How To Know The Signs Your Child May Be Experiencing Anxiety

In children, anxiety is identified late, not because parents are unaware, but because they live in confusion and may think that their child’s visible fear, worry, or avoidance is caused by temperamental quirks or discipline issues, and it's just a passing phase. Recognising the signs that your child may be experiencing anxiety is crucial so that you can support them with understanding and reassurance. 

Key Signs To Watch For:

• Worries related to schoolwork or friends misunderstanding them

• May refuse to go to school or friends and relatives

• Frequent headaches or stomach aches without medical reasons

• Sleep disturbances

• Fearful and frustrated

• Always tearful and becoming too sensitive

What Is Anxiety In Children?

Anxiety and fear in childhood are not uncommon things. As fear is a natural reaction to danger, small children may exhibit anxious responses, such as nervousness, worry, and mental restlessness, when they perceive a situation as threatening. When the teacher scolds in class, some children may become very anxious about her next move, while others may not react at all.

Thus, anxiety symptoms in children do not surface as easily as in adults. Some children may withdraw from the situation; others may cry excessively, become irritated, or complain of sickness without any obvious reasons. When a child is anxious, you may find them giving bigger emotional reactions to situations that are normal. They may shiver or tremble, cling to elders, or become unusually upset.

Who Is Most Affected?

Children of all ages can experience anxiety, but it is often more noticeable during the onset of school, exam time, performance pressure, and family conflicts. Some shy and timid children may become anxious easily because of their overly sensitive nature. Children who are brought up with parents who always seem to be overthinking or worrying may show anxious responses to challenging situations.

 How Common Is It?

Anxiety is a common response that many children show at different stages of their growing-up years. Toddlers may suffer from anxiety and fear when they begin their school life. Children who are a little older may seem worried when their friends fight with them or misunderstand them. 

Moreover, children of late childhood years may suffer from performance anxiety, as triggered by parental and societal expectations. According to the NCERT survey, about 11% of school-going children in India have suffered from anxiety.

Childhood Anxiety Signs

• Worry or cry more often than others

• Frequently complains about headaches, muscle aches, and upset stomach

• Find it hard to sit still

• Have a hard time focusing

• Trembles and feels shaky in unknown situations

• School refusal may happen

• Extreme clinginess to a parent

• May experience difficulty falling asleep or suffer nightmares 

• Avoiding social events and may even fear making new friends

What is Normal vs When to Worry

Parents need to understand the difference between normal anxiety and when signs are concerning, so that they can help their child early and seek appropriate support from professionals.

Usually normal

• Temporary fears related to dark rooms, unknown people, or places

• Mild nervousness before school events or exams

• Wanting reassurance from parents in stressful times

• Mild stress while leaving parents at the school gate

• Fear when entering a dark room

• Fear of making mistakes, in case parents scold

May need medical attention

• Intense fear and worries that last longer than usual

• School anxiety signs, such as avoiding school  and activities

• Teary-eyed while facing new situations

• Ongoing stomach aches, headaches, and clear signs of distress

• Fear of separation, even when receiving reassurance from parents

• Trouble concentrating or falling grades

• Physical symptoms of anxiety, like shaking, dry mouth, and facial appearance, appear fearful without any immediate threat

Types of Anxiety In Children

There are different types of anxiety disorders that children may experience:

Separation anxiety: Extreme fear or distress when away from parents or caregivers, even in safe places like school or a relative's house. 

Specific phobias: Intense fear of a particular object or situation, such as dogs, darkness, heights, or injections. 

Social anxiety disorder: Fear and nervousness while meeting new people or making new friends.

Generalised anxiety disorder: The child worries constantly about various things like school, academics, performance, and the future.

Panic disorder: Experiences sudden episodes of intense fear, accompanied by symptoms such as shaking, chest discomfort, or shortness of breath.

Causes Of Anxiety In Children

Anxiety in children may have multiple causes, such as:

• Family history of anxiety

• Stressful home environment with divorced parents, or moving homes multiple times

• Academic pressure or fear of losing marks

• Separation anxiety symptoms are due to a child’s strong fear of being left alone

• Trauma related to accidents or abuse by elders

• Bullying at school or friendship issues

• The child's shy temperament can make them oversensitive

• Excessive screen exposure to distressing news or programs

What Parents Can Do at Home

Parents may feel confused about how to help an anxious child at home. A few of the tips may help them recognise the signs early and create a supportive home where children feel safe and more confident.

Maintain a predictable routine
Follow a routine and let the child follow it so that they know what to expect next. Regular sleep, meals, schoolwork, and play times can help children feel secure and more in control.

Simple relaxation techniques
Allowing the child to experience calm through exercises such as deep breathing, counting slowly, or gentle stretching can help calm the body during anxious moments.

Encourage them to face their fears in small, brave steps
Help your child face fears gradually instead of avoiding everything. Small successes build confidence over time and reduce feelings of anxiousness and worry.

Offer reassurance but not overprotection

When the child is scared or distressed, it is essential to support them mentally. Listen to them and reassure them that you are there to support them no matter what, but do not overprotect them. Allow them to experience fear and anxiety gradually, so that they learn coping skills on their own. 

Limit stressful screen exposure

Too much upsetting news or frightening programs on television can raise anxiety in children. Limit their screen time and make sure they avoid overstimulating or sensitive things that might increase their anxiety.

Conclusion

Some children are naturally sensitive and may find it tough to deal with stress around them. They may live in fear, lacking the self-confidence to face things on their own. With understanding from parents, patience from teachers, and support from all elders around, children can effectively overcome their symptoms. With timely treatment from an expert, they will be able to gather courage and stay calm in times of stress.

Expert Insight

According to Dr Alka Kapoor, principal of Modern Public School, Shalimarbag, “Anxious children might have difficulty focusing,  frequently losing their train of thought during school work or routine activities.”