Anxiety in children and teenagers
It's normal for children and teenagers to feel worried or anxious from time to time, such as when they're starting school or nursery, or moving to a new area.
Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear – it's an understandable reaction in children to change or a stressful event.
But for some children, anxiety affects their behavior and thoughts on a daily basis, interfering with their school, home and social life. This is when you may need professional help to tackle it before it becomes a more serious issue.
What are the signs of anxiety in children?
Anxiety can make a child feel scared, panicky, embarrassed or ashamed.
Some of the signs to look out for in your child are:
- Finding it hard to concentrate
- Not sleeping, or waking in the night with bad dreams
- Not eating properly
- Quickly getting angry or irritable, and being out of control during outbursts
- Constantly worrying or having negative thoughts
- Feeling tense and fidgety, or using the toilet often
- Always crying
- Being clingy all the time (when other children are ok)
- Complaining of tummy aches and feeling unwell
What types of anxiety do children and teenagers experience?
Common types of anxiety in children and teenagers are described below.
A fear or phobia about something specific
Children are commonly afraid of things like monsters, dogs or water. This is a perfectly normal part of growing up, but has the potential to become a phobia (a type of anxiety disorder) when the fear becomes overwhelming and affects your child's day-to-day life.
Feeling anxious for most of the time for no apparent reason
While it's normal for children to frequently have fears and worries, some anxious children may grow up to develop a long-term condition called generalized anxiety disorder when they become a teenager or young adult.
Generalized anxiety disorder causes you to feel anxious about a wide range of situations and issues, rather than one specific event.
Separation anxiety
Separation anxiety means a child worrying about not being with their parent or regular carer.
It is common in young children, and normally develops at about six months of age. It can make settling into nursery or school or with a child minder very difficult.
Separation anxiety in older children may be a sign that they're feeling insecure about something – they could be reacting to changes at home, for example.
Social anxiety
Social anxiety is not wanting to go out in public, see friends or take part in activities.
Social 'shyness' is perfectly normal for some children and teenagers, but it becomes a problem – 'social anxiety disorder' – when everyday activities like shopping or speaking on the phone cause intense, overwhelming fear. Children affected by it tend to fear doing or saying something they think will be humiliating.
Panic Disorder
People with panic disorder have recurrent unexpected panic attacks, which are sudden periods of intense fear that may include palpitations, trembling or shaking, sensations of shortness of breath, smothering, or choking; and feeling of impending doom.
Panic disorder symptoms include:
· Sudden and repeated attacks of intense fear
· Feelings of being out of control during a panic attack
· Intense worries about when the next attack will happen
· Fear or avoidance of places where panic attacks have occurred in the past
Post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder are other anxiety disorders that can occasionally affect children, but are usually seen in adults.
If you think your child has anxiety
If you think your child may be depressed, it's important to talk to them. Try to find out what's troubling them and how they are feeling.
Whatever is causing the problem, take it seriously. It may not seem a big deal to you, but it could be a major problem for your child.
If your child doesn't want to talk to you, let them know that you are concerned about them and that you're there if they need you.
Encourage them to talk to someone else they trust, such as another family member, a friend or someone at school.
It may be helpful for you to talk to other people who know your child, including their other parent.
You could also contact their school to see if they have any concerns
When to get medical help
It is probably time to get professional help for your child's anxiety if:
- you feel it is not getting better or is getting worse, and efforts to tackle it yourself have not worked
- you think it's slowing down their development or having a significant effect on their schooling or relationships
- it happens very frequently
If you think your child has anxiety, make an appointment with them to see your GP.
If necessary they can refer your child to their local child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) in Kiarong for specialist help.
If you need urgent help outside of working hour, please visit Accident and Emergency Department at RIPAS Hospital
Treatment and therapies
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a talking therapy that can help your child manage their problems by changing the way they think and behave.
It has been proven to help with anxiety that isn't severe, and is commonly offered to young people who are anxious.
Your child will work with the therapist to find ways to change the way they think and find strategies for coping in situations that make them anxious.
Medication
If your child's anxiety problem has not got better, your doctor may talk to you about trying medication.
A type of antidepressant, called a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), may help your child feel calmer and differently about things.
Antidepressants usually take around two to four weeks to work properly, so you or your child may not notice the difference immediately.
It's natural to be concerned about side effects. Your doctor will discuss these with you and collaborate with you with regards to the treatment plan of your child.
SOURCE:
www.nhs.uk
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