What are signs of anxiety in children
Anxiety disorders in children - NHS
It's normal for children to feel worried or anxious from time to time – such as when they're starting school or nursery, or moving to a new area.
But for some children, anxiety affects their behaviour and thoughts every day, interfering with their school, home and social life.
This is when you may need professional help to tackle it.
Symptoms of anxiety in children
Signs to look out for in your child are:
- finding it hard to concentrate
- not sleeping, or waking in the night with bad dreams
- not eating properly
- quickly getting angry or irritable, and being out of control during outbursts
- constantly worrying or having negative thoughts
- feeling tense and fidgety, or using the toilet often
- always crying
- being clingy
- complaining of tummy aches and feeling unwell
Separation anxiety is common in younger children, whereas older children and teenagers tend to worry more about school or have social anxiety.
How to help your anxious child
If your child is having problems with anxiety, there's plenty you can do to help.
Above all, it's important to talk to your child about their anxiety or worries.
Read more about how to help an anxious child, including self-help tips for parents of anxious children.
Many children at different ages may have anxieties that will go away after a while, with your reassurance.
However, it's a good idea to seek professional help or reassurance yourself if your child is constantly anxious and:
- it's not getting better, or is getting worse
- self-help is not working
- it's affecting their school or family life, or their friendships
Where to get help for anxiety
An appointment with a GP is a good place to start.
You can talk to the GP on your own or with your child, or your child might be able to have an appointment without you.
If the GP thinks your child could have an anxiety disorder, they may refer them for an assessment with your local children and young people's mental health services (CYPMHS).
Specialist CYPMHS are NHS mental health services that focus on the needs of children and young people. CYPMHS workers are trained to help young people with a wide range of problems, including anxiety.
If your child does not want to see a doctor, they may be able to get help directly from a local youth counselling service. For more information, visit Youth Access.
Treatments for anxiety disorders in children
The type of treatment offered will depend on your child's age and the cause of their anxiety.
Counselling can help your child understand what's making them anxious and allow them to work through the situation.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a talking therapy that can help your child manage their anxiety by changing the way they think and behave.
Learn more about CBT.
Anxiety medicines may be offered to your child if their anxiety is severe or does not get better with talking therapies. They're usually only prescribed by doctors who specialise in children and young people's mental health.
What causes anxiety disorders in children
Some children are simply born more anxious and less able to cope with stress than others.
Children can also pick up anxious behaviour from being around anxious people.
Some children develop anxiety after stressful events, such as:
- frequently moving house or school
- parents fighting or arguing
- the death of a close relative or friend
- becoming seriously ill or getting injured in an accident
- school-related issues like exams or bullying
- being abused or neglected
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autistic spectrum disorders are more likely to have problems with anxiety.
More information and support
For you
- Mental Health Foundation: The Anxious Child – a booklet for parents and carers
- Royal College of Psychiatrists: worries and anxieties – helping children to cope
- YoungMinds Parents Helpline – call 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday 9.30am to 4pm, free for mobiles and landlines)
For your child
- YoungMinds: anxiety
- Childline: managing your anxiety
Page last reviewed: 1 December 2020
Next review due: 1 December 2023
Anxiety and Depression in Children
Many children have fears and worries, and may feel sad and hopeless from time to time. Strong fears may appear at different times during development. For example, toddlers are often very distressed about being away from their parents, even if they are safe and cared for. Although fears and worries are typical in children, persistent or extreme forms of fear and sadness could be due to anxiety or depression.
Because the symptoms primarily involve thoughts and feelings, they are sometimes called internalizing disorders.
Anxiety
When a child does not outgrow the fears and worries that are typical in young children, or when there are so many fears and worries that they interfere with school, home, or play activities, the child may be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Examples of different types of anxiety disorders include
- Being very afraid when away from parents (separation anxiety)
- Having extreme fear about a specific thing or situation, such as dogs, insects, or going to the doctor (phobias)
- Being very afraid of school and other places where there are people (social anxiety)
- Being very worried about the future and about bad things happening (general anxiety)
- Having repeated episodes of sudden, unexpected, intense fear that come with symptoms like heart pounding, having trouble breathing, or feeling dizzy, shaky, or sweaty (panic disorder)
Anxiety may present as fear or worry, but can also make children irritable and angry.
