Understanding and Helping My Child’s Anxiety

Anxiety is a natural and necessary human emotion. It is our body’s response to stress, and it helps us stay alert, focused, and ready to respond to potential threats. However, when anxiety becomes excessive or prolonged, it can be a sign of an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions, affecting millions of people worldwide. Children are not immune to anxiety disorders, and it is estimated that up to 20% of children and adolescents experience some form of anxiety disorder.

As a parent, it can be challenging to know if your child is experiencing anxiety, particularly if they are young and have not yet developed the language to express their feelings accurately. Anxiety disorders have the potential to affect every part of a young person’s life, including their physical health, emotional, well-being, and social skill development – https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/anxiety-kids-teens. In this blog, we will explore some common signs of anxiety in children, the different types of anxiety disorders, and what parents can do to support their child if they are experiencing anxiety.

Common Signs of Anxiety in Children

Every child is unique, and anxiety can manifest in different ways, depending on the child’s age, temperament, and environment. However, some common signs of anxiety in children include:

1. Physical Symptoms: Anxiety can cause a range of physical symptoms, such as headaches, stomachaches, nausea, vomiting, sweating, trembling, and rapid heartbeat. If your child frequently complains of physical symptoms without a medical cause, it could be a sign of anxiety.
2. Behavioral Changes: Children with anxiety may exhibit changes in their behavior, such as avoiding certain activities or situations, becoming overly clingy, being excessively irritable or moody, having trouble sleeping or eating, or engaging in repetitive behaviors like nail-biting or hair-pulling.
3. Emotional Changes: Anxiety can also impact a child’s emotional well-being, leading to increased worry, fear, sadness, or irritability. Children with anxiety may also have difficulty concentrating, experiencing low self-esteem, or expressing themselves effectively.
4. Social Withdrawal: Children with anxiety may also become socially withdrawn, avoiding social situations, or struggling to make friends. They may also exhibit school refusal, which is when they refuse to attend school due to anxiety-related fears.

Types of Anxiety Disorders in Children

Anxiety disorders in children can be classified into several types, each with unique symptoms and treatment approaches. The following are the most common types of anxiety disorders in children:

1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): GAD is characterized by excessive and persistent worry about a variety of everyday things, such as school, health, safety, and family issues. Children with GAD may also exhibit physical symptoms like headaches, stomachaches, and muscle tension.
2. Separation Anxiety Disorder: Separation anxiety disorder is common in young children and is characterized by intense fear or distress when separated from parents or caregivers. Children with separation anxiety disorder may experience nightmares, clinginess, and fear of going to school or sleeping alone.
3. Social Anxiety Disorder: Social anxiety disorder is characterized by intense fear of social situations, such as public speaking, meeting new people, and participating in group activities. Children with social anxiety disorder may avoid social situations, struggle to make friends, and experience physical symptoms like blushing, sweating, and trembling.
4. Specific Phobias: Specific phobias are intense and irrational fears of specific things, such as animals, heights, or flying. Children with specific phobias may go to great lengths to avoid the feared object or situation, leading to significant distress and impairment.
5. Panic Disorder: Panic disorder is characterized by unexpected and recurrent panic attacks, which are intense episodes of fear and physical symptoms like sweating, trembling, and racing heartbeat. Children with panic disorder may also develop agoraphobia, which is a fear of leaving home or being in public places.

What Can Parents Do to Support Their Anxious Child?

If you suspect that your child is experiencing anxiety, it is important to seek professional help. A mental health professional, such as a therapist or psychiatrist, can conduct an evaluation to determine if your child has an anxiety disorder and recommend appropriate treatment options.

In addition to seeking professional help, there are several things that parents can do to support their anxious child:

1. Create a Safe and Supportive Environment: Children who feel safe and supported are better able to cope with anxiety. As a parent, you can create a safe and supportive environment by listening to your child, validating their feelings, and offering reassurance and comfort.
2. Teach Coping Skills: Coping skills are techniques that children can use to manage their anxiety. Examples of coping skills include deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, visualization, and positive self-talk. As a parent, you can teach your child coping skills and encourage them to practice them regularly.
3. Practice Exposure Therapy: Exposure therapy is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that involves gradually exposing a child to the things that trigger their anxiety. This can help children learn to confront their fears and build confidence in their ability to manage anxiety. As a parent, you can work with a mental health professional to develop an exposure therapy plan for your child.
4. Encourage Healthy Habits: Healthy habits, such as regular exercise, healthy eating, and adequate sleep, can help children manage anxiety. As a parent, you can encourage your child to engage in these healthy habits and model them yourself.
5. Avoid Overprotection: While it is natural to want to protect your child from distress, overprotecting them can actually increase their anxiety. As a parent, you can encourage your child to face their fears and offer support and encouragement along the way.

Conclusion

Anxiety is a common and treatable mental health condition in children. As a parent, it is essential to be aware of the signs of anxiety and seek professional help if necessary. By creating a safe and supportive environment, teaching coping skills, practicing exposure therapy, encouraging healthy habits, and avoiding overprotection, parents can help their anxious child manage their anxiety and thrive. Remember, with the right treatment and support, children with anxiety can lead happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives. For more information please contact us at https://jennaflemingcounseling.com.

-Jenna Fleming, LPC-S, NCC