Anxiety tends to cluster in families. This means your child can be affected by someone in the family who has anxiety, or your child's anxiety can have an effect on the family. Therefore, this section will highlight key elements in family involvement, which are important in your child's overall care.

Look for Patterns

As you learned in Chapters 7 and 11, it will be important for you and your spouse (or your child's other biological parent) to look into the possibility you may have traits of anxiety. There is a “trickle-down effect” with respect to mental health in parents, so it can never hurt to improve your own levels of adjustment and coping.

Share Information

If you suspect that there are family patterns that point to anxiety, gently explore them with your family members. Be aware of any chemical abuse issues in your family, as these can be a coping mechanism for anxiety and depression, and can be hereditary.

Ask for Support

You and your child may also need support from your family. In addition to encouragement and emotional support, your family may be able to help you with the nuts and bolts of your child's care plan. Maybe your child could practice sleepovers or learn to be away from the immediate family for brief periods by spending time with aunts, uncles, or cousins. Perhaps a family member can visit your child's school for lunch, or bring her a treat as a show of support. Spending special time with grandparents may be comforting for your child, and might even afford you and your spouse a night out together. Sometimes family can be helpful in taking your child to and from appointments, but be sure to check with your child's doctor or therapist to make sure that this is okay. In most cases, you will need to be present for any medical appointments your child has, to give consent for medications, tests, or any other procedures.