All children experience anxiety and nervousness sometimes. Life is full of new experiences for kids, and it’s natural to feel apprehensive about trying new things. It’s perfectly normal for a child to feel nervous about their first day of school, joining a sports team, or going to an activity where they’ll be meeting new people. As a parent, you will need to encourage your child and support them in overcoming these hesitations.
However, some children struggle with anxiety that goes far beyond run-of-the-mill nerves. How can you tell if your child’s troubles with anxiety are just part of growing up or a condition that might require professional treatment? Here are a few telltale signs that your child may need therapy to overcome their anxiety.
Isolation
Sometimes, children become so anxious about going to school, socializing, engaging in extracurriculars, or even spending time with relatives that they try to isolate themselves. Your child might try to hide in their room during family gatherings, tell you that they don’t want to spend time with their friends, or even try to skip school by pretending to be sick.
If your child is so anxious that they feel like they need to isolate, it’s time to take action and start looking for a therapist. Avoiding socialization during these early years can impede your child’s psychological development and mental health for years to come.
Slipping Academic Performance
Just as adults with anxiety can struggle in the workplace, children with anxiety can have trouble in school. Maybe your child used to get good grades, but ever since their anxiety symptoms cropped up, their academic performance has suffered. They may be falling behind even in subjects they used to like. Perhaps their teachers have even expressed concerns that they’re not participating in class. They might push back when you try to get them to do their homework.
Physical Symptoms
Has your child been complaining about headaches and stomachaches? Maybe they’ve even had trouble sleeping recently. Perhaps they’ve been waking up several times per night because of nightmares. Severe anxiety can lead to physical symptoms, and if your child feels ill due to their anxiety, they may not even realize that it’s because of their mental health. They might be worried that something is physically wrong with them. Furthermore, your child may try to skip out on events and stay home because they feel sick.
Separation Anxiety
Maybe your child is suddenly having trouble being apart from you. When a relative or babysitter stops by to watch them, they cry and beg for you to stay. Even when you’re home, they might want to stick by your side. And if you have to step out to run an errand, they’re suddenly panicked. Your child might feel safe and calm as long as you’re around. But they deeply fear being separated from you. This can impede your own life and hold your child back from deepening their own friendships and relationships with other people in your family.
Irritability And Anger
Anxiety can make people irritable—even children. For example, when you’re stressed about work, you might be more likely to snap at people, even if you’re not upset with them. Children can express their own anxieties in the same way. If your child has been picking fights with their siblings, talking back frequently, or throwing tantrums, even though they seemed to be past that stage, it’s probably cause for concern.
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Are you concerned about your child’s anxiety symptoms? Getting in touch with a therapist can help. Reach out to us to discuss your options for scheduling your first session for parenting therapy.
