We may all talk about anxiety, “Oh, I’m so anxious about the presentation I have tomorrow”, “My anxiety is at the peak right now” and many more. But when do we ever talk about anxiety in children? We never think they develop anxiety due to their young age but in actuality, anxiety can build in children and can lead to detrimental effects as they grow if not managed. To also give a positive outlook, anxiety existing in children can also mean that they are vigilant and careful. But this does not mean that they can’t not manage it. It is important to understand as parents, the effects and consequences of having anxiety as a child.
Anxiety is a human emotion characterized by feelings of worry, fear, apprehension and ruminations. The highest degree of the same would also lead to disorders like Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Specific Phobias, Panic Disorder, Anxiety attacks and many more. To understand how anxiety manifests, we need to understand its signs and symptoms. Anxiety leads to cold sweats in hands and feet, restlessness, irritability, difficulty concentrating and many more. While we understand how it manifests in adults, we also need to understand the way it manifests in children.
Anxiety and Children
Anxiety in children may be hard to understand and difficult to infer because it might appear as normal behaviour. However, as mentioned above, persistent anxiety can significantly impact a child.it can manifest in the following ways:
Sleep
Anxiety can disrupt your child’s sleep patterns leading up to sleep deprivation. They might find it hard to wind down the racing thoughts or worry, making it challenging for them to fall asleep. It has also been observed that often nightmares or night terrors in children may also be another sign of anxiety they have. For example, your child is anxious when it comes to social situations, and the next day she has to go to a social event where she has to interact with many people. While sleeping, she winds up thinking about every situation the next day with thoughts like “What if I embarrass myself in front of everyone?”, “What if they don’t like me?” and many other such thoughts which would make your child stay awake, overthink and not let these thoughts allow them to sleep. This leads to many sleep disturbances, nightmares and many more
Somatic effects
Anxiety in children can have various somatic effects which are physical symptoms related to their emotional state which is mostly anxiety. Common somatic effects include stomachaches, headaches, muscle tension, palpitations, dizziness and many more. These somatic symptoms can affect a child’s daily functioning and overall well-being, making it important to address both the emotional and physical aspects of anxiety. For example, your child might complain of extreme stomach ache right before going to school and when you examine them with the help of a doctor, you realise that there is no reason for the stomach ache. You see that this pattern continues every morning right before your child goes to school. The most likely inference from this is that your child is experiencing anxiety due to school. This leads to the understanding that anxiety does manifest in somatic forms, especially in children.
Fatigue
One of the most common ways where you can infer if your child has anxiety is if they seem fatigued. Anxiety can lead to fatigue in several ways like restless sleep, muscle tension, mental exhaustion, reduced energy levels and difficulty concentrating. Anxiety can also lead to mental fatigue. The constant mental effort to manage and cope with anxious feelings can lead to mental fatigue. This mental stress can make everyday tasks seem more draining and decrease overall energy levels. An example of this would be a child, who experiences significant anxiety about school performance worries about the upcoming tests and how he is perceived with respect to his school performance. This leads him to have sleep issues, daytime lethargy, difficulty concentrating which eventually leads to the overall fatigue the child experiences.
How to help your anxious child?
Helping your child manage anxiety involves a combination of strategies that address the emotional and physical needs. Some of the effective approaches to help them include:
Supportive environment
Encouraging your child to speak out their feelings and through openly communicating with them yourself helps them understand that they stand in a supportive environment. Listening to them empathetically and validating their experiences without judgement allows for them to be open and in tune with their emotions. Along with this establishing a predictable and daily routine can help them feel secure and reduce anxiety.
Coping strategies
Teaching your kids to solve problems effectively helps them develop skills that are useful for them in the long run and also to manage their anxiety. Further, techniques like deep breathing and mindfulness can help them achieve the state of mind where they are at peace and also help them to feel more control of their emotions.
Promote positive thinking
Help your child recognize and challenge irrational or exaggerated emotion or thoughts. Encouraging them to focus on positive outcomes and successes. By praising and encouraging your child you can also help them build their confidence and resilience by also concentrating on their strengths and abilities.
Professional support
The most effective therapy technique that helps children is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) which is particularly helpful for children with anxiety. It helps them identify and challenge negative thought patterns and change the way they think in order to change the way they feel. Along with this, regular sessions with a child psychologist or counsellor can provide insights of their emotions and thoughts. Furthermore, it can also provide a safe space for the child to express their feelings and work through their anxiety.
Anxiety in children, though often overlooked, can significantly impact their well-being and development if not addressed appropriately. It manifests itself in various ways including disrupted sleep, somatic symptoms and fatigue, which can affect a child’s daily functioning and overall health. Recognizing these signs is crucial for parents and caregivers to provide support. By creating a supportive environment, helping them in their coping mechanisms, promoting positive thinking and also seeking professional support, you can help your child by providing them with a safe space and also help them manage anxiety.
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