What people need to know about children and anxiety

Anxiety can affect people of all ages. It is the most common type of mental health disorder in children and affects as many as 10% of young people (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). This will be a three part series. References will be listed on the end of the third blog.

Causes of anxiety in children:

• Genetic predisposition

  Anxiety disorders tend to run in families, so if a person’s parent or other close relative has anxiety, they have a higher chance of developing anxiety themselves. In addition, children learn behaviors from their role models, so if their role models are anxious, children can learn to be anxious.

• Brain Biochemistry

  Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers in the brain that regulate a person’s thoughts and feelings. Sometimes there is a problem with the way the brain’s messages are being sent due to a chemical imbalance. Two of the primary neurotransmitters that affect a person’s feelings are serotonin and dopamine. When there is an imbalance of these chemicals, a person can feel depressed or anxious.

• Environmental factors

  Starting school, moving, sudden separation or loss of a parent, pet, or loved family member can trigger the onset of an anxiety disorder.

Symptoms of childhood anxiety disorders:

Anxiety is a sense of worry, apprehension, fear and distress. Symptoms of anxiety typically fall into two groups: physical symptoms (headache, feeling sick) and the emotional symptoms of nervousness and fear.

Physical symptoms

• Decreased appetite, other changes in eating habits

• Headache

• New or recurrent bedwetting

• Nightmares

• Sleep disturbances

• Stuttering

• Upset stomach or vague stomach pain

• Other physical symptoms with no physical illness

Emotional or behavioral symptoms

• Anxiety

• Worries

• Inability to relax

• New or recurring fears (fear of the dark, fear of being alone, fear of strangers)

• Clinging, unwilling to let you out of sight

• Questioning (may or may not ask questions)

• Anger

• Crying

• Whining

• Inability to control emotions

• Aggressive behavior

• Stubborn behavior

• Regression to behaviors that are typical of an earlier developmental stage

• Unwillingness to participate in family or school activities

For books on this topic click the following:

Information on children with anxiety