By Samantha Loomis
Being hospitalized as a pediatric patient can cause feelings of anxiety and fear, and while it can feel alarming, don't fret! Amidst all the chaos inside and outside of the hospital, there are ways to help manage those feelings, even when emotions may feel all over the place. Here are some strategies to help manage:
Choices: Give pediatric patients power in a powerless environment. It's important to remember they could be anxious, in pain, and expected to quickly adjust to the change of scenery. Following that, they are subjected to tests, questions, and given treatments by unfamiliar people. If you are a doctor, try to include the child in any conversation that is about them and avoid just speaking to the parents. This can give the child a sense of power within important life changes to their treatment and just make them feel more in control of their life. Giving them options, even the smallest ones such as what pair of socks they wear for the day, can decrease their levels of anxiety. Children with increased anxiety are more induced to trigger a trauma response, which is why it's important to help keep them calm.
Having a Support System: Being a pediatric patient can be a series of ups and downs, as there may be good days and bad days. Despite the bad days, it's important to push through during the difficult times. Keeping up your or your loved one's spirit can make all the difference. If you are feeling low on hope, contact a family member or friend, or find out the resources that the hospital you're staying at provides. Nurses, it's crucial to make the children feel comforted and supported during their stay at the hospital, no matter the duration of the stay. Comfort them after they undergo tests and treatments if there are no family or friends around to support them. For loved ones, try not to leave your member alone at the hospital if possible. It's understandable if you have other responsibilities, but most children are used to having their parents or guardians with them all the time, so they will feel your absence. Holding their hand while they go through treatments and other tests will help with their anxiety and comfort levels. It's important to praise them after they go through something difficult. Giving them a hug or a treat is a great way to show your excitement towards their strength. It's also crucial for the family members to take care of everything outside of the hospital that they shouldn't be worrying about, such as missing school work, perhaps taking care of a family pet, and informing other friends and loved ones of their absence. The only thing they should be focused on is their well-being.
Having a Sense of Regularity/Routine: It's important not to forget that they are just children, being thrown into a new, scary environment. They probably don't fully understand their diagnosis and treatment plans, so to make them less fearful, give them a sense of normality. You may be wondering: how can I do this? Well, there are multiple ways to help. For starters, bring something from home to them. If they have a comfort stuffed animal or blanket, bring it to them. It can help calm their anxious feelings, as it will be something recognizable in a room that's not their own back at home. Also, this will help bring them comfort during the times when no loved ones are at the hospital. Another way to help them feel comfortable is eating one meal a day with them. Back home, you might've eaten dinner as a family. Doing this every day during their stay can help give them a routine and sense of regularity from what you used to do. You might be feeling a disconnection from your child amongst all the chaos, so another thing to help is playing board games. Board games are a fun and maybe even educational game and can easily make you and them focused on that and not the situation. It's an easy way to have a good time and laugh!
Emotions: Understandably, pediatric patients' emotions may be all over the place and could result in bursts of different emotions. Try to be as patient as possible with them, as this is not an average situation, and it's a learning experience for everyone involved. It may take a while for everyone to become adjusted to this change in your lives, but if you're the parent, the calmer you are, the calmer your child will be. Often, children follow the example their parents set for them; therefore, how you act may be the determining factor for their actions. It's important to consistently remind the pediatric patient about what gets lost in their mind: all the workers are working for you and your family. They aren't trying to hurt them or work against you; everyone wants to see them happy and healthy!
Works Cited
Lerwick, Julie L. "Minimizing Pediatric Healthcare-Induced Anxiety and Trauma." World Journal of Clinical Pediatrics, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 8 May 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4857227/.
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