Child Anxiety Symptoms

Children experience anxiety the same way adults do, including having mental illnesses related to anxiety, panic and phobias. This article provides basic information on the signs and symptoms of anxiety disorders in children.

The Statistics

• Child anxiety affects many children each year. Mental Health America cites that as many as 1 in 10 children may be affected by an anxiety disorder or other mental health issue. Estimates also suggest that 7.7 million to 12.8 million children have mental disorders that are undiagnosed. Children who have parents with anxiety disorders are more likely to have anxiety disorders themselves. Mental illness in children is terrifying for both the adult and child involved. The child cannot communicate his discomfort and thoughts, and the adult cannot account for the child's decline in behavior. Childhood anxiety disorders and mental illnesses are not something to take lightly; they literally ruin a child's grasp on life.

Anxiety Disorders

• In many cases, anxiety disorders are more than just feeling anxious at inappropriate times. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH, see Resources), there are five major types of anxiety disorders: Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Panic Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Social Phobia or Social Anxiety Disorder. All of these disorders are related, but their signs and symptoms are quite different (see Resources).

Early Signs

• Symptoms of anxiety may be easily misdiagnosed as behavioral problems. A child with anxiety cannot easily communicate her discomfort and may stop interacting with her family because of the level of anxiety she feels. She may stop traveling with the family, eating with them or conversing with them. The child's grades may slip and the child may refuse to go to school as well as other outings and functions.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of childhood anxiety disorder may vary; this is why it is important to talk to your child about his feelings. However, according to the Insight Journal, common symptoms include sudden unrealistic worry about everyday events, severe self-conscious behavior, constant need for reassurance from authority figures, physical discomfort with no medical explanation, insomnia and trouble falling asleep, sudden extreme fear of a social situation, event or object, unexplainable bouts of sweating and dizziness, overly repetitive behaviors and overreaction to physical contact. Some children may also exhibit swollen and red palms or break out in hives under severe stress. Since the child is in a weakened state, he may also be more susceptible to illnesses and colds.

What's Next

• If your child exhibits any of these symptoms, take him for a psychiatric evaluation. There he may be prescribed medicines and given tips on how to manage the disorder. Symptoms of anxiety in children lead to an even more debilitating future if gone unchecked.