Anxiety symptoms can also include trouble sleeping, as well as physical symptoms like fatigue, headaches, or stomachaches. Some anxious children keep their worries to themselves and, thus, the symptoms can be missed.
Related conditions include Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Learn more about anxiety in children
Depression
Occasionally being sad or feeling hopeless is a part of every child’s life. However, some children feel sad or uninterested in things that they used to enjoy, or feel helpless or hopeless in situations they are able to change. When children feel persistent sadness and hopelessness, they may be diagnosed with depression.
US Preventive Services Task Force: Learn about recommendations to screen children and adolescents for depression
Examples of behaviors often seen in children with depression include
- Feeling sad, hopeless, or irritable a lot of the time
- Not wanting to do or enjoy doing fun things
- Showing changes in eating patterns – eating a lot more or a lot less than usual
- Showing changes in sleep patterns – sleeping a lot more or a lot less than normal
- Showing changes in energy – being tired and sluggish or tense and restless a lot of the time
- Having a hard time paying attention
- Feeling worthless, useless, or guilty
- Showing self-injury and self-destructive behavior
Extreme depression can lead a child to think about suicide or plan for suicide.
For youth ages 10-24 years, suicide is among the leading causes of death. Read about youth suicide prevention.
Some children may not talk about their helpless and hopeless thoughts, and may not appear sad. Depression might also cause a child to make trouble or act unmotivated, causing others not to notice that the child is depressed or to incorrectly label the child as a trouble-maker or lazy.
Learn more about depression in children
Treatment for anxiety and depression
Learn about the guidelines for diagnosing and treating anxiety and depression
Learn about the FDA’s warning when using antidepressants with young people
The first step to treatment is to talk with a healthcare provider such as your child’s primary care provider, or a mental health specialist, about getting an evaluation. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) recommends that healthcare providers routinely screen children for behavioral and mental health concerns.
[217 KB, 13 pages] Some of the signs and symptoms of anxiety or depression in children could be caused by other conditions, such as trauma. Specific symptoms like having a hard time focusing could be a sign of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is important to get a careful evaluation to get the best diagnosis and treatment. Consultation with a health provider can help determine if medication should be part of the treatment. A mental health professional can develop a therapy plan that works best for the child and family. Behavior therapy includes child therapy, family therapy, or a combination of both. The school can also be included in the treatment plan. For very young children, involving parents in treatment is key. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is one form of therapy that is used to treat anxiety or depression, particularly in older children. It helps the child change negative thoughts into more positive, effective ways of thinking, leading to more effective behavior.
Behavior therapy for anxiety may involve helping children cope with and manage anxiety symptoms while gradually exposing them to their fears so as to help them learn that bad things do not occur.
Treatments can also include a variety of ways to help the child feel less stressed and be healthier like nutritious food, physical activity, sufficient sleep, predictable routines, and social support.
Get help finding treatment
Here are tools to find a healthcare provider familiar with treatment options:
- Psychologist Locator, a service of the American Psychological Association (APA) Practice Organization.
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Finder, a research tool by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP).
- Find a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist, a search tool by the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies.
- If you need help finding treatment facilities, visit MentalHealth.
gov.
Managing Symptoms: Staying Healthy
Being healthy is important for all children and can be especially important for children with depression or anxiety. In addition to getting the right treatment, leading a healthy lifestyle can play a role in managing symptoms of depression or anxiety. Here are some healthy behaviors that may help:
- Having a healthy eating plan centered on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes (for example, beans, peas, and lentils), lean protein sources, and nuts and seeds
- Participating in physical activity for at least 60 minutes each day
- Getting the recommended amount of sleep each night based on age
- Practicing mindfulness or relaxation techniques
Prevention of anxiety and depression
It is not known exactly why some children develop anxiety or depression. Many factors may play a role, including biology and temperament. But it is also known that some children are more likely to develop anxiety or depression when they experience trauma or stress, when they are maltreated, when they are bullied or rejected by other children, or when their own parents have anxiety or depression.
