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Overview
It's normal for children and young people to feel worried or anxious from time to time – such as when they're starting school or nursery, or moving to a new area.
But for some children and young people, anxiety affects their behaviour and thoughts every day, interfering with their school, home and social life.
This is when you may need professional help to tackle it.
Symptoms
Signs to look out for in your child are:
- finding it hard to concentrate
- not sleeping, or waking in the night with bad dreams
- eating more or less than usual
- quickly getting angry or irritable, and being out of control during outbursts
- constantly worrying or having negative thoughts
- feeling tense and fidgety, or using the toilet often
- always crying
- being clingy, especially in young children
- complaining of tummy aches and feeling unwell
Separation anxiety is common in younger children, whereas older children and teenagers tend to worry more about school or have social anxiety.
Causes
Having a close family member with anxiety may increase your child's chance of having it too.
Children can also pick up anxious behaviour from being around anxious people.
Some children develop anxiety after stressful events, such as:
- frequently moving house or school
- parents fighting or arguing
- the death of a close relative or friend
- becoming seriously ill or getting injured in an accident
- school-related issues like exams or bullying
- being abused or neglected
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autistic spectrum disorders are more likely to have problems with anxiety.
Treatment Options
The type of treatment offered will depend on your child's age and the cause of their anxiety.
- Counselling can help your child understand what's making them anxious and allow them to work through the situation.
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a talking therapy that can help your child manage their anxiety by changing the way they think and behave. This could be in person or as self-help online.
- Anxiety medicines may be offered to your child if their anxiety is severe or does not get better with talking therapies. They're usually only prescribed by doctors who specialise in children and young people's mental health.
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