It really is heartbreaking to think that your child may possibly have an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders actually affect 1 in 8 children in this country.
If you suspect this is the case, addressing the issue early is paramount so that the anxiety doesn’t turn into something far more serious. Left untreated a child will often times suffer in silence and unnecessarily.
Identifying and treating any type of disorder, whether it be an anxiety disorder or any other type of illness from the onset is far easier to manage than attempting to treat it years later.
Take it from me I am someone who knows all to well how devastating ignoring an anxiety disorder can be.
Now as an adult I can reflect back to my childhood and understand that I definitely started exhibiting behaviors very early on that were indicative of a child with an anxiety disorder.
Unfortunately my parents nor teachers were aware of the signs and just shrugged my behavior off as being just an overly sensitive and shy kid. That sadly was not the case and even today I struggle with anxiety and panic attacks when I overly stressed.
I truly believe that if this condition would have been recognized and addressed early on, I would have had a different life all together.
Being a really shy and introverted kid I didn’t have a problem locking myself in a room and reading for hours at a time. I guess it was a form of escapism. If only back then there would have been a children’s book that addressed the topic of anxiety like the new “Scardies Away! A Kids Guide to Overcoming Worry and Anxiety” does.
Such a guide would have ensured that my younger self would have had the benefit of knowing that it was ok to feel scared and afraid sometimes. Often this is all children need to know in order to heal, with the additional support of being told that they aren’t weird or worst yet being a sissy for feeling this way!
This fun and inspiring book does a really good job at helping kids feel safe with their feelings. One of the authors is Barry Mc Donagh, the founder of the famous Panic Away Program that has helped so many people conquer their anxiety and panic. I’m so pleased that he is now helping children do the same with their fears as well.
Keep in mind also that anxiety disorders in children and adults often co-occur with other disorders such as eating disorders, depression and ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder).
Since kids that are experiencing anxiety often avoid talking about their feelings, it is important to keep a close eye on a child that you suspect is experiencing anxiety on a daily basis.
These children are usually very sensitive and they just don’t want to bother their parents
or they feel that their parents will judge them harshly. Often they are fearful of being judged by their teachers and peers as well and they feel that they will be considered weak, scared or babyish.
Anxiety is really a form of stress that is experienced in different ways; physically, mentally and in the way a child views the world around him.
It is quite normal for most children to exhibit some kind of anxiety from time to time. This anxiety should eventually work itself out and they will get back to living life as children do. This cycle is just a natural part of life.
But it is when a child’s anxiety begins to affect their day to day functioning that it becomes a reason to be concerned. The child might start avoiding places and things like school, playgrounds and other kids.
Separation Anxiety
It is not normally a cause for concern if your child experiences anxiety on the first day of school. Kids entering kindergarten, preschool or daycare for the first time are going to feel some type of anxiety and perhaps start crying uncontrollably for their mother.
This usually causes the mom to be upset as well, knowing that her child is feeling discomfort. But as time goes by, the child starts feeling at ease with the whole process and may even start to feel excitement about going to school and making new friends.
It is the child that feels nauseous every morning just before going to school or has panic attacks on a regular basis, or pretends to be sick all the time and doesn’t want to go to school that is reason for concern.
If this is the case for your child, it is a good idea to try to get him or her to share their feelings with you. I wouldn’t necessarily force them to go to school either if it seems to be causing great distress.
Now of course you can’t keep your kid out of school forever, so it’s important to recognize the signs and do something about it. Be proactive about getting down to the real causes for their anxiety asap, so your child can get back to school and start living a normal happy child’s life.
Getting teachers and school counselors involved in the matter will usually shed additional light on the problem. This way you can also alert them to the problem so that you now have a team of adults that are aware and that can be of service.
Be patient with this process, it might actually take several weeks before your kid opens up to you. But by all means be persistent and get to the bottom of the issue.
Below is a list of the more common symptoms that occur when children are experiencing anxiety. If these symptoms lasts for longer than a month, it is recommended that you talk to your child’s pediatrician as well.
Anxiety Symptoms:
- Nausea
- Bed-wetting
- Panic attacks
- Hyperactivity
- Hypersensitivity
- Nail Biting
- Nightmares
- Trouble sleeping or staying asleep
- Depression
- Restlessness
- Excessive worrying
- Excessive crying
- Avoidance behavior (of people and/or places)
If you suspect that your child is experiencing recurring anxiety, do understand that with treatment, coupled with a patient and positive attitude from you, teachers and professionals, a child can indeed overcome an anxiety disorder.