Although these factors appear to increase the risk for anxiety or depression, there are ways to decrease the chance that children experience them. Learn about public health approaches to prevent these risks:
- Suicide Prevention
- Bullying prevention external icon
- Child maltreatment prevention
- Youth violence prevention
- Depression after birth
- Caring for children in a disaster
- Adolescent and School Mental Health
Children's anxiety. How to help an anxious child? | "Four-leaf clover"
Children's anxiety
Anxiety is commonly referred to as an increased tendency to experience apprehension and worry. In some situations, anxiety is justified and even useful: it mobilizes a person, allows you to avoid danger or solve a problem. This is the so-called situational anxiety. But sometimes anxiety accompanies a person in all life circumstances, even objectively favorable ones. That is, it becomes a stable personality trait.
Such a person experiences constant unaccountable fear, an indefinite sense of threat. Any event is perceived as unfavorable and dangerous. nine0005
An anxious child is constantly depressed, on guard, it is difficult for him to establish contact with others, the world is perceived as frightening and hostile.
An anxious child is constantly depressed, on guard, it is difficult for him to establish contact with others, the world is perceived as frightening and hostile. Low self-esteem and a gloomy look at the future are constantly fixed. nine0006
Signs of anxiety:
- The child cannot work for a long time without getting tired
- He has difficulty concentrating on something
- Any occupation causes unnecessary anxiety
- During the performance of the task is very tense, constrained
- Embarrassed more than others
- Often talks about tense situations
- Blushing in unfamiliar surroundings
- Complains about having nightmares
- His hands are usually cold and damp
- He often has stool disorder
- Sweats profusely when excited
- Does not have a good appetite
- Sleeps restlessly, falls asleep with difficulty
- Shy, many things cause him fear
- Usually restless, easily upset
- Often unable to hold back tears
- Does not tolerate waiting well
- Doesn't like to take on new business
- Unsure of yourself and your abilities
- Afraid to face difficulties
Childhood anxiety at different ages
Preschool anxiety
It is often difficult for parents to understand why their child may be worried.
Well, what problems can there be at his age: dressed, well-fed, the yard is full of friends, a lot of toys, loving relatives ?! nine0005 However, the presence of childhood anxiety problems signals that in the life of a small person, not everything is as smooth as it seems to adults. This condition should never be ignored. In addition, it doesn’t matter if you have a son or a daughter, at this age anxiety does not depend on the child’s gender.
Anxiety is inherent in a person, regardless of age. In children from 1 to 3 years of age, the most common fears are caused by sharp loud sounds, sudden pain, for example, during vaccinations, and as a result, a negative reaction to doctors. In the age range from 3 to 5 years, anxiety in preschoolers often manifests itself in the form of fears such as fear of the dark, closed space, and loneliness. At the age of 5 to 7 years, fear of death is often added. If you notice anxiety in your child, in no case should you let this problem go by itself.
nine0006
In the age range from 3 to 5 years, anxiety in preschoolers often manifests itself in the form of such fears as fear of the dark, closed space, loneliness. At the age of 5 to 7 years, fear of death is often added.
School anxiety
The age from 7 to 11 years can become very difficult. At this time, the child's life changes, he becomes an adult, he is entrusted with the mission of studying well, behaving correctly, being better, diligent, smarter than his peers. nine0006
Usually, anxiety manifests itself 1.5 months after the start of the school year, it is in connection with this that schoolchildren need rest - holidays from 1 to 1.5 weeks.
Usually, anxiety manifests itself 1.5 months after the start of the school year, it is in connection with this that schoolchildren need rest - holidays from 1 to 1.5 weeks.
Sometimes anxiety is related to more serious problems.
So, with the help of a professional psychologist at the Four-Leaf Clover Clinic of Restorative Psychology, a child can be diagnosed with a mental disorder, neurosis at an early stage. nine0006
Where does increased anxiety come from?
