Signs of Anxiety In Children

If you suffer from anxiety, you know how it can really mess up your day. Anxiety has a way of taking over your life and leaving you feeling as if you have no control over your choices or anything else going on. What you may not know is that children can deal with anxiety as well, and though some of it is natural and actually healthy, there is a line. Sometimes, you have to look for signs of anxiety in your kids if they are acting strangely or if they are having problems that are severely impacting their lives.

You may not have thought to look for signs of anxiety in your children because you assume that this is something that adults suffer from and your children are immune. There are many times when children are worried or scared, but that does not mean that they suffer from anxiety that needs attention. Those are normal parts of childhood. In some children, however, anxiety can impact sleep, learning, and social growth. Often, this anxiety comes with another disorder, but not always.

Signs of anxiety in children often show up in different ways than they do in adults. Many children are afraid of the dark because their imagination is so strong. Children with anxiety can have these same fears, but they are much worse. They have nightmares, often can not sleep, and may end up in your bed or on your bedroom floor each night because they refuse to sleep alone. If bedtime is a battle long after your child has started school, anxiety may be an issue for them. You shouldn't jump to conclusions, but talk to someone if bedtime is worse than you think it should be.

Children that have problems with anxiety may also lie to get others into trouble. They think their lies are harmless, but they are often damaging to others. If they are having social problems with other children, it could be that they have high anxiety about relating with their peers, and if things do not go well, they will get rid of the problem by getting those children into trouble. While you should never call your child a liar or brush them off out of frustration, think about the pattern of what they do and why they may be doing it. It could be the only way they know to deal with their anxiety.

If you feel that your child is clinging to you more than they should, they could also have social anxiety problems. This, along with the bedtime issues and problems with truth telling, could clue you into some problems. Look for signs of anxiety in yourself as well as your children, as they can pick it up from you. At times, these are are normal parts of growing up, but on the other hand, if you feel your child is not moving forward in life and may be hiding out from normal childhood activities, see if there are any signs of anxiety that may need to be addressed, and then go see your pediatrician for advice.