Although anxiety is typically a normal element of growing up and adolescence, there is a distinction between regular worry and persistent anxiety. You can effectively aid your child in managing their symptoms by being aware of the differences.
Recognizing and treating anxiety in kids and teens
We always want the best for our kids as parents. When faced with obstacles in life, we want them to be robust, content, and in good health. With the demands of daily life and the duties of parenthood, this is frequently easier said than done. Children, adolescents,
and teens frequently struggle with anxiety, which can manifest at various stages of development. Children between the ages of four and eight can be diagnosed with anxiety disorders for the first time. According to a recent poll, approximately 32% of American teenagers suffer from an anxiety condition, a percentage that has significantly increased over time. According to the report, one in four to five teenagers suffers from a serious handicap as a result of their anxiety illness.
Due to the disturbances to their regular schedules in school, their families, and their interactions with peers, the COVID-19 pandemic has made children and teenagers more anxious. Particularly during these trying times, it can be challenging to distinguish between typical anxieties and anxiety disorders in kids and teenagers. Young people frequently worry about things like their schoolwork or exams, but once the immediate stressor has past, these worries usually subside. However, concern can have a detrimental effect on a child’s overall quality of life if it persists and interferes with their day-to-day functioning.
symptoms of anxiety in children as opposed to teenagers
Children with anxiety disorders may display irritation, anxiety, excessive worrying, shyness, difficulties sleeping, and/or physical symptoms like headaches or stomach problems. Anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents can vary considerably and sometimes go unnoticed.
Children who deal with anxiety may also find it difficult to interact socially or establish friends. The events occurring in the world around them have a significant impact on them. They may feel tired and alone, experience fear or embarrassment, or both.
Among the most common symptoms in children are difficulty focusing.
nightmares or trouble sleeping.
having outbursts or issues regulating rage.
feeling tense or fidgety.
tears that come back every time.
complaining of being sick all the time.
Teenagers’ concerns are primarily psychological in nature; these may include concerns about their body image in connection to their physical development, their social impression, their academic status and the pressure to perform well in school.
When it comes to anxiety, teens who would rather keep their thoughts and feelings to themselves might be hard to identify. Some indicators of potential trouble are: Anxiety that doesn’t go away or worries over ordinary aspects of their lives.
retreat from relationships and social interactions.
Intolerance or lash out at people.
difficulties in the classroom or a sudden drop in performance.
unwillingness to show up for class.
problems relating to sleep.
drug abuse.
constantly seeking validation.
Identifying the causes of their anxiety symptoms is the first step in helping your child or teen solve the problem. Anxiety can negatively impact your child or teen’s thoughts, feelings, and physical health, regardless of the specific symptoms they may be experiencing. Their ability to perform socially and academically may then be hampered.
causes of children’s anxiety
Youngsters worry for a variety of reasons. Anxiety disorders are most likely the result of a combination of biological and environmental factors. Girls are more prone than boys to experience anxiety, and it typically runs in families.
In addition to their worry and distress over being away from home, some children also experience separation anxiety. Anxiety disorders are a broad category of mental health conditions that include panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, and other specific phobias.
[See also: Disorders and Attacks of Anxiety]
Three types of anxiety are most common in children: separation anxiety, social anxiety, and generalized anxiety. However, adolescents and children might have more than one anxiety disorder at the same time.
Anxiety disorders sometimes start as a result of stressful events, such as abrupt changes in their lives, difficulties in school, having more duties than they can handle, stress from family issues, or traumatic experiences, such bullying or other forms of abuse.
Research conducted in 2021 showed the critical role that parental support played in the mental wellbeing of adolescents. You can support your child’s well-being and lessen their stress and worry by teaching them coping mechanisms like acceptance, diversion, and a positive outlook. Anxious parents or those who overprotect their kids may also be contributing factors in a child’s anxiety.
With social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and Twitter, as well as texting and messaging friends, teens and adolescents in particular spend a lot of time on their smartphones. Receiving daily alerts from social media can impact how they feel about themselves and how happy and fulfilled they are,
but it can also exacerbate symptoms of anxiety, loneliness, and depression in other people.
Even though social media can help kids and teens remain in touch and develop closer ties with friends and family, it can also encourage bullying and negatively impact a person’s self-esteem and self-image.
An internal Facebook study from 2021 found that kids may struggle with increased peer pressure and social comparison, with Instagram being mentioned as one source that could exacerbate pre-existing mental health conditions. A 2019 study involving over 6,500 12- to 15-year-olds in the United States found that those who used social media for more than three hours a day had a higher risk of mental health issues.
