Does Your Child Suffer From Anxiety

http://anxietydisordersymptom.com/does-your-child-suffer-from-anxiety

Anxiety is an unpleasant condition which can affect even the little ones. Some

researchers believe that there’s a genetic component of anxiety. However, in most

cases, anxiety in teenagers is triggered by environmental factors. Knowing that

your child suffers from anxiety, is the first step towards proper treatment. Let’s

examine some tell-tale signs of childhood anxiety.

#1 Shyness

This is the most common sign which indicates that your child might suffer from

anxiety. Shyness is usually characterized by fear and lack of confidence. An easy

way to spot shyness is by observing your child in social contexts. Is he or she the first

one who engages in social interaction? How does he/she react when another child

wants to play with him/her? These are some fundamental questions which can

provide valuable clues. There are a lot of reasons why some children are shy. Maybe

they were rejected in other previous social interactions. Maybe they simply don’t

know how to interact.

#2 Insecurity

When faced with a new situation, an anxious child will ask a lot of questions. Don’t

get me wrong, it’s absolutely normal for a child to ask a couple of questions, but

when he/she avoids a situation and keeps asking for more details, that’s a sign of

insecurity. Fear of failure is usually the cause of insecurity. You need to teach your

child that trying is more important than winning or losing. The only way they can

overcome insecurity is by exposure. You need to carefully guide them towards new

experiences.

#3 Difficulty concentrating

A child who suffers from anxiety finds it hard to focus on one particular subject.

That’s because his/her mind is constantly preoccupied with all sorts of disturbing

thoughts. A lack of attention is usually associated with ADHD, but don’t let yourself

be fooled. It’s also a sign of anxiety. I advise you to consult a specialist, just to be

safe. Being able to observe your child’s inability to concentrate on specific tasks is

one thing, but reading this sign is another. Leave it in the hands of professionals.

#4 Irritability

It might sound strange but anxiety might be the cause of your child’s irritability. In

order to make it simple, I’m going to give you an example. If your child is shy and

doesn’t want to engage in a social activity, he/she will probably use avoidance. If

you decide to “push” him/her to get involved in that particular activity, he/she

might react in two ways. He will continue to refuse and avoid the situation or he will

fight back. It’s a basic fight or flight scenario. Although, anxious people usually

choose flight, there are some rare occasions when they are “forced” to fight. In our

example, the fact that you insisted, made him/her realize that avoiding is not an

option, at least not an easy one. If the situation is “terrifying” enough, he/she will

become irritable in order to escape.

#5 Muscle aches

Sometimes, anxiety manifests on the physical level too. Muscle aches are the result of

tension, generated by anxiety. If your child is constantly tensed and worried, he/she

will probably experience muscle aches, at the end of the day. Keep in mind that not

all muscle aches are related to anxiety. Kids usually play for hours, which can result

in physical fatigue and muscle cramps. Again, consulting a physician is the best

course of action.

If you suspect that your child suffers from anxiety, the first thing you need to do

is consult a specialist. This article is not meant to replace professional opinions.

The main purpose of this article was to raise your awareness by informing you

about the real dangers of childhood anxiety.

Original Source: http://anxietydisordersymptom.com/does-your-child-suffer-

from-anxiety