Stress and anxiety are part of life. It's normal for a child to have a few worries. But some children and teens have a lot of fear, worry, or panic. They can't control their anxiety. This causes great distress. An extreme fear response that comes from feeling a loss of control is called a panic attack. Often there is no clear cause of a panic attack. These behaviors could be an anxiety disorder.
Your child may have an anxiety disorder if the behaviors:
-
Do not fit their age. For example, a child who is 12 years old might cry when left at school.
-
Continue even when you support and reassure your child.
-
Cause so much distress to your child that they can't do daily activities.
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health concern that starts in childhood. Their exact cause is not known. But they seem to occur due to biological, psychological, and social or environmental factors.
An anxiety disorder may cause both physical and emotional symptoms. Some of these include:
-
Chest pain.
-
Agitation.
-
A lot of crying.
-
A fast pulse.
-
Sweating.
-
Upset stomach.
-
Diarrhea.
-
Tense muscles.
-
Shortness of breath.
-
Very fast breathing.
-
Dry mouth.
-
Needing to urinate a lot.
-
Trouble sleeping.
-
Trouble focusing and remembering.
Anxiety disorders often occur with other mental health problems. They may include:
-
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
-
Depression.
Anxiety disorders are treated with counseling. Sometimes they're treated with medicine or both counseling and medicine. A child with an anxiety disorder will likely keep having symptoms if it's not treated.
Home care
Medicine
Once your child is diagnosed, they may be prescribed medicine to treat anxiety. Follow the instructions for giving this medicine to your child. Don't change the dose or stop the medicine unless your child's health care provider tells you to.
General care
-
Follow the home care advice given by your child's care team.
-
Don’t ignore your child’s fears. Encourage your child to talk about their concerns. Give them support. Don't yell at them to stop worrying. This does not help. It can make things worse.
-
Work with your child's school. Make plans if your child's anxiety causes problems in school.
-
Encourage your child to ask for help when they feel overwhelmed.
-
Teach your child to breathe slowly and deeply when they feel anxiety.
-
Promote exercise and fun activities. Practice healthy behaviors that can help distract your child in an episode of extreme anxiety. For example, play relaxing music.
-
Note how your child behaves in different situations. There may be a pattern of things in the child's environment that leads to severe anxiety. Write down what you see. This can help your child's health care provider choose the best treatment for your child.
-
Note your own behavior leading up to the time your child has behaviors that are related to anxiety. Your state of mind and behavior may give clues to your child's behavior. Let your child's provider know what you've observed. Be calm and reassure your child.
-
Seek individual and family counseling as advised.
Follow-up care
Follow up with your child's care teams as advised. Be sure to keep all appointments with them. Over time, your child's providers can assess how your child is doing and adjust treatment plans to meet your child's growth and developmental changes.
Call or text 988
Call or text
-
Is suicidal, has a clear suicide plan, and has the means to carry out the plan. Don't leave your child alone. Call or text 988 right away. You can talk to trained counselors who are part of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline . An online chat choice is also available. This service is free and available 24/7.
Call 911
Call 911 if your child:
-
Has trouble breathing.
-
Is very confused, agitated, or irritable.
-
Is very drowsy or has trouble waking up.
-
Faints.
-
Has a fast heart rate.
-
Has a seizure.
When to get medical care
Contact your child's health care provider right away if any of these occur:
-
Your child has anxiety, fear, or panic that doesn't stop.
-
Your child has trouble doing daily tasks.
-
Your child has trouble falling or staying asleep.
-
Your child makes threats of suicide or self-harm without a plan or means to carry out an attempt. Take all suicide comments seriously and get help right away. Call 988 (see above) for guidance if your child's provider is not available.
-
Your child's current behaviors get worse, or a new behavior worries you.
-
Close friends, family, or teachers have new concerns about your child's behavior.
Featured in