- If there is a constant anxious and suspicious atmosphere in the house. If the parents themselves are constantly afraid of something and worry about something. This condition is very contagious, the child adopts from adults an unhealthy form of reaction to everything, even to ordinary life events.
- If the child lacks information (or uses incorrect information). Try to keep track of what he reads, what programs he watches, what emotions he experiences. It is sometimes difficult for adults to understand how children interpret this or that event. nine0005
- Anxious children can grow up not only with anxious parents. The authoritarian style of parenting in the family also does not contribute to the inner peace of the child.
Parents who do not doubt and do not worry know exactly what and how to achieve in life. And most importantly - what they want to achieve from their child. Such a child must constantly live up to the high expectations of adults. He is in a situation of constant and intense expectation: he managed or failed to please his parents. It is especially difficult for a child if the demands and reactions of adults are unpredictable and inconsistent. nine0006
A child's internal conflict can be caused by:
- Contradictory demands made by parents or parents and the school (kindergarten). For example, parents do not let their child go to school because they feel unwell, and the teacher puts a “deuce” in a journal and scolds him for skipping a lesson in the presence of other children.
- Inadequate requirements, most often overstated. For example, parents repeatedly repeat to the child that he must certainly be an excellent student, they cannot come to terms with the fact that the child receives at school not only "five" and is not the best student in the class.
nine0005 - Negative demands that humiliate the child, put him in a dependent position. For example, a caregiver or teacher says to a child: “If you tell me who behaved badly in my absence, I won’t tell my mother that you got into a fight.”
Experts believe that in preschool and younger preschool age boys are more anxious, and after 12 years - girls. At the same time, girls are more worried about relationships with other people, and boys are more worried about violence and punishment. nine0005
Having committed some “unseemly” act, the girls worry that their mother or teacher will think badly of them, and their girlfriends will refuse to be friends with them. In the same situation, boys are likely to be afraid that they will be punished by adults or beaten by their peers.
How to help an anxious child?
- Raise the child's self-esteem
To achieve success in this matter, it is necessary that an adult himself see the dignity of the child, treat him with respect (and not just with love) and be able to notice all his successes, even the smallest ones.
nine0006
- Teaching a child to manage their behavior
It is necessary to teach the ability to manage oneself in situations that cause the greatest anxiety in the child
- Teach the child to relax
It is important for all children to be able to relax, but for anxious children it is simply a necessity, because the state of anxiety is accompanied by a clamping of different muscle groups.
It is very useful for such a child to attend group psycho-corrective classes - after consultation with a psychologist. The topic of childhood anxiety is well developed in psychology, and usually the effect of such activities is palpable. nine0006
Prevention of anxiety. Recommendations to parents.
- Communicating with your child, do not undermine the authority of other significant people.
For example, you can’t say to a child: “Your teachers understand a lot, better listen to your grandmother!”.
Be consistent in your actions, do not forbid the child for no reason what was allowed before.
- Consider children's abilities, do not demand from them what they cannot do. nine0025
If a child is given some kind of educational Subject with difficulty, it is better to once again help him and provide support, and when even the slightest success is achieved, do not forget to praise him.
- Trust your child, be honest with him and accept him for who he is.
If for some objective reasons it is difficult for a child to study, choose a circle for him to his liking so that classes in it bring joy to the child and he does not feel disadvantaged. nine0006
If parents are not satisfied with the behavior and success of their child, this is not a reason to deny him love and support. Let your child live in an atmosphere of warmth and trust, and then all his many talents will manifest.
If you have any questions on this topic, write or call us +7 (3822) 33–44–77.
Yours truly, Four Leaf Clover.
We wish you happiness and prosperity!
We recommend you specialists: Kupriyanova Irina Evgenievna, Zaichenko Tatyana Vladimirovna, Serykh Nadezhda Sergeevna, Glushko Tatyana Valerievna
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Unobvious signs of anxiety in children
I have long wanted to write about the unobvious signs of anxiety in children. The fact is that there is, as it were, an upper layer of symptoms - fears, anxiety, shyness, etc. They are easy to notice and interpret, incl. parent. And there are certain signs that in themselves do not suggest anxiety. But they are also about anxiety. What is the connection? Studies show that there are signs of general hypersensitivity, a labile nervous system, and an excitable type of temperament in a child, which are statistically often associated with anxiety.
