Excessive worry and dread are characteristics of childhood anxiety, which can affect a child’s general wellbeing. To guarantee good emotional development, it’s critical to identify and treat these issues as soon as possible.
Anxiety and Depression in Children
In addition to having anxieties and concerns, many kids occasionally experience sadness and hopelessness. Different stages of development may see the emergence of strong phobias. For instance, toddlers, even when secure and well-cared-for, frequently experience great distress when separated from their parents. While worries and anxieties are common in youngsters, excessive or persistent forms of melancholy or dread may indicate depression or anxiety. They are frequently referred to as internalising illnesses since the main symptoms are mental and emotional in nature.
Anxiety
A child may be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder if they do not outgrow their usual early concerns and worries or if their fears and worries become so numerous that they interfere with their play, school, or home life. Some instances of the various kinds of anxiety disorders include
- Fearful of being alone without one’s parents (separation anxiety)
- Having a severe phobia involving a particular object or circumstance, like dogs, insects, or seeing the doctor
- having severe social anxiety and being terrified of schools and other public locations
- having severe anxiety due to worry about the future and the possibility of negative events
- experiencing panic disorder, which is characterised by recurrent bouts of abrupt, unexpected, extreme terror accompanied with symptoms including breathing difficulties, heart palpitations, sweating, dizziness, or shaking
Anxiety can manifest in children as concern or dread, but it can also make them agitated. In addition to physical symptoms like headaches, stomachaches, or exhaustion, anxiety symptoms can also involve difficulty sleeping. Because some nervous kids don’t talk about their anxieties, it’s possible to ignore the signs.
Depressive States
Every youngster has moments when they feel depressed or hopeless. Conversely, some kids experience helplessness or hopelessness in circumstances they can alter, or they become depressed or uninterested in activities they used to like. Children who experience melancholy and hopelessness on a regular basis may be diagnosed with depression.
Typical behaviours observed in youngsters experiencing depression include:
- experiencing constant sadness, hopelessness, or irritability
- Avoiding or not enjoying enjoyable activities
- eating much more or less than normal to demonstrate alterations in eating habits
- displaying abnormal sleep habits, such as sleeping much more or much less than usual
- exhibiting fluctuations in vitality, such as being often anxious and restless or exhausted and lethargic
- finding it difficult to focus
- feeling guilty, worthless, or ineffective
- engaging in self-destructive and self-injury behaviours
A severe depression may cause a youngster to consider or make plans for suicide. One of the main causes of death for young people ages 10 to 24 is suicide.
Some kids might not express their helplessness and hopelessness verbally or by showing signs of sadness. Children with depression may also seem irritable or uninspired, which can lead to others mistaking them for lazy or troublemakers and failing to recognise their true condition.
What causes Childhood Anxiety?
Depending on their age, children might experience anxiety for a variety of reasons. Growing up often involves worrying about several of these things.
Young children frequently experience separation anxiety between the ages of six months and three years. When they’re left without their parents or caretakers, they could cry and become needy. This should end by the age of two or three years old, as it is a typical developmental period for children.
Children in preschool are also prone to developing phobias or particular anxieties. Early childhood anxieties include those related to animals, insects, storms, heights, water, blood, and the dark. Usually, these anxieties fade away with time.
Anxiety may also strike a youngster at different points in their lives. A lot of kids experience anxiety, for instance, before examinations or when they start a new school. Certain kids have social anxiety and may require assistance in overcoming it.
When does childhood anxiety become a problem?
When anxiety starts to interfere with a child’s daily life, it becomes a problem.
All youngsters are nervous when exams are coming up, but some could be so nervous that they can’t even make it to school that morning.
Such extreme worry can have a negative impact on children’s mental and emotional health, as well as their confidence and sense of self. When faced with stressful circumstances or objects, they may retreat and take extreme measures to avoid them.
What symptoms of childhood anxiety show up?
