Parents should be wary of these signs in their children.
Every child experiences anxiety; it's just a part of childhood. But sometimes, those feelings of anxiety are a sign of an underlying anxiety disorder.
Academic stress, depression, substance abuse, eating disorders… and these anxious children are at a higher risk of suicide.
How do you know if your child is overly anxious?
If your child says anything repeatedly, these phrases could be code words for the phrase "I'm worried."
For example:My child has a stomach ache.My child often has stomachaches. It feels like their stomach is about to explode.
Anxiety is a common feeling in the body. Stomach pain is very common in anxious children because during anxiety, the body redirects blood flow from the abdominal organs to the brain, slowing down digestion and potentially causing nausea.
"I'm not hungry."When children are overly anxious, they often feel bloated and have a lack of appetite.
"Can I stay home?"When children are anxious, they may try to avoid stressful situations.
"I want to leave here."Children who are anxious in a stressful environment or situation will often ask to leave so they can escape the stress.
"It's very difficult for you to do this; it's not simple at all."Anxious children tend to expect perfection from themselves, so they may avoid a difficult task to prevent making mistakes.
"Is Mom upset with me?"Many anxious children will seek constant approval or reassurance from others.
"I can't sleep."Anxious children may have difficulty sleeping.
"I'm so tired."Children who are anxious often have trouble falling asleep or sleep restlessly, but sometimes the only sign you might see is that they complain of feeling tired.
"What would happen if…?"Anxious children often worry constantly, sometimes about things far into the future.
"I feel very hot."When a child experiences an anxiety attack (often called a panic attack), it can cause hot flashes and sweating. Other symptoms of a panic attack include a pounding or trembling heart, shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, tingling sensations, and chills.
"I have a headache."Anxiety or a panic attack can also cause headaches.
In addition, parents should also pay attention to these behaviors in their children:
- Frequent crying or crying that often sounds sad.
- Easily angered.
- Extremely sensitive behavior, such as stealing personal belongings.
- Having a bad mood easily or for no apparent reason.
- Frequently irritable.
- It seems difficult to concentrate.
- Easily frightened, sometimes due to obsessions or excessive fear.
- Waking up in the middle of the night because of bad dreams or nightmares.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder, such as anxiety about germs, arranging objects in a specific way, finger touching, etc.
- Experiences of intense anger or melting away.
- Rejecting opportunities to socialize with friends.
- They seem too concerned about grades at school.
- Overreacting to any constructive criticism from parents or teachers.
- To run away or hide to avoid stressful situations.
- Clingy behavior when you try to leave them for even a short time.
If you notice your child exhibiting these symptoms, you need immediate relief to help minimize their anxiety. Talk to your primary care physician. Your child may have some knowledge of childhood anxiety and can offer some advice on coping strategies. Look for good books about childhood anxiety for parents.
And remember that experiencing one of these symptoms doesn't necessarily mean your child has an anxiety disorder. The doctor will be interested in how the symptoms affect your child's daily life or if they impact other family members.
