Making God the Priority in Our Homes: Stress & Anxiety in Children

Anxiety is an emotion we all feel; it alerts us of potential danger and attempts to keep us safe. It becomes more of an issue when we are constantly living in that highly alert, highly anxious state, which usually leads to more stress as well. More and more children are struggling with increased stress and heightened anxiety, as the pandemic has only exacerbated the stress and anxiety people were already experiencing. I am a huge proponent of therapy and highly recommend it for those struggling with anxiety, stress, depression, and more, and I have seen how helpful it can be for children, teens, and young adults. That being said, I want to focus on how God can be resource in our homes for our children, as there is space for God and therapy to work together.

When I was younger, I had really bad test anxiety. I would worry so much about if I was going to do well on the test, it would make studying really difficult. Then, I would get to the test, and second guess all my answers, usually change my answers to the wrong answers, and not do as well as I would have liked. While I knew the answers, my anxiety would get in the way of me trusting myself and doing well on the tests. When I got to college, I started praying before I would study and before and during the test, which did a couple of really cool things. First, it distracted my thoughts, which made it more difficult for my anxious thoughts to get too far or big. Second, it allowed me to hand some of the burden to God, so I could focus on my test and trust that I would do the best I could. (I’ll also add that I went therapy, which was a huge help as well!)

The article “Religion Aside: The Benefits of Prayer for Kids” written by Renee Barrett states that those who pray are less prone to anxiety and depression and are generally more satisfied with their life. She argues that even if you do not subscribe to a specific religion, prayer can be helpful, especially for children, as it is a way to meditate and teaches them empathy and compassion for others. I would add that it also allows them to give some of the struggles up to a Higher Power, ie God. God gives them a second parental figure in their life that is consistent, open, steady, empathetic, and always available to talk when they need it.

Prayer is a great way to start making God the priority at home, as it does not have to take up too much time, can be done anywhere, and can be done as a family. Parents can model what prayer can look like to their children and also encourage children to pray at different times. One of my favorite prayers for children is the 3-2-1 Prayer: 3 things they are grateful for, 2 people or groups to pray from, and 1 thing they would like help with or something for themselves. This teaches them to thank God and also ask for help for themselves and others. Feel free to encourage them to change it up as needed. Sometimes, they may need to focus on what they are struggling with; that is okay too.

Link to article: https://www.moms.com/religion-asid-benefits-prayer-kids/

 Written by Guest Author Angelique Soulakos

Angelique is a therapist in the Atlanta area and works with children, adolescents, and young adults who struggle with anxiety, stress, trauma, and relationship issues. She earned a BS in Psychology from Georgia Institute of Technology and a MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Richmont Graduate University. She attends both St. Christopher Hellenic Orthodox Church in Peachtree City, Georgia, where she grew up, and Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church in Marietta, Georgia, where she lives now. When she isn't in the office, she is teaching group exercise classes at the YMCA, walking her dog, Soto, or hanging out with friends at coffee shops or new restaurants. Angelique also enjoys traveling to new places and learning more about different cultures.