By
Katherine Lee
Anxiety
is an all-too-common problem faced by children today. As with adults, children
respond differently to stress depending on their age, individual personalities
and coping skills. When it comes to anxiety in children, younger
grade-schoolers may not be able to fully explain their feelings whereas older
kids may be able to say exactly what’s bothering them and why (though that’s no
guarantee that they’ll share that information with mom or dad).
In most
cases, fear and anxiety and stress in children change or disappear with age.
For instance, a kindergartener who experiences separation anxiety may become a
social butterfly who bounds into school in the later grades. A second grader
who is afraid of the dark or of monsters may grow into a kid who loves ghost
stories.
Once parents
determine whether what their child is experiencing is something temporary or a
more deeply-rooted anxiety disorder, they can then find ways to help their
child manage stress and anxiety.
Signs of
Anxiety in Children
- Changes in behavior or temperament are common flags that may indicate that your child may be experiencing stress and anxious feelings. Some common signs include:
- Complaints of stomach aches or headaches
- Sleep problems or difficulty concentrating
- Behavioral changes such as moodiness, a short temper or clinginess
- Development of a nervous habit, such as nail biting
- Refusal to go to school or getting into trouble at school
- Common Causes of Childhood Stress
The
source of anxiety and stress in children can be something external, such as a
problem at school, changes in the family, or a conflict with a friend. Anxious
feelings can also be caused by a child's internal feelings and pressures, such
as wanting to do well in school or fit in with peers. Some common causes of
stress in children include:
Big
changes in the family. Major life changes that can lead to stress in children
include divorce, a death in the family, moving, or even the birth of a new
sibling. These seismic shifts can rock your grade-schooler’s world and turn it
upside down. Major life changes can shake your child’s sense of security, and
make her feel confused and anxious. For example, a new sibling can make a child
feel threatened and jealous. A death in the family, particularly of a
grandparent or someone else close to the child, can create confusion and grief,
as well as anxiety and stress.
Overly-packed
schedules. If your child is constantly running from one activity to another, he
may feel stressed, especially if he’s the kind of kid who needs some quiet
downtime to himself every once in a while.
Self-inflicted
pressure. Many children can experience anxiety about wanting to do well in
school. They may want to fit in with other kids and be liked. Self-generated
pressure is particularly common in children who are afraid of making mistakes
or not being good at something.
Stress
caused by something at school. Bullies or cliques can become an issue once kids
enter grade-school. Even if a child isn’t being bullied, the pressure to fit in
and be popular can be stressful and lead to stress in children. For younger
grade-schoolers, separation anxiety can be a common problem.
A
terrible news event. News headlines and television news images about natural
disasters, terrorism, and violence can be upsetting and can often cause stress
in children. When kids see and hear about terrible news events, they may worry
that something bad might happen to them or to someone they love.
A scary
movie or a book. Fictional stories can also cause distress or anxiety in children.
Children are commonly affected by frightening, violent, or upsetting scenes
from a movie or passages in a book. While some kids might be more sensitive to
some media content than others -- what's scary or upsetting for one child might
have no affect on another -- it's a good idea to know what might upset your
child, limit violent media content, and stick to age-appropriate movies, books,
videogames and other media.
Source: childparenting.about.com
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