Anxiety in Children

Anxiety is often overlooked as being the personality of the child, although it can significantly affect their ability to develop in a healthy way. Most people think that children do not have ‘stress’ or do not suffer from anxiety disorders. Nothing could be further from the truth. Children experience anxiety as much as adults do, though for altogether different reasons.

Children can manifest a variety of symptoms that may be associated with anxiety and fear. In the absence of any physical cause for these distressing symptoms, parents are often left helpless since most specialists would just declare that the child is ‘fine’ without being able to offer any treatment. Some such symptoms are:

• Bedwetting
• Being overly emotional and weepy
• Biting nails
• Being noticeably shy and trying to hide themselves
• Cough
• Difficulty falling asleep
• Facial or other tics
• Grinding teeth in sleep
• Headaches
• Losing focus or seeming lost
• Nausea or vomiting
• Nightmares
• Stomach pain
• Stuttering

If a child consistently shows the following signs, they probably have some degree of anxiety:

• Separation is difficult. The child tends to be clingy and reacts in a fearful way when away from parents.
• Has strong fears related to certain things or situations. Like being around strangers, clowns, costumed characters, animals, insects or going to a doctor.
• Being afraid or uncomfortable being in places with many people. Like schools, malls or crowded places.
• Seems worried about what might happen. These may also be imaginary situations.
• Has episodes of panic or strong fear with associated physical symptoms like breathing difficulty, sweating and fast heartbeat.
• Is irritable and restless in certain places or situations.