|
Growing up, children experience a lot of stress. From being afraid of the dark and monsters under the bed to going through puberty and facing academic pressure; each stage of life brings new challenges for children and adolescents. Anxiety is very common in both children and teens, and it's important that parents know how to recognize symptoms so they can help their children.
Anxiety in young children
Almost all children experience anxiety in some form or another, which is normal. Low levels of anxiety and worry can actually be helpful, alerting us of danger and keeping us from harm. However, high levels of anxiety can be harmful, and when anxiety starts to affect a child’s everyday life and puts them in extreme distress, it's time to seek help.
Approximately 5.8 million children in the US are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.
Anxiety can look different from child to child, depending on what is making them anxious and the kind of anxiety they are experiencing.
Overall, common signs of concerning anxiety include:
- Avoiding activities, situations or people that make them anxious
- Focusing on what can go wrong
- Fears and anxiety that interferes with daily activities
- Still experiences worry and distress after being reassured by a parent or adult
- Cannot sleep, or wants to sleep with parents
- Frequent stomachaches and/or headaches that are not due to an underlying health condition
| 
