3 Signs Your Kid May Be Struggling With Anxiety

It can be challenging as a parent to tell if your child is anxious about new situations or is experiencing anxiety. For instance, it's completely natural for your youngster to be anxious the night before the start of school.

First-day nervousness are common, but if anxiety persists for more than a week or two and begins to affect functioning, such as the capacity to go to school, academics, focus, and sociability, it should be addressed.

Irina Gorelik, a child psychologist at Williamsburg Therapy Group, adds that depending on how long the nerves persist, they may also be a sign of anxiousness. She claims that while being worried and being anxious can both manifest similarly, the second has a more detrimental effect on the youngster.

Anxiety disorders 

Common mental health diseases called anxiety disorders typically result in feelings of fear, worry, or distress when particular circumstances arise. They can alter eating, sleeping, and behavioral patterns while also having an impact on the body. According to Dr. Lilly, anxiety disorders can increase over time and seriously impair a child's life if they are not properly recognized and treated.

Following are a few examples of frequent childhood anxiety disorders:

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
• Obsessive-compulsive behavior (OCD)
• Panic attack
• Phobias
• Social anxiety disorder (SAD)
• As with adults, girls are more likely than boys to experience anxiety disorders, and each child may react differently based on age, maturity, or coping mechanisms.

The body's natural reaction to danger, the "fight or flight" response causes anxiety symptoms in kids (and adults). This reaction causes the body to release chemicals that have an impact on digestion, respiration, muscles, and heart rate. According to Dr. Lilly, the "fight or flight" response occurs even when there is no danger.

The following signs are frequently observed in children with anxiety disorders, while this is not a comprehensive list:

1. Bedwetting
2. Behavioral alterations include irritability, anger, temper outbursts, clinginess, or recurrent sobs
3. Complaints of migraines or stomachaches
4. Worrying or thinking negatively all the time
5. A change in or an increase in appetite
6. Difficulty paying attention
7. Fears, such as a dread of the dark, travelling, or connecting with other people
8. Collecting seemingly insignificant objects
9. Sleep issues, nighttime awakenings, or nightmares.
10. Withdrawing from friends or relatives

It's our responsibility to share our serenity when kids are overcome by strong emotions rather than joining their confusion.

Helping Your Child with Anxiety

• Together, take long, deep breaths. As you both inhale deeply, count to five, and then exhale slowly while counting to five. If this feels excessive, begin with smaller counts. Once you've mastered this, progressively urges your child to exhale for one or two counts longer than they inhale to assist their bodies relax.
• Sit next to her and be a calming, comforting presence. It can be comforting to sense your presence, hold your hand, or, if feasible, snuggle.
• Ensure her that she will be OK and that her anxiety will disappear. Having a description of your anxiety can be useful.
• Ask her to visualize a calm, secure environment or person in her head. If you haven't done this before, assist her in choosing the location or the person while she's calm. It can be her room, the home of nice grandparents, the outdoors, or a beloved vacation place. Holding a feather or seashell that reminds you of a peaceful area can also be beneficial.
• Combine your five senses. You may help your kid become more aware of the present moment and lessen the intensity of her anxiety by encouraging her to connect with what she can see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. Consider brainstorming a list of the five things she can see, the four things she can touch, the three things she can hear, and the two things she can taste.
• Encourage her to engage in activities that calm her down. Running, strolling, listening to music, creating art (painting, drawing, etc.), keeping a journal, reading a beloved book, or watching a movie are all options.

Children rely on their parents to protect and guide them. How we react to them in the midst of the chaos counts a lot. Therefore, if you require assistance, please contact a mental health expert for support. If you are shocked by your child's diagnosis, put stigma aside and embrace the situation wholeheartedly. Learn everything you can, and then make the necessary changes. The result is worthwhile.

It's crucial to get professional treatment if you or someone you know is having mental health problems. You can recover with the assistance of our experts.

1. Angry outbursts and irritability are indicators of a child's anxiety: According to Dr. Debra Kissen, clinical director of the Light on Anxiety Treatment Center in Chicago, children who are struggling to cope with the complex emotions associated with an anxiety condition frequently come out as angry and hostile. Additionally, according to her, anxious kids may have a "low frustration tolerance," which means their outbursts may look exaggerated compared to how serious the issues they're dealing with actually are.
2. Headaches and stomachaches are symptoms of childhood anxiety: Headaches and stomachaches are prevalent indicators of the disease, despite the fact that it may not appear that these physical symptoms are directly related to the mental health issue of anxiety. According to Dr. Domingues, your child's body is reacting physically (in a "fight or flight" manner) to the threat they feel.

ADHD is a symptom of a child's anxiety: Another mental disease called ADHD is sometimes blamed for someone's inability to concentrate (and the poor academic achievement that results). It can also be an indication of anxiousness. It makes sense, too, because a child who is always anxious about making a mistake or even what might happen to his parents while he is away at school will find it difficult to concentrate on just about everything.

Cognitive behavioral therapy:  Plan for the child's and the family's therapy can be created by a mental health specialist. Family therapy, child treatment, or a combination of both is all included in behavior therapy. The online therapy strategy may also include the school. Participating parents in treatment is essential for very young children. One type of therapy used to address anxiety or depression, particularly in older children, is cognitive-behavioral therapy. It assists the child in transforming negative thoughts into more constructive, useful ways of thinking, which results in more useful behavior. In order to help children learn that horrible things do not happen, behavior therapy for anxiety may involve gradually exposing them to their anxieties while assisting them in managing their symptoms. In order to accurately diagnose your child's health issue and medical history, our doctors take the time to get to know you and your family. They won't give you a medication or suggest a treatment plan until they've made a diagnosis. If you're looking for a online consultant, @onlinedoc is here to help you schedule a consultation.

Treatments may also involve a range of strategies for the child to be less stressed and to be healthier, such as wholesome eating, regular exercise, enough sleep, stable schedules, and social support.

Other treatment plan:

• Engaging in physical activity every day for at least 60 minutes
• Obtaining the depending on the age-recommended amount of slumber each night.
• Using mindfulness or other relaxing methods.

A child suffering from anxiety has trouble performing in school. Anxiety has become a common problem among children and teenagers and this needs to be addressed with care. There are various ways in which one can benefit children and help them cope with the various symptoms of anxiety.