Anxiety
Anxiety, like depression, is more common in childhood than most people like to think. From 6-20% of children have an anxiety disorder at some point in time.
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is a feeling of nervousness, worry, or unease. It is actually normal in certain times of development. Most infants develop some degree of stranger anxiety at around 9 months old. Young children are prone to separation anxiety and fear of new things. Early school aged children may have a fear of harm to parents or other important adults. And, of course, most children in school have anxiety over testing, new social situations, or appearance. Anxiety becomes a disorder when it either lasts longer than the usual developmental stage, or is bad enough to affect how the child is able to function.
There are several different types of anxiety, many of which can occur together. The first is generalized anxiety disorder, which is excessive worry about a variety of situations or events. The second is panic disorder, where the child has short episodes where they feel sudden intense fear, along with dizziness, sweating, and heart palpitations. Separation anxiety disorder is when the child is anxious an unusual amount or past the usual developmental period with being away from the person they’re attached to. Agoraphobia is generally the fear of being outside the home. Many people are slightly anxious in social situations, but social phobia is an excess amount of anxiety in situations with adults and peers. Finally, there are specific phobias, such as storms or clowns, that only occur when the child is exposed to the feared object, place, or thing. Obsessive compulsive disorder and post traumatic stress disorder are also considered to be part of the anxiety disorders.
How can I tell if my child has anxiety?
As suggested above, the most common sign of anxiety is the exaggeration of normal fears or worries. Separation anxiety lasting past the usual time, extreme fear of certain places or things, or worrying too much in general are examples. This can lead to clinginess, not wanting to try new things, crying, temper tantrums, and anger.
Anxiety and fear can trigger our fight or flight reflexes, which leads to heart palpitations, increased breathing rate, and jitteriness. In short bursts this can be helpful-like when you pull your child out of the street-but over the long term it can cause changes to your body that are hurtful.
Anxiety can cause other physical symptoms. These are nonspecific complaints, like headaches or stomach aches, that do not have a physical cause. On the other hand, children with diagnosed diseases can also have anxiety about the symptoms and/or disease, causing the symptoms to be worse than they would otherwise be.
Finally, sometimes there can be no symptoms. Some children are very good at hiding their concerns and issues. This is another reason why it’s important to keep an open line of communication with your child about how they’re doing.
If you think your child has anxiety talk to your pediatrician about it. They can talk with your and your child about what’s going on. If needed, your pediatrician can then send you on to a mental health care provider. Because the different kinds of anxiety can occur together, and anxiety and other issues such as depression can occur together it’s important to be as accurate as possible in diagnosis.
Who is more likely to have anxiety?
Having a close relative with anxiety or depression can increase the chances for a child to have anxiety. Not only can genes be passed on that may make it more likely, but the general family dynamics and ways of coping or not coping affect how a child is able to function.
A child who is frequently exposed to adverse experiences, such as violence, bullying, divorce, or an unstable living situation is more likely to develop anxiety.
How can I help my child?
First, you can help by listening to your child and their fears. Not only can you find out how they’re doing, but a good relationship with your child gives them confidence that helps them in life. If it seems like they may need some help dealing with their anxieties, then contact your pediatrician or mental health professional (if you already have one).
The mainstay of treatment is therapy. There are a few different methods of therapy, and your counselor can work with you and your child to figure out which works best for you. It may take a while for therapy to help, but be patient and continue working. Also, the symptoms of anxiety can come and go, so there may be times when they need therapy more than others.
There are medicines that can be used, many of them also used for depression. These are meant to be used in addition to, not instead of therapy.
Many things can be done at home to help your child. Don’t mock them for their fears, let them know you’re listening and not just wanting to shut them up. Encourage your child to have healthy habits such as good sleep, eating, and exercise. Model behaviors for your child, it helps them to see you having confidence and using problem solving skills as you deal with issues. Ask your therapist for other, more specific, things you can do at home in between sessions.
Bottom line.
Anxiety is common, and can be a normal part of development. If it becomes a problem, get your kid some help.
Links.
Understanding childhood fears and anxieties.
Understanding the stress response.
