How to Recognize Signs of Anxiety in Children

Youth and adolescents get depressed just like adults, so it's important to recognize signs of anxiety. Anxiety in children occurs in approximately thirteen percent of youth during their adolescent years. Most adolescents don't know how to ask for help or know how to deal with stress. Kids also tend to react differently than adults when depressed. Look for these signs of anxiety in children.

Instructions

• 1

  Look for anxiety in children after stressful events. Many times anxiety in children occurs after a stressful event like moving, starting school, or a death in a family member or close friend. Look for physical symptoms in your son or daughter such as headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and muscle aches. There may also be other general physical complaints. Be cautious. While these symptoms can be attributed to signs of anxiety, they may also be actual physical conditions.

• 2

  Watch for signs of anxiety in youth or adolescents like isolating, restlessness, irritability, trouble concentrating, and fatigue. A child or teen may start avoiding places that bring on bad feelings. A decline in interest in social activities, school, and friendships may be symptoms of anxiety in children. If these symptoms are persistent, your child may be suffering from a mental disorder like a phobia, GAD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or panic attacks, so it's important to be watchful and find appropriate help.

• 3

  Notice excessive shyness. If your son or daughter is extremely shy and refuses to talk with people other than close family members or friends, he or she may suffer from selective mutism. This disorder is commonly overlooked in youth.

• 4

  Look for long-term symptoms. Anxiety in children will usually be more than an occasional occurrence. If signs of anxiety are persistent, especially if they last over six months, see a psychiatrist who specializes in anxiety in children.