When Should You Be Concerned About Your Child’s Anxiety?

As a parent, you want your child to live a worry-free life. While it’s natural for kids to experience occasional worries and fears, there comes a point when anxiety can evolve into something more pervasive. Anxiety can do damage to a child’s growth and emotional responses. Recognizing when your child’s anxiety may be cause for concern is the first step in providing the support they need to thrive emotionally and mentally.

Understanding Childhood Anxiety

Anxiety in children is common and can be a normal part of development. Some degree of worry is a natural response to new experiences, challenges, or changes in routine. Children can also be prone to separation anxiety, especially when they’re young. However, when anxiety becomes excessive and starts interfering with your child’s daily life, it may be a sign of a more significant issue.

Children can suffer from the same anxiety disorders as adults, including generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, or specific phobias. Anxiety can be caused by genetics, brain chemistry, traumatic experiences, grief, and even learned behaviors. Here are several concerning signs of anxiety to be on the lookout for in your child.

Behavioral Changes

Noticeable shifts in behavior can be red flags for anxiety. It’s important to notice deviations from their baseline. If your once-outgoing child becomes withdrawn, avoids social situations, or suddenly suffers from sleep problems, look for any underlying causes. Similarly, increased irritability, restlessness, or difficulty concentrating can be signs of anxiety.

Academic Issues

Anxiety can significantly impact a child’s performance in school. If your child’s grades begin dropping or they have a sudden reluctance to attend school, anxiety could be playing a role. Pay attention to any reports of avoidant behaviors, such as refusing to participate in class or difficulty concentrating due to stress.

Excessive Worrying

While some level of worry is normal, excessive worrying and irrational fears aren’t. If your child is constantly afraid of specific situations, objects, or events, and these worries seem out of proportion, it’s worth exploring further. Additionally, persistent fears of separation, even in familiar settings, can be indicative of separation anxiety.

Restlessness

Anxiety can manifest in restless behaviors, such as fidgeting, nail-biting, or pacing. If your child appears unable to sit still or relax, it may be a coping mechanism for managing internal anxiety. These behaviors can be particularly noticeable in situations that trigger their worries.

Physical Symptoms

Children often express anxiety through physical symptoms because it can be hard for them to articulate their emotions. Frequent stomach aches, headaches, muscle tension, insomnia, and fatigue can be indicators that your child is anxious. Pay attention to these complaints, especially if they seem unrelated to any physical illness.

When to Seek Therapy

If your child is showing several of the following symptoms, consider talking to a mental health professional:

struggling to attend school, socialize, or complete homework
avoiding certain people, places, or events
worries that seems disproportionate to the situation
worry that persists for weeks or months
sudden and unexplained changes in behavior or mood
physical symptoms, such as headaches or stomach aches
sleep disturbances

Getting Your Child Help

If you suspect your child may be suffering from an anxiety disorder, get them to a child therapist. Anxiety is manageable, and a mental health professional can work with you to develop a treatment plan that suits your child best.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is generally the go-to therapeutic approach for children with anxiety. In therapy, your child will learn how to cope with their emotions, change negative thinking patterns, and develop healthy stress-relieving techniques.

To find out more about how therapy can help children with anxiety, please reach out to us.

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