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What are the possible symptoms of anxiety in a child?
If your child has any of the symptoms listed below, you’re obviously going to be concerned.
But bear in mind that, individually, they could be the result of something else. Like a child who still wets the bed on account of an immature bladder, but not due to anxiety.
This applies to most of the symptoms we’ll discuss. So use your judgement as you read on.
Possible symptoms of anxiety to consider
Physical symptoms
You may have noticed a variety of physical things, such as:
- changed sleep patterns
- distressing dreams and nightmares
- complaints of heads hurting or tummies aching
- an upset stomach
- bedwetting
- palpitations – claims that their heart is thumping
- signs of self-injury or self-harming
- changed eating patterns (but the odd day or two, or being picky, isn’t so important).
So yes, all these could indicate your child is anxious about something.
Behavioural and mood symptoms
Often, though, it’s not physical things so much as your child’s behaviour and mood that's somehow become tweaked, until you realise things are not like they were.
It could be simply growing up. But if you’ve come here, you probably have these sorts of behavioural concerns on your mind:
- perfectionism – worrying and checking things are “right”
- selective mutism – refusal to speak in certain situations
- developing an obsessive thought about something and then perhaps going through a ritual/compulsion to cope
- changed mood – to stubborn and un-coaxable, when they can normally be reasoned with
- change of mood from happy and outgoing to tentative and reserved – or vice-versa
- changed mood – not being bothered to do things they used to love
- changed mood – clinginess when you used to be able to leave the room or go to the loo in peace
- changed mood – a withdrawal from taking part in the family
- changed behaviour – outbursts of aggression could be a release of pent-up anxious energy
- changed behaviour – restless when they used to be peaceable
- refusing to go to school
- regression to an earlier stage of growing up – becoming more babyish or “infantile”.
- rigid ways of thinking and acting – something more than stubbornness!
As I say, it’s either the gradual onset or a sudden change that counts, rather than the occasional instance – along with it becoming the new normal over time.
And that’s where I hope these anxiety symptoms pages will offer you lots of information, advice and practical help to turn the situation around.
Obviously, if you feel you aren’t managing to ease your child's symptoms after a while, do have a look at the Asking for Help section where I give lots of help on finding a children's counsellor safely.
An interesting read on "iceberg" anxiety symptoms
There's a fascinating and very clearly written blog post from GoZen where they mention 8 symptoms that can show above the surface instead of just anxiety – imagine an iceberg.
They name anger, sleep issues, overplanning, avoidance, lack of focus, defiance, chandeliering and negativity as what you might see. I agree, of course. Hence this symptoms page here!
The point is, you're perhaps not looking out for "anxiety" as such; you perhaps have to look out for other ways it may be shown in your child.
It's a very helpful read. The unseen part of the iceberg is filled with many feelings that are fuelling the anxious behaviour, however it shows up. You can see the full image if you click through.
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ALWAYS:
Trust your instincts,
use your judgement, protect the spirit
of your child