The first step in determining which type of anxiety your child has is to find out whether they are experiencing normal worries and anxieties that come with proper age, or if they are struggling with symptoms of an anxiety disorder.
Kids experience things that make them anxious. This can be dealt with as it happens, or it could require treatment depending on the severity of the anxiety. There’s a difference between normal, occasional bouts of anxiety and chronic, ever-present anxiety. Reaching out to a mental health professional is important in cases where prolonged anxiety won’t go away without formal treatment.
Most parents are surprised to learn that kids can also have anxiety disorders. It’s important to talk about this early on so you can help spot potential issues in your child. Although everyone may not have the disorder, it’s still a possibility when there are symptoms.
Kids can be afraid of many different things, and that makes recognizing their problem as a disorder more difficult. For example, they may be afraid of going out of the house, they may have separation issues, or they could be afraid of animals. All of these can be normal, but if they interfere with the child’s quality of life then it’s time to consult a professional.
There are many different types of anxiety disorders, but they all come down to how the sufferer sees the world. This is why it can be difficult for them to actually control their thoughts and feelings, rather than the other way around.
Like a computer, the brain can perform well for years without interruption. However, when faced with new and sudden stressors that cause fear and anxiety, the brain’s performance can deteriorate unnecessarily. Much as a computer functions optimally if you add more RAM, your brain performs better when faced with these environmental pressures if it has access to stored reserves of chemicals to help buffer the situation. The problem is that our brains have a limited supply of those chemicals on-hand and they may struggle to always maintain optimum performance.
One of the best things about anxiety in children is that once it has been properly treated, it is highly manageable. So don’t worry if you’re afraid to take your child to a psychologist or prescribe him or her medication – it’s worth getting the problem under control as soon as possible. Children need to be able to relax and fit in with their peers at school, but this development stage must not be hindered by anxiety. Furthermore, taking care of any potential issues early means that they won’t have to suffer the effects of anxiety when they grow up.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, anxiety in children also has other symptoms than fear. It can be tricky to identify because it often comes with other common symptoms of different health problems. Here is a partial list:
Dizziness is a symptom of many conditions and can be caused by a number of factors.
Heart Palpitations
Rapid Breathing
Headaches
Nausea
Diarrhea
Constipation
Sweating
These symptoms could be related to other medical conditions, so it is recommended that you take them seriously. Consult your child’s pediatrician for a diagnosis of physical health problems, or for symptoms of anxiety. If you suspect these may be the cause, and your child does not have any physical diseases or anxiety issues, then it is best that you do not diagnose on your own.
Anxiety in children is a difficult problem, but there are things you can do to help them with their mental health.
