We know that anxiety is affecting both kids and adults at alarming rates.
In previous Healthy Parenting Handbook episodes we’ve shared strategies from a family therapist and a pediatric psychologist. Today we complete the trio by talking with an MD who practices integrative medicine.
Dr. Wiggy Saunders joins the conversation to explore how anxiety is influencing children’s attention, behavior, and school performance. Our goal is to give parents practical, evidence-informed strategies to help children — and themselves — manage anxiety more effectively.
You’ll see how closely anxiety and focus are connected, and discover specific, natural approaches that may reduce struggles with both.
We cover:
- Dr. Wiggy’s favorite Bible verse
- How different types of anxiety can escalate into one another
- The impact of parental anxiety on children
- How the adrenals respond to stress and how nutrition supports them
- Natural remedies and supportive nutrients for anxious children
- How magnesium in particular can signal the adrenals to calm down and what that may mean for school performance
- The four vitamins and minerals most important for immune support
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Can’t see the video? Watch the interview about anxiety in kids on YouTube.
No time for the video? Here are the episode notes.
These timestamps align with the video and not the audio podcast, but they should be roughly the same.
Understanding Anxiety in Kids
As always, this is not personal medical advice. Consult your physician for guidance tailored to your child.
- 0:22 — Introduction: Dr. Wiggy Saunders, MD, discusses how anxiety affects attention and school performance.
- 2:51 — We’ve featured other experts before to address rising anxiety in children; this episode adds a medical, integrative perspective.
- 4:27 — A clear breakdown of different types of anxiety: situational anxiety, generalized anxiety, and panic attacks, and how they can relate.
Why Are Kids So Anxious?
- 7:28 — Common triggers include school pressures, social dynamics, sports performance, and parental expectations. The pandemic added a new layer of stress that many children are still processing.
- 9:40 — Children often mirror the stress and anxiety they observe in adults. Addressing family-wide stress is an important part of helping an anxious child.
- 12:11 — Learning to accept what you cannot control and practicing calm, consistent parenting can reduce a child’s anxiety.
- 12:49 — Anxiety and attention challenges are linked through neurotransmitters, brain chemistry, and endocrine function. When a child struggles with both, the underlying biology is often connected.
Natural Help for Kids with Anxiety
- 15:58 — There are natural approaches to support adrenal function and balance stress hormones. Nutrient status matters: magnesium is one of the primary minerals to check in children experiencing high stress or anxiety.
- 19:49 — Dr. Wiggy describes magnesium’s health benefits and which individuals are more likely to be deficient.
- 21:02 — Different forms of magnesium absorb differently; choose a highly absorbable form when the goal is nervous system and brain support.
- 22:40 — With infectious illness a present concern for many families, supporting immune resilience is a priority.
Supplements for Immune Support and Focus
- 23:45 — Key nutrients for immune support include vitamin D, vitamin K2 (taken alongside D), vitamin C, and zinc. These nutrients also support general health that can influence stress resilience.
- 24:39 — There are child-friendly formulations available that combine these nutrients in age-appropriate doses.
Workshops led by experts in social-emotional learning and executive functioning can provide hands-on approaches that benefit both children and caregivers.
Check out available workshops and resources for supporting executive functioning and stress management.
- 26:12 — Magnesium combined with vitamin B6 has been studied for supporting focus and concentration; some child-friendly products use this combination.
- 28:24 — The episode closes with a simple, immediate action parents can try today to help their child manage stress.
Resources Mentioned
- Raise Them Well — a line of child-focused vitamins and personal care products.
- Social media accounts for Raise Them Well and related resources (search by name on your preferred platform).
- Dr. Wiggy’s practice and his integrative approach to complex conditions such as hypothyroidism.
- Guides and articles about magnesium use and safety for children, and about immune-supporting nutrients.
- Previous articles on anxiety in teens and tips for managing a child’s anxiety, available from parenting and health resources.
Weston “Wiggy” Saunders, MD is an integrative medicine physician in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, board-certified in family medicine. He focuses on hypothyroidism and other complex health concerns and uses a holistic approach to help patients restore health and function.