It is normal for kids to be anxious from time to time, but how do you know when your child's worries are cause for concern?
It is normal for kids to be anxious from time to time, but how do you know when your child's worries are cause for concern?
All children have fears. Your baby may not be too keen on strangers. Your toddler may be afraid of cats. Your 5-year-old may get a stomach-ache the day he's starting school. But some kids worry a lot more than others. It's always painful to watch a child suffer from anxiety, but it's especially difficult if you're not sure whether they’re worrying the same as every other little one their age or if they’re worrying too much and might need help.
The difference between normal worry and an anxiety disorder is severity. Although feeling anxious is a natural reaction to a stressful or dangerous situation, a child may need help if his anxiety is out of proportion, if it persists and if it gets in the way of his everyday life.
Signs That a Child Is Anxious:
- A young child who is overwhelmed by worries may not realize that those worries are unrealistic or exaggerated, and he may not express them, except by his behaviour. If he's anxious that something might happen to a parent, he may have trouble separating, or falling asleep. If he can't stop worrying about getting sick, he might seek constant reassurance, or wash his hands obsessively.
- Children who have severe anxiety will also try to avoid the thing that triggers it. If a child refuses to participate in activities other children enjoy; if she throws a tantrum before every appointment with the dentist or doctor appointment; if she gets sick on Sunday nights, or spends a great deal of time in the school nurse's office, serious anxiety may be the culprit.
What to Do If Your Child May Need Help
- The first step in seeking help for your child is an evaluation. The clinician you see should have a diagnostic expertise and should explain the sources of information she's going to use. It's a good idea to keep track of the behaviours that worry you and when they occur, to help identify possible triggers.
Written by Laura Doyle: Laura blogs over at Love, Life and Little Ones. She's a 29-year-old mum of four, part time beauty therapist and loves writing about all things parenting.