This is such a complex system. So these signs are important to know, because the sooner anxiety is recognized, the easier it is to correct it. nine0006
So, non-obvious signs of childhood anxiety:
1. Pickiness in food.
Many children are picky, many children do not want to eat certain foods. But anxious kids take it to the next level. It's much easier to tell what they're eating than what they're not eating (it's fairly typical for an anxious child to eat only 4-5 foods). They can throw up if something from the "inedible" accidentally ends up in their food or on the table. They almost never try new things. They are picky about the texture of food, they may not eat "their" product if it is "wrong" cooked. They may generally refuse to eat if some “wrong” product has touched their plate, or even is simply present in the neighborhood (it smells, it is visible, the parent is eating, etc.). nine0006
2. There are many demands and complaints about clothing.
Approximately the same as with food. It hurts, it rubs. It doesn't fit that. Anxious children refuse to wear some item of clothing at all, even if it is fraught with overheating or freezing. They invent complex patterns of dressing and undressing, combinations of things.
Tightly stick to some things and refuse to change them, even if it is no longer possible to wear (because this is the only thing that bothers little when worn). They can become hysterical because of any problem with clothes or shoes (constant tears and scandals during kindergarten or school fees are very typical). nine0006
3. Acute reaction to sharp sounds and noise in general.
Violently startle, frighten, or begin to cry at any sudden, loud, or unexpected sound, even if it is relatively familiar to the environment (for example, a signal from a household appliance). They refuse to go to places where the volume or noise level is more than usual (circuses, theaters, cinemas, crowded places, etc.
). They clamp their ears if some increase in volume is expected and it is impossible to run away. nine0006
4. Adherence to the daily routine, routines and rituals.
Again, many children have a craving for structure and routine, but the anxious child literally cannot live without it. He needs to know exactly what will happen next, what follows what. Tantrums are typical at the slightest accidental deviation from the plan of action (for example, the mother pressed the elevator button instead of the child). Require the use of the same items, in the same way, over and over again. As a rule, there is a clear sequence of actions before going to bed. They may require parents to start all over again and “do it right” if something in the middle went wrong. nine0006
5. Intolerance to dirt on oneself.
Requires a change of clothes, a shower, or at least hand washing if soiled. Avoid games and activities associated with the risk of getting dirty.
They can become hysterical if they accidentally get very dirty and there is no way to wash and change right now. Constantly want to wash their hands, even if there is no visible dirt.
6. Trouble being alone or even not seeing a parent for a while. nine0216
"Stickiness" in contact, both at home and in the company of other people. It is typical to follow the parent from room to room, trying to be present in the bathroom, and crying/hysterical if this is not allowed. Panic when a parent is out of sight even for a few seconds and in a safe environment (at home). Children literally physically cling to their parents and hang on to them, being away or in a new environment, regardless of age.
7. Difficulties in establishing relationships.
Anxious children are very slow to bond with anyone and take a long time to develop trust. Because of this, they may have almost no friends in the class or group. At birthday parties or joint events, they prefer to hang on to their parents or hide in a corner, even if they are interested in something.
May react aggressively to persistent attempts by other children to play or talk to them.
8. Selective mutism.
There are many studies on the relationship between selective mutism and anxiety (up to the hypothesis of 90% chance of an anxiety disorder with this symptom). In general, selective mutism is the periodic inability to speak. As a rule, this happens in very specific situations (school, other children, etc.). Sometimes children can whisper or communicate with gestures and signs instead of speech, sometimes they can’t do anything at all and “freeze”.
9. Something with sleep.
Anxious children rarely sleep well. It can be anything - nightmares, constant awakenings with the arrival of parents, great difficulty falling asleep, fear of the dark, inability to sleep alone in a bed or in a room, enuresis, etc. But something will definitely happen, because anxiety greatly affects neurochemistry and the physiology of sleep.
