Anxiety In Children - Talbert Zoo

If you’re noticing a recent increase in worry, anxiety, and fear in your young child, you may be wondering if they are suffering from an anxiety disorder. Being able to properly identify the symptoms and triggers is an important first step in assisting your child to get the help that they need. Continue reading to find out how anxiety is most commonly diagnosed, how to recognize the symptoms of anxiety in children, and how it is treated in this age group. Armed with this information, you will be better able to help your child to cope with their anxiety.

anxiety in children

Generally speaking, there are two different types of anxiety disorders in kids. Generalized anxiety and specific phobias are the two main types. Specific phobias are fears of a number of different types, including heights, dark places, water, bugs, or big animals. Generalized anxiety is the presence of excessive worries and fears for no apparent reason.

Specific physical symptoms accompany the anxiety. Children with generalized anxiety will exhibit a wide variety of symptoms. Some of these physical symptoms include restlessness, muscle tension, dizziness, sweating, headaches, nausea, twitching, upset stomach, frequent urination, tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing, tight throat, muscle tension, and increased heart rate. On the other hand, specific phobias include panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and social anxiety. These specific types of anxiety typically stem from irrational fears, though sometimes the fear itself is not rational.

The anxiety symptoms outlined above can be very serious. When your child exhibits excessive worry and fear, he or she may be suffering from an anxiety disorder. Your child’s symptoms should never be ignored or underestimated. If you suspect that your child may be suffering from a disorder, get help immediately. Early intervention will help your child live a safer and happier life.

How can parents help to manage anxiety symptoms? First, they must identify and understand the source of their child’s anxiety. Some common sources are negative peer pressures, academic stressors, a family history of mental health issues, or substance abuse. Many children who exhibit anxiety symptoms also have other physical ailments, such as asthma, colitis, or hyperactivity.

Anxiety affects children in many ways. For instance, they may feel the worry and dread of many different situations. This is why your child feels anxious in a certain situation; the situation that is causing the anxiety may actually be a good situation in which your child can learn valuable life lessons. It is important, however, not to take your anxiety child’s situation personally.

If you observe your toddler or preschooler worrying and crying for seemingly no reason, this is a clue that they are anxious. The toddler or preschooler’s worry can be related to a physical feeling. A small baby might feel scared when they fall down, or a toddler or preschooler may feel worry if they get a tick on their neck. You can help your child reduce or eliminate their anxiety symptoms by encouraging them to relax when they are worried. When they learn to relax, they learn to control their fears, instead of always worrying about having an anxiety symptom.

Children may also exhibit anxiety if they are separated from their parents or caregivers. Separation anxiety is a common condition among children. Children with separation anxiety tend to worry about being alone, or about going on an unknown trip. These children often have phobias, such as fear of being eaten by a snake, fear of dark rooms, or fear of something that they cannot touch. Phobias and anxiety symptoms go hand-in-hand.

Another symptom of anxiety in children is the inability to gain appropriate sleep. This symptom occurs because the anxiety causes a disruption in the sleeping pattern of the child. The child may wake up several times in the night and may become exhausted by the constant waking. In order to get adequate sleep, the child must learn to identify his own signals for sleep, so that he will not be disturbed. By ignoring these signals and worries, the child may become a prisoner to his fears and anxiety.

There are other ways anxiety in children can manifest itself. For instance, young children experience separation anxiety when they are left with their siblings for an extended period of time. This is a natural response, but it can lead to severe anxiety when these children are left alone. As they grow older, these young children may experience more frequent separations, which can lead to more intense fears and anxieties.

In addition to frequent separations, anxiety affects the way children aged six to twelve years old to worry about moving on to the next level. As they get older, these children are no longer interested in moving on to the next grade. Instead, they want to stay at their present level of academic performance, which can make them very anxious and fearful. Their concerns can trigger physical symptoms, such as nausea and headaches. As they grow older, this type of anxiety affects their social interactions, as well, resulting in more worries and fears.