How common is anxiety in children?
According to MindHK, one in four teens experience “clinically-high” levels of anxiety. “Clinically-high” levels are early symptoms of an illness that signal that the child is at a higher risk of developing a serious mental health disorder.
What is anxiety in a child?
At its base, anxiety is a continuing fear of a real or imagined threat. Your child might fear the judgement of their friends, or of you, their parents. They might worry that they are not good enough, or that they will be rejected or that they will come up against challenges that they cannot overcome. When your child is constantly in a state of fear, their body will register the danger, releasing the stress hormones, cortisol.
Signs of anxiety in children
You might notice the following signs of anxiety in your child's body:
Headaches
Digestion issues (constipation and/or diarrhea)
Sore muscles
Trouble sleeping
Skin issues (like eczema, acne and hives)
Immune issues (getting colds and flu more often)
You might notice the following signs of anxiety in their behaviour:
impulsiveness
aggressiveness
becoming withdrawn
becoming more needy
You might also notice that they:
procrastinate more
hold onto perfectionism
avoid school
play more games
are more distracted or tied to social media
Is this stress or anxiety?
The difference between stress and anxiety is that stress tends to revolve around a particular event. It is normal to feel anxious about a test or meeting new friends. Anxiety is when the fear of that test or meeting stretches long before or after it has taken place. You might start to notice that your otherwise carefree child’s behaviour changes before the test. They might spend more time online, work for hours or become upset about things that would otherwise not bother them. When you ask them about what’s going on, they might withdraw or they might burst into tears. And this doesn’t happen once, it happens a number of times.
To judge whether or not your child is experiencing normal stress, or anxiety, take note of:
when they shows signs of anxiety
how long it lasts
how intense it is
How to help anxiety in children:
Pay attention
Start taking note of when your child seems anxious, how often this happens and how intense their symptoms are.
2. Work together as a family
Discuss with your partner the symptoms you are seeing and how best you believe you can support your child together. Find time to talk with your child and listen to what they say they feel and need.
3. Reach out to your child’s school
If the symptoms are ongoing, notify your child’s teachers. They spend a great deal of time with your child and might be able to support them in school.
4. Reach out to a therapist
Consider reaching out to a therapist who can offer strategies to help your child manage their symptoms and help you hold space for both you child and your own feelings. Anxiety can have a significant effect on a child, as well as those they are closest to, so drawing on support is highly recommended.
Supplements for anxiety in children
A healthy diet is always ideal, but sometimes your child might find it difficult to digest or eat the amount of food that is necessary. If this is the case, consider supplements, but always consult your doctor first. They can advise on the right dosage and whether or not the supplements you have chosen are right for your child.
You could ask them about:
Magnesium
Omega 3
Vitamin D
GABA
Vitamins B1, B6, B12
Zinc
Tamsyn Rippon is a relational therapist at Sakura Counselling who works with individuals, parents, couples and families to better support their capacity to connect and manage challenges both within and with one another.
You can contact Tamsyn at:
website: www.sakuracounselling.com
instagram: @sakuracounselling7
All articles are informative and not intended to be a solution for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be relied upon for specific medical advice.
Comments