (when the hair on your body stands up, making the skin look bumpy)
  • butterflies in our stomach
  • a rush of blood to hands and face and scalp
  • feel like you can't think straight

 

 

Fear Stoppers:

 

1.  Tell the truth. Admit you have fears and worries. Write them down on paper. Talk to someone you trust about them. Let them help you.  How do you say it to someone? 

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