How do you know if your child is struggling with anxiety? They may not always show anxiety in the same ways as adults do and so as a parent it may be missed. There are several things that can bring about stress in a child. Some children may have school anxiety due to bullying, learning disabilities that are undiagnosed, separation from parents, problems with friends, family issues and even the environment. Many kids struggle with social anxiety – where they may feel worried or nervous around a group of peers.
Some signs and symptoms that might be observed by a parent are:
Aggression
Fatigue
Nervous ticks or habits
Some social withdrawal
Compulsive behaviors
Regression to younger behaviors like bed wetting or incontinent
Acting out in school
The child may not know why they are feeling the way they do or why they may be feeling so drawn to continuously perform a behavior like checking locks, washing hands, checking on where a parent is in the home. The child may continue this behavior because it will give them some temporary relief from the uncomfortable feelings in their body. The patterns can become behaviors that the child engages in every time they feel any level of anxiety, and this forms a pattern in their brains.
Therapy is the first line of treatment because it can support the child in understanding their anxiety. With understanding of the events that trigger their bodies need to engage in repetitive behaviors or why they may withdraw in certain situations the child can then learn to use healthier tool to calm their nervous system. The tools that the child uses may be vary according to the child’s individual nervous system. It is important to help the child find the right tools so they can feel empowered over their anxiety and choose to use the tools that keep them engaged in their social and academic endeavors. When the child can feel a sense of empowerment, they are more likely to feel confident in new situations and approach challenges with excitement.
