Why do children get anxious and what are the signs?
What causes children to be anxious?
Anxiety is a normal part of development, beginning with separation anxiety as young infants into the toddler stages. As a child grows, their anxieties and fears gradually fade away. They are no longer afraid of bugs, the dark, etc.
Though throughout life, there are things that will cause anxiety as a normal part of childhood such as tests, changing schools, new situations especially social.
How do you know when it is a problem?
Anxiety becomes a problem when it starts to interfere with a child’s everyday life. When the child can no longer handle going to school when there is a test, when they cannot go to a birthday party, when a child can no longer participate in activities due to not being able to separate from their caregiver(s).
Signs of Anxiety in Children
Anxiety can show up in many different ways in children due to their incapability to understand and express their feelings.
Some examples include but are not limited to:
- Bedwetting
- Nightmares
- Difficulty sleeping or waking in the night
- Irritable
- Tearful
- Clingy
- Concentration difficullties
- Negative thoughts
- Angry outbursts
- Lack of confidence
- Avoidance
- Sweating
- Tense Muscles