Ten Things I Hate about my Child’s Anxiety.

If you have a child who is struggling with anxiety you might be able to relate to this parent’s feelings…

I hate anxiety.

I know your mother probably told you that ‘hate is a strong word’. She might have even looked disapprovingly when you used it.
But I don’t care.

I know it’s not helpful to hate it, but I do.

I hate my child’s anxiety.

I hate it. I hate it. I hate it!

I hate that is stops my child from doing everything they want to do

I hate that it has stolen big chunks of their childhood.

I hate that it doesn’t respond to logic, or explanation, or reasonable discussion.

I hate that it steals control from them, from me, from us.

I hate that it’s voice is so deafeningly loud that it drowns out everything else.

I hate that because you can’t see it, and because it’s hard to talk about, it is hard for others to understand, and that gives it more power.

I hate that is takes control physically at times. I hate that it makes them sick, or not be able to breath, or not be able to move, or see.

I hate that it takes away friendships.

I hate that it labels them as difficult, or annoying, or rude, or badly behaved.

And I hate that I hate it.

I hate that it frustrates me so much and that it makes me angry.
I am angry at the anxiety, not at my child, but sometimes the two get mixed up and I hate it even more for that.

Have you got a child who is dealing with some big emotions?

You are not alone.

Here are some more resources and stories about childhood mental health :