What anxiety can look like in children?
What anxiety can look like in children?
Throughout the pandemic, many families have struggled with fears about COVID, lockdowns, and employment concerns, all while experiencing a compounding of other things like school, childcare, and social support services. Adjustment concerns are major following the pandemic period, particularly for children who may have been affected by anxiety during the pandemic. Children might have attended school virtually away from peers, or come back to school after attending a majority of their early adolescent years in virtual classrooms.
Research has shown that families who experienced financial strain, lack of quality housing, loneliness, isolation and relationship conflict reported worse child and parental mental health over time (Westrupp et. al.,2021)
So what are some signs of anxiety to look for in a child?
These can vary by age and child to child, but can include:
- Avoiding situations or activities that were previously achievable (refusing to go to a once loved sport activity they use to enjoy)
- Noticeable changes in emotional regulation (example: increase in irritability)
- Regressions in behavior such as clingy behavior, nail biting, bed wetting
- Physical symptoms such as headaches, tummy aches and/or fatigue
- Disruptions to everyday living, such as poor concentration, sleep or appetite
With these signs you would also consider
- How often do you notice it?
- How disruptive or impactful has it been?
- How long have you noticed these symptoms?
Many young individuals can have an anxious day in response to a new changes in their lives. But fewer individuals experience concerns consistently for more than two weeks.
Treatment for Child Anxiety
Begin a conversation about your child’s feelings, this can help children regulate these strong emotions. If your child is struggling and you’re worried they’re experiencing signs of anxiety, it’s worth talking to a professional to get them early support.
First, you can seek the help of your medical doctor to assess any physical health problems. They may also refer you to a private mental health professional. Second, you can speak with your child’s early education or school teacher to assess assessment or support. Third, contact us, we can help!! (239) 495-7722
References
Anxiety can look different in children. here’s what to look for and some treatments to consider. The Conversation. (2022, October 12). Retrieved November 1, 2022, from https://theconversation.com/anxiety-can-look-different-in-children-heres-what-to-look-for-and-some-treatments-to-consider-189685
Westrupp, E. M., Greenwood, C. J., Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, M., Olsson, C. A., Sciberras, E., Mikocka-Walus, A., Melvin, G. A., Evans, S., Stokes, M. A., Wood, A. G., Karantzas, G. C., Macdonald, J. A., Toumbourou, J. W., Teague, S. J., Fernando, J. W., Berkowitz, T. S., Ling, M., & Youssef, G. J. (2021). Parent and child mental health trajectories April 2020 to May 2021: Strict lockdown versus no lockdown in Australia. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 56(11), 1491–1502. https://doi.org/10.1177/00048674211065365