Child Anxiety
Creates a Web of Worry and Fear
Anxiety at any age is troubling to see,
but observing a child with anxiety can break your heart.
While other carefree children are skipping, laughing and playing ball on the playground, eight-year old Johnny, who suffers from child anxiety, stands on the sidelines showing little emotion and having no interaction with other children.
Back in the classroom, the young child anxiety sufferer dreads the prospect of being called upon by the teacher. You can see the fear in his eyes when the teacher asks him to tell the class about his new dog, Fluffy.
Children and adolescents with anxiety disorder engage in extreme unrealistic worry about everyday life activities. They worry unduly about their academic performance, sporting activities or even about being on time.
Typically, child anxiety sufferers are very self-conscious, feel tense and have a strong need for reassurance. Child anxiety sufferers may complain about stomachaches or other discomforts that do not appear to have a physical cause.
Children and adolescents with child anxiety have unrealistic excessive fears of certain situations or objects. Many of the child anxiety fears have specific names and the disorder often centers on animals, storms, water, heights or situations such as being in an enclosed space.
Child anxiety sufferers are terrified of being criticized or judge harshly by others. They will go to great lengths to avoid objects and situations they fear, so the disorder can greatly restrict their lives.
Children with anxiety disorder often have difficulty leaving their parents to attend school, go to camp, stay at a friend’s house or be alone. Often they cling to their parents and have trouble falling asleep. Child anxiety may be accompanied by depression, sadness, withdrawal, or the unrealistic fear that a family member might die.
What can parents do?
Talk with the child’s health provider. He or she can determine whether the symptoms are caused by an anxiety disorder or by some other condition and can provide a referral to a mental health professional.
It is critical to find help because nobody should have to live their childhood years in a web of worry and fear.