Is Your Child Dealing
With Anxiety?
Are you caring for a child with an anxiety disorder?
Experiencing this mental health condition can be stressful not only for your child, but you can also feel overwhelmed as you care for them.
Here is more information to help you understand what your loved one is going through and how you can help yourself.
What is Anxiety?
Children with anxiety tend to worry about many things all at once and this tends to affect their day-to-day behaviour. Often, a child will worry about how to act (they worry about not doing ‘this’ if they are supposed to do ‘that’, or if what they are doing is good or bad), and this will affect how they deal with other people. They can also miss out on living their day-to-day life since they are consumed with worry and restlessness.
Anxiety in children is often manifested through fear, sadness and hopelessness. Though these are normal behaviours of a child, a child with anxiety will find it hard to outgrow their fears and worries and would often feel hopeless, impeding not only their mental growth but also their emotional and social advancement.
For a child to be diagnosed with Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), meaning the anxiety is perceived to be a ‘disorder’ instead of a ‘universal human emotion’, they must experience this heightened anxious state on most days for at least 6 months.
Other common anxiety disorders are Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), social phobia, panic disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), hypochondriasis and somatoform disorder. Specific therapy and treatment exist for all anxiety disorders.
Symptoms of a Child with Anxiety
- Constant thoughts that something bad is about to happen
- Constant worry that they are not doing things correctly
- Constantly asking questions and seeking reassurance
- Perfectionism or making sure that everything surpasses expectations
- Being argumentative, especially if they are trying to avoid a feared situation
- Dwelling on small or huge mistakes for a long time
- Worrying about a change in routine or in unfamiliar places
- Affecting play and school performance
- Having a dry mouth and difficulty swallowing
- Nightmares and sleep disturbances
- Restlessness, irritability and difficulty concentrating
- Muscle tension and headaches
- Rapid heart rate and breathing
- Sweating
- Trembling
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
What causes Anxiety in Chilldren?
Anxiety in children can be a result of multiple internal and external factors such as parents putting too much pressure on their children, or children putting too much pressure on themselves to match their peers or to meet others’ expectations. Problems with friends and in school, as well as the loss of a loved one and any other challenging situation, may also cause anxiety to develop in children.
Anxiety can also be a side-effect of certain medications, or a by-product of a physical illness, chronic condition, disability or traumatic event. Some people may have a genetic disposition for anxiety if mental health disorders are present in the family or because they grew up around anxious people. It is advised to work with a health professional such as a counsellor to uncover the root cause of the disorder and be able to help your child.
Diagnosis of Anxiety
Anxiety can develop at a very young age and children can carry this mental health condition and affect their life as they grow up. Since anxiety as well as all other mental health challenges, can affect the educational, emotional and social development of a child, it is necessary to bring them to a GP or a Psychiatrist to get professional help. A diagnosis involves systematic interviews alongside ruling out other behavioural and mental health conditions. For a child to be diagnosed with Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), they must experience this heightened anxious state on most days for at least 6 months.
Treatments for Child with Anxiety
Anxiety has been described as one of the most treatable of all mental health conditions – full recovery is possible. Even if a person develops anxiety at a young age, proper treatment can help overcome this mental health challenge. Treatment options for anxiety include:
- Psychological therapy: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) has proven to be most effective for general anxiety as it focuses on changing negative thought patterns and behaviours
- Medication such as anti-depressants
- Relaxation therapy and deep breathing exercises
- Self-help and encouragement from family and friends
- Support groups, as people discover they are not alone and may find support in other people with similar issues
How to help your child with anxiety
It can be very hard for parents to see their child experience anxiety at such a young age. The best way to help them is to get them to a GP or a Psychiatrist for professional help. You can also turn to a mental health phone line or browse through mental health services online.
As a mom or a dad, you can personally help your child with anxiety by offering a listening ear and letting them know that you are there for them. Giving affirmations and showing positivity is also a good way to let your child know that everything will be alright and that you will always support them no matter what happens.
How to help yourself
Seeing your child experience anxiety is not only very hurtful but this can also be a stressful and frustrating experience for you. Supporting your child by giving assurance every day can also take its toll on you and leave you exhausted especially if you are primarily the one that your child depends on. But you don’t have to go through it alone.
HelpingMinds® offers free and confidential support to people caring for someone living with mental health challenges. We offer free counselling, support groups, as well as rest and revive activities for carers such as yourself so that you can rejuvenate and restore your good mental health. To help you and your community, we also conduct school holiday programs, family programs, and youth programs to promote our advocacy of mental health wellness to people living in WA.
Get Support from HelpingMinds®
Would you like to know more about free and confidential mental health carer services and how we can support you? Please feel free to contact HelpingMinds® via the form below or on (08) 9427 7100. For one of our team to get back to you, we will require your email address and/or phone number. Please know all information provided will be treated completely confidential and in line with our privacy policy.