Occupational Therapy for Childhood Anxiety: Strategies & Benefits

According to Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, occupational therapy (OT) may help children learn to manage anxiety. Children with anxiety may experience physical symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, sweating and headache or emotional symptoms such as fear and nervousness. Anxiety may affect a child's ability to interact socially and to learn in the classroom.

Types

• Children may suffer from an anxiety disorder without any co-morbid conditions. However, often anxiety occurs along with and as a result of other conditions such ADHD, sensory integration disorder and autism spectrum disorders.

Features

• Occupational therapists can help children with sensory integration issues learn to manage sensory input, which will in turn decrease anxiety. Occupational therapists may help alleviate other types of anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques such as visualization and expressive activities and by teaching social skills in order to decrease anxiety felt in social situations.

Considerations

• If a child receives special education services at school, he may be eligible to receive occupational therapy at school. Parents may need to get a prescription for occupational therapy from the child's pediatrician in order to initiate school-based services.