Anxiety can show up in the little ones at home, and if you don’t know the symptoms, you may connect them with other problems. I want to talk with you about it in this article.
Symptoms of anxiety in children
Anxiety disorders in childhood can be treated, and the plan depends on each child and each family. Before thinking about anxiety, it is wise to have the pediatrician rule out medical causes for what you are seeing.
Physical signs of anxiety
- Frequent complaints of stomachaches or headaches, even when there is no medical reason.
- Refuses snacks or lunch at daycare or school.
- Won’t use the bathroom unless it is at home.
- Restlessness, hyperactivity or lack of attention (even without ADHD).
- Starts to tremble or sweat in a daunting situation.
- Constantly tense muscles.
- Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
Emotional signs of anxiety
Anxiety in a child also has these symptoms:
- Is very sensitive.
- Cries a lot.
- Becomes irritable or angry for no clear reason.
- Worries about things that will happen in the distant future, such as worrying about middle school while still in third grade.
- Worries or feels afraid when left somewhere (daycare, school, a relative’s house, etc.).
- Fears making mistakes, even small ones.
- Has panic attacks (or fears having them).
- Has frequent nightmares about losing a parent or a loved one.
Constant worry
Anxiety in a child shows up as ongoing worry, and I want to go deeper into this:
Events in a child’s life that can cause stress and anxiety include a loss, such as the death of a loved one or the parents’ divorce. Big life changes, such as moving to a new city. A history of abuse. Living in a family whose members are fearful, anxious or violent. If you suspect your child is being abused or mistreated, seek help right away.
If you suspect child abuse
Florida Abuse Hotline (DCF): 1-800-962-2873, 24/7. You can also report online at reportabuse.myflfamilies.com/s/. It covers child abuse and abuse of vulnerable adults. If there is immediate danger, call 911.
Environmental factors are another matter. Anxiety and stress show up all the time in changing or threatening situations. Anxiety is triggered when something in the surroundings is perceived as potentially harmful to the person. Interestingly, this happens when the changes are negative, and also when they improve the situation of those affected. That is why changes, even positive ones, can increase anxiety in some children.
Restlessness
Restless children generally don’t show many of these problems. An active child has extra energy, and although sometimes inattentive and irritable, is usually able to control impulses and emotions, can concentrate for long periods on things of interest, and behaves quite well in social situations when asked to. In any case, when in doubt, it is best to seek the advice of a psychologist.
Trouble concentrating
Many children have trouble concentrating, but that doesn’t mean they have a “problem,” although it could understandably get in the way of their performance at school and in daily life. For example, they didn’t finish their work in class because they weren’t paying attention, they didn’t clean their room, and they even arrived late to extracurricular activities.
The first thing that can make us suspect difficulty concentrating shows up in their results, not in their behavior.
Anxiety in a child can show up as concentration that is not at its best.
Parents may think these are lazy or rebellious children, but that is not the case. There are difficulties, but that doesn’t mean the child is not intelligent and doesn’t work hard. They may be interested in what they are doing, but cannot pay attention even if they try.
Fatigue
Fatigue is a feeling of exhaustion, tiredness or lack of energy. A child can feel this way from too much or too little activity. It can also be caused by stress, lack of sleep, boredom or an unhealthy diet. Many medical problems, such as viral infections, can cause fatigue. Often, emotional problems, especially depression, are the cause.
Fatigue is often a symptom of another problem. Treatment depends on the cause. For example, if your child is tired because of a health problem, treating that health problem will also treat the fatigue. If the cause is depression or anxiety, getting treatment is a good path.
Follow-up care is a fundamental part of your child’s treatment and safety. Be sure to make appointments, attend all of them and call your doctor if your child has any questions. It is also a good idea to know your child’s test results and keep a list of the medications they take.
Dizziness
Anxiety in a child can also cause dizziness.
The dizziness that comes with anxiety is often described as a feeling of lightheadedness or a light head. Sensations of movement or dizziness can be internal rather than environmental. Feeling unsteady at times when standing.
Irritability
In children with anxiety, irritability can appear as anger, crying or tantrums that seem out of proportion. It can show up in behavior, with intense anger, or in emotions.
Irritability in children can be hard to diagnose, especially in those who cannot express the cause of their anger. This is the case with babies, since they cannot talk, and children don’t know exactly what is causing their discomfort. It can have physical or psychological causes, and it can be occasional or persistent.
Insomnia
Anxiety in a child can show up as lack of sleep, that is, the child can’t fall asleep.
Insomnia is a disorder of the physiological need called sleep, which in turn corresponds to a state of rest of brain activity and of the metabolism of all our cells. As such, it is an essential restorative function of life. Insomnia that occurs early, in the first months of life, is known as infant insomnia.
Sleep habits often influence infant insomnia, although anxiety and other factors can also contribute. All babies sleep, but not all babies know how to sleep well, so they need to learn to sleep well. Children must learn from their parents or caregivers.
If what I described looks like what you see in your child, talking with a professional can make clearer what is going on and what to do. What worries you most about what you have noticed in your child?
Would you like to talk with a professional? Call (407) 559-7093 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern) or find professional help here. For general questions that are not an emergency, write to drduany@zodugroup.com. Please do not send health information by email.
If you are in crisis or thinking about hurting yourself, do not wait. Call or text 988 (988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, 24 hours a day, free and confidential). If there is immediate danger, call 911.
This article is for education only. It does not offer diagnosis or personal advice, does not replace evaluation or treatment by a health professional, and reading it or writing to us through this site does not create a therapeutic or pastoral counseling relationship. This site is not an emergency service and is not monitored continuously: do not send health information through comments or public forms. The author is a licensed psychotherapist and pastor, and is part of ZODU.
Sources
- MedlinePlus, Generalized anxiety disorder in children: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007687.htm
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