Anxiety in Children & the Support You can Give

Having a child with anxiety can leave you feeling frustrated or overwhelmed as a caregiver – but child anxiety isn’t that uncommon. Thankfully, it is entirely manageable with the right attitude and proper treatment. Read on to learn more about anxiety in children and how to support them.

Types of Anxiety

Separation Anxiety

If you are a parent or the caregiver of a young child, odds are good that you have seen signs of separation anxiety before. Separation anxiety usually manifests in children as they gain object permanence, when they realize that when something (for example, mom or dad) is out of sight, it still exists. You may see separation anxiety in children as young as 8 months, and up to around 3 years old.

Selective Mutism

Selective mutism is a rarer form of anxiety and is hard to identify or diagnose until children are around school age – when they are away from home more often. Children with selective mutism may be chatty and conversational at home or around familiar settings but become unable to speak when they are in strange environments or around strangers.

Many children who have selective mutism never speak to their classmates or teachers at school, which can cause difficulties in circumstances that require verbal communication.

Social Anxiety

Social anxiety, or social phobia, is a form of anxiety that arises whenever someone is exposed to uncomfortable social situations. It is caused by a fear of being judged or scrutinized by others, and when it manifests in children, social anxiety can lead to a lifelong struggle with engaging in normal, healthy social interactions.

There are many things that may act as triggers for children with social anxiety – public speaking, reading in front of others, speaking on the phone, speaking with strangers, or any situation which draws unusual attention to them in a social environment.

Symptoms of Anxiety

Excessive worry – Your child worries far more than other children about things, expecting the worst or simply letting a situation preoccupy their thoughts without reason.

Feelings of dread – Your child experiences feelings of fear or dread – whether it’s in relation to a specific situation or location, or a general feeling.

Agitation – Your child regularly seems restless, frustrated, or irritable, especially in relation to a situation or environment that may cause anxiety.

Treatments for Anxiety

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is always a good idea for individuals suffering from anxiety, whether they are children or adults – but treating anxiety from a young age may help eliminate the issue before it has a chance to take root and become a larger problem in the child’s life.

Psychotherapy will help to identify and manage a child’s anxiety by changing their thoughts and behaviors towards situations that cause anxiety, then introducing the child to situations that usually cause fear and anxiety in a controlled environment or setting.

Medication

For especially extreme or difficult-to-treat cases, medication can make a significant impact in treating a child’s emotional and physical symptoms. Many people suffer from anxiety, children and adults alike, and managing the worst symptoms with medication can be the difference between simply working with the stress of anxiety and living free of the stress altogether.

Self-Management

Mindfulness exercises, proper education, and a generally open mindset can help a child understand what causes their anxiety and how to handle it in a healthy way. Depending on the individual, exercise and diet can make a huge impact on how badly their anxiety affects them from day to day, so learning the ins and outs of your child’s specific anxiety can let you get a handle on the best way to treat them.

Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress, but it can become excessive. If you find that your child suffers from anxiety, keep in mind that it is common and there are several avenues that you can try to address and resolve it.