Young toddlers frequently struggle to comprehend or communicate their anxiety. As you can see, they
- start peeing the bed at night,
- become agitated,
- emotional,
- clinging,
- experience nightmares
It’s possible to observe in older kids that they:
- seem incapable of overcoming basic, everyday obstacles or lack the courage to attempt new things
- difficulty focusing
- suffer from difficulty eating or sleeping and have fits of rage
- harbour a great deal of negativity or persistently believe that terrible things will occur
- begin shunning routines like going to school, going out in public, or visiting friends.
Depression and anxiety treatment
Speak with a medical professional, such as your child’s primary care physician or a mental health expert, about scheduling an evaluation as the initial step in therapy. The US Preventive Services Taskforce advises screening for depression in adolescents 12 to 18 years old and anxiety in youngsters 8 to 18 years old.
A child’s trauma or other medical issues may be the origin of some of their anxiety or depression symptoms. Certain symptoms, such as difficulty focusing, may be signs of ADHD, or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. For the optimal diagnosis and course of therapy, a thorough assessment is essential.
Consulting a healthcare professional might help determine whether medication should be part of the treatment. A mental health professional may develop the best therapy plan for the child and family. Family therapy, child therapy, or a mix of the two is referred to as behaviour therapy. One possible addition to the treatment plan is the school. Parental involvement in therapy is crucial for very young children.
For older children in particular, cognitive-behavioral therapy is one type of treatment used to manage anxiety or depression. It assists the youngster in replacing negative thought patterns with more constructive, productive ones, which results in more productive behaviour. As part of behaviour therapy for anxiety, parents can assist their children in managing their symptoms and progressively exposing them to their anxieties in order to teach them that horrible things don’t happen.
In addition, a range of strategies, such as a nourishing diet, regular exercise, enough sleep, consistent schedules, and social support, can be employed as treatments to help the child feel less anxious and be healthier.
Seek assistance in locating a treatment plan.
To locate a medical professional who is knowledgeable about available treatments, use the following resources:
- The American Psychological Association (APA) Practice Organisation offers the service Psychologist Locator.
- An online resource provided by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) is Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Finder.
- Utilise the Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies’ search engine to locate a cognitive behavioural therapist.
- Check out FindTreatment.gov if you need assistance locating treatment centres.
Crisis Line and Suicide
Controlling Symptoms: Maintaining Health
All children should prioritise their health, but children who struggle with anxiety or depression may need to do so even more. Managing the symptoms of anxiety or depression might include not just receiving the appropriate therapy but also maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The following beneficial habits might be useful:
- Following a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes (such as beans, peas, and lentils), lean protein sources, nuts, and seeds
- Engaging in a minimum of 60 minutes of daily physical exercise
- obtaining the required sleep duration every night for one’s age
- Using relaxation methods or awareness
Preventing Childhood Anxiety
The precise cause of anxiety or sadness in certain kids is unknown. Numerous elements, such as biology and temperament, could be involved. However, research also shows that certain children are more vulnerable to anxiety or depression when they are exposed to stress or trauma, mistreated, bullied, or rejected by other kids, or when their own parents suffer from anxiety or depression.
While anxiety and sadness seem to be associated with these characteristics, there are strategies to lower the likelihood that children may suffer from them. Discover ways to reduce these hazards through public health:
- Preventing Suicide
- The external symbol for preventing bullying
- Preventing child mistreatment
- Prevention of Youth Violence
- Depression following childbirth
- Taking care of kids in an emergency
- School and Adolescent Mental Health
FAQs About Childhood Anxiety
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Do children often experience anxiety?
Indeed, anxiety is a typical emotional experience among kids. But severe and ongoing anxiety can need medical intervention.
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How can carers support anxious children at home?
Important actions include obtaining expert help, fostering an environment of support, and promoting open communication.
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Do natural therapies exist for anxiety in children?
Even though good lifestyle choices like getting enough sleep and maintaining a balanced diet help, severe instances frequently call for medical attention.
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Is it possible to grow out of anxiety in childhood without help?
Mild anxiety may go away on its own in some situations as people age, but long-term problems frequently need treatment to get better.
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In managing anxiety in children, what part do schools play?
Schools may make a big difference by offering counselling services, teacher training, and awareness campaigns.