Anxiety in Children and How Can You Help?

Anxiety is not only the concern of adults as sometimes children also suffer from this mental issue. Under normal conditions, it is not a serious concern, however, if anxiety directly affects the well being of a child then it is a serious concern and you need to consult a psychiatrist.

What is child anxiety?

At various ages, children feel anxious about certain things. As they grow up it is considered as a normal part. Most of the children suffer from separation anxiety. When separated from parents they become irritable and cry a lot. This condition is quite normal during the course of development of a child and eases off at the ages of three to four years. Also, toddlers and pre-school children suffer from certain phobias. The phobias that are commonly observed in children include fear of worms, certain animals, storms, darkness, height etc. These phobias ease off as they grow up.

Is anxiety in children a serious concern?

Having a certain degree of anxiety is normal for most children and they overcome this issue with age. However, there are certain conditions where anxiety affects the everyday routine of a child and his/her ability to deal with life matters. In such scenarios, it can be a serious concern and the child needs proper counseling from an experienced professional to manage anxiety. If left untreated, under acute conditions, anxiety can harm the emotional and mental well-being of children.

Signs and symptoms of child anxiety:

Children normally fail to express their feelings, however, you may notice some of the prominent signs and symptoms if they suffer from anxiety, for example:

• Clingy or irritable behaviour
• Difficulties falling asleep
• Frequently waking up at night
• Bet wetting and bad dreams
• Lack of confidence and concentration
• Problems with eating
• Frequent outbursts of anger
• Isolation / fear to move out in public

How to help anxious children? 

When your child is suffering from anxiety, there are a lot of activities that can be helpful for them. Here are some of the ways to overcome anxiety in children:

• Frequently talk to the children and show them that you understand their feelings
• Encourage the children to talk about their worries and offer them counseling and solutions
• Teach children that it is always ok to be imperfect and focus on their positive activities
• Schedule relaxing activities for children such as playing a game or participating in sports activities
• Reward your child’s brave behaviors, for example when he/she tackles a fear, appreciate and encourage him/her
• Never give up! Keep motivating your children till they learn to overcome anxiety and fears. The key to overcoming fear and anxiety is repetition.
• For grown up children, explaining the effects of anxiety on health can also be helpful.

While you should try to help your children manage their anxiety at home initially, do not hesitate to seek professional help if you do not see adequate progress. You can also book an appointment with a top Psychiatrist in Karachi, Multan and Islamabad to get advise on managing anxiety through oladoc.com, or call our helpline at 042-3890-0939 for assistance to find the RIGHT Doctor for your child-related concerns.