Spotting Anxiety in Kids

It is common to recognize moments of excessive worry and high levels of stress in children.  Those are the more “tell tale” symptoms of anxiety.  However, there are many other signs of anxiety in children that often are not initially seen as anxiety.  In some cases, anxiety may even be misdiagnosed as another condition, which does not accurately prepare parents for appropriate care and intervention.  

Behavior Issues

Behavior concerns are one of the biggest areas of concern that our young clients present with.  Children may be struggling at home, at school or in social situations.  In some cases, the children do well at school but fight, argue, and meltdown at home.  In other cases, kids may do great at home, but parents are getting reports about behavior concerns from school.  Social situations can be an anxiety trigger for many kids and may result in inappropriate behaviors or avoidance.  Even some of the more extreme behaviors that present as talking back and defiant are often rooted in anxiety.  More often than not, defiant behavior can improve with the management of anxiety.

Inattention

Inattention is a symptom of anxiety that often gets mistaken for other diagnoses, such as ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).  Inattention can be caused by anxious thoughts or anxious energy that kids are presenting with externally.  Kids with anxiety can often show other symptoms of ADHD such as forgetfulness, trouble with organization, problem solving, and low motivation.  It is possible for children to have BOTH Anxiety AND ADHD, but ruling out anxiety is a great place to start.

Anger

Throwing things, hitting, kicking, punching, and other signs of anger can be tied to anxiety.  Anxiety in kids can trigger their fight or flight response, which causes them to respond with violence in order to get the “danger” to go away from them.  If they are experiencing anxiety and you are working to soothe them or problem solve with them, they may not be able to engage in those activities until their anxiety is managed.  

Rigidity

Some kids thrive in routine, but some kids require routine and will have big emotions if their routine is disrupted.  Maybe they NEED to use a particular spoon, or they have to push the button in the elevator.  Sometimes this is seen as rigidity or even defiance, but for some kids knowing what to expect helps to keep their anxiety in check.  If they are expecting one thing and something else happens, they may not have the skills to address the anxious symptoms they experience as a result.

Trouble sleeping, changes in eating or increased sensory sensitivity 

Sleeping and eating changes aren’t always a sign of anxiety and may not resolve with the improvement of anxiety.  However, if your child is having a hard time falling or staying asleep, or if they have had a significant change in their eating habits, these can be signs of a change in their levels of anxiety.  It could present in the form of big worries that are showing up at bedtime or their favorite foods are causing upset tummies.  Maybe certain sounds, textures, or smells have recently started to bother your child.  If they are experiencing a low emotional tolerance, this may be contributing to their ability to process sensory input.

Cognitive behavioral therapy and play based interventions are used to help our young clients learn about their anxiety, understand how their anxiety may be showing up for them, and provide them with strategies to manage their symptoms.  The younger the client, the more likely we may include parents in our intervention, either in session with play based interventions or with check ins and consultation to support our parents in behavior management and emotional regulation in the home.

If you live in Central Illinois and would like to discuss working with one of our Child & Adolescent Therapists, please reach out to info@thementalwellnesscenter.com or call us at (309)807-5077. We’re here to help.