Anxiety In Children

Anxiousness can be a normal part of childhood development. Accordingly, many children will experience separation anxiety, anxiety, and stress related to schoolwork and friends.

Caregivers may not realize their child is experiencing an anxiety disorder since children may not be able to conceptualize what is happening to them. If you are concerned your child may be managing anxiety in their everyday life, read on. This article reviews the different types of anxiety disorders that children sometimes face, the outward signs and symptoms of childhood anxiety, and how mental health support may help children.

Anxiety disorders in children

According to a study reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children and adolescents can be diagnosed with any of the same anxiety disorders that adults may have. The significant difference is that children do not usually have the same ability to clearly communicate the mental health issues they may be experiencing. This lack of communication can make diagnosing anxiety disorders in children difficult.

Social anxiety disorder

Social anxiety disorder occurs when a child is unusually fearful of social situations. Social anxiety disorders in children may present themselves as fear or anxiousness about being around other children their age at school or in different social situations.

Panic disorder is a severe form of anxiety disorders in which the child may experience panic attacks. These panic attacks are often sudden and without a rational basis. Children may have some anxious physical and emotional symptoms with these panic attacks, which usually subside as quickly as they begin in a controlled environment.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is the most common type of anxiety disorder. A child managing GAD may be anxious frequently and for many reasons or no apparent reason at all. Children with this type of anxiety will often exhibit many signs of anxiety and may be unable to control constant fear and worry.

Specific phobia

Some children fear one thing in particular, resulting in specific phobias. This type of phobia involves an intense, irrational fear of something that poses little or no danger. While some children fear certain things or situations, like spiders, children with a true phobia experience a debilitating and anxious fear even at the thought of the object.

If a child has experienced a traumatic event such as abuse or a death in the family, the child could be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This type of anxiety disorder tends to develop when a child experiences extreme trauma, and anything that reminds them of this trauma may make the child highly anxious.

Separation anxiety disorder (SAD)

Social anxiety disorder is when a child is worried about being apart from family members or close ones. Irrationally, the child may be scared of losing their family, or something bad happening to somebody close to them when they are not present. A certain amount of anxiety is normal, but if the child's symptoms become severe, they may be need anxiety and mental health support such as cognitive behavioral therapy.

Symptoms of anxiety in children

Your child may have many physical and emotional symptoms because of childhood anxiety. For a diagnosis, your child must experience at least some of these symptoms for a period of at least two weeks, and they must occur frequently or constantly during that period.

Restlessness

Anxiety may give your child energy they may not know how to deal with, leading to extreme restlessness. Your child may not be able to sit still at all, and they may fidget quite frequently. Restlessness may sometimes be attributed to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as well. Thus, recognizing other symptoms that your child is having is important when determining if it is a disorder.

Fatigue

Constant anxiety can be tiring for both adults and children, resulting in fatigue. Insomnia is another symptom that often causes fatigue. They may not want to engage in certain activities because they are simply too worn out to participate.

Trouble concentrating

This symptom may be due to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but it is also an important symptom of anxiety. Your child may be so focused on their worries and fears that their mind cannot focus on anything else.

Irritability

Many children who have these disorders can be irritable. They may not understand the emotions that they are having, and it can make them upset, especially when they do not have the words to describe their experience. They may get easily frustrated with themselves or others.

Signs to look for in children

Knowing the symptoms of anxiety is important, but it can be difficult for caregivers to recognize. It is helpful to know what to look for in your child. 

There are some physical signs that your child may be experiencing this disorder. Take note if your child complains of any of these ailments and there is no medical reason for them.

• Headaches
• Stomachaches
• Refusing to eat snacks or lunch
• Fidgety
• Shakes or sweats
• Trouble breathing

There are also many emotional signs of childhood anxiety. Some common emotional signs include:

• Frequent crying
• Hypersensitivity
• Fearful of making mistakes
• Test nervousness
• Panic attacks
• Worried or afraid during drop off to school or daycare
• Has frequent nightmares about the death of a loved one
• Easily distracted when playing
• Has obsessive or negative thoughts
• Has meltdowns or temper tantrums for no apparent reason (especially if not age-appropriate)

• They ask about potential scary situations
• Silent when playing with others
• Refuses to go to school
• Remains alone frequently
• Avoids social situations
• Constantly seeks approval
• Says "I can't" without apparent reason

Potential treatments for anxiety

If your child has these signs and symptoms of anxiety or depression, consider seeking treatment as soon as possible. Early recognition of both anxiety and mood disorders in children can help interrupt the progression of worsened symptoms and improve a child’s quality of life promptly. You may obtain a referral from your child's pediatrician or find a list of pediatric mental health specialists in your area from your health insurance provider. This is also an effective way to find family-centered therapy in your area.