Anxiety in Children

80% of children with an anxiety disorder

do not receive treatment!

Signs that your child has an anxiety disorder:

• Excessive fear, nervousness or shyness (beyond their norm)
• Avoiding places and activities they used to enjoy
• Unable to be comforted
• Trouble sleeping
• Irritability
• Trouble concentrating
• Change in school performance
• Becoming clingy, impulsive or distracted
• Accelerated heart rate and breathing
• Complaining of nausea, headaches, stomach-aches

What you can do to help your child with anxiety:

• If your child is able, let him/her express their feelings.
• Reassure the child, validate their feelings, stay calm.
• Guide the child to a solution, offer to help but don’t fix the problem for them.
• If possible, help the child to understand that their problem is temporary and solvable. 
• If possible, help the child to find something positive about the situation.
• Consider your reactions to similar problems and see if your child is mirroring you.
• If these suggestions don’t work or the anxiety is reoccuring, contact your child’s pediatrician and/or a child mental health professional.

Sources: ADAA, KidsHealth