Child Anxiety:
What Every Parent Must Know
What Every Parent Must Know
Audio Version
Is your child cringing at the thought of school, sleeping alone, or taking the school bus? Do they avoid others? Do they frequently act out or have tantrums that alienate others at school or in the neighborhood?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions your child may be experiencing anxiety. Feeling anxious or nervous is natural for anyone, including children. It is when these feelings or symptoms become so intense that impact your child’s functioning that you may want to take a closer look. Counseling can help.
Child Anxiety: What Is It?
Anxiety is a general term for a variety of conditions that can affect anyone, including children. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), some of the types that affect children include separation anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), specific phobias, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and selective mutism.
In simple terms, anxiety is a manifestation of fear. While it is quite common for young children to be afraid of a lot of things, most of these fears are outgrown in time. When your child is experiencing extreme fear, the primal instinct of “fight or flight” can make their heart beat faster and their hands and feet tremble and/or sweat heavily. This response can scare your child, who may not understand what’s happening in their body.
How Susceptible Is Your Child?
The ADAA says that one in eight American children experiences signs and symptoms of anxiety, and the National Institute of Mental Health estimates the lifetime prevalence of anxiety at 25.1 percent.
These statistics suggest that refusal to go to school and other extreme behaviors such as tantrums, anger, and excessive fears may indicate an anxiety disorder. It can be easy to misinterpret your child’s behavior, thinking it is something all children experience or they are just being difficult. Don’t wait until their symptoms become too big to ignore.
The Help Your Child Needs
According to the 2015 Child Mind Institute Children’s Mental Health Report, “80 percent of kids with a diagnosable anxiety disorder … are not getting treated.” Don’t let your child become part of this statistic. Anxiety is treatable. Therapy can help. Carolina Counseling Services – Fayetteville, NC contracts with therapists who know who to treat childhood anxiety. Call today to schedule your first appointment.
PO BOX 9909 Fayetteville, NC 28311