ArcaMax

Wouldn't it be great if there was a new, fast, even cheerful way to fight the tide of anxiety engulfing this generation of kids?

It sure would. And darned if the latest Journal of Anxiety Disorders doesn't feature one. It's called independence therapy: having kids do new things, on their own, without their parents.

A pilot study conducted by Long Island University psychology prof. Camilo Ortiz and doctoral student Matthew Fastman treated four fourth-eighth graders with a diagnosis of anxiety. In his everyday practice, Ortiz would often use cognitive behavioral therapy. This involves exposing the patient to the very thing they're afraid of, so they realize it's not as scary as they thought. For instance, a person deathly afraid of dogs might be shown a picture of a dog, then stand in the same room as a dog and finally have to pet the dog.

But in independence therapy, says Ortiz, "We didn't actually have the kids face the things they're afraid of." And afraid they truly were. Ortiz described the patients in his Journal article:

-- A boy, 13, experienced headaches and a pounding heart, and routinely assumed the "worst-case scenario" -- that he was very sick.

-- A girl, 9, was so anxious about attending school that she experienced "frequent shaking, stomach issues, nail-biting and crying."

-- A girl, 11, experienced "extensive worry and extensive avoidance of everyday activities out of the home." Her fear of being judged or embarrassed led to shaking and abdominal pain.

-- A boy, 10, wouldn't go anywhere without his mom.

The independence therapy involved each family separately visiting Ortiz five times in his office or on Zoom. At the first session, only the parents came. Ortiz asked them their biggest concern. One couple said their daughter was too scared to sleep in her own bed. Another said their son wouldn't go up or down stairs in their home without them.

On the next visit, the child accompanied the parents. Without mentioning the big fear, Ortiz talked up independence and asked the kids what they'd like to start doing on their own. Despite their anxiety, they wanted to walk home from school, play chess in the park ... lots of things. OK, said Ortiz: Your assignment is to do one "independence activity" a day for the next four weeks. The parents' assignment? Let them!

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