When your child is anxious, it’s almost impossible to keep your cool. Your body starts sweating, your heart races, and you just feel miserable inside. You might try to tell your child that everything will be alright and he or she will be alright. In the back of your mind you are worried that you are going crazy because you cannot believe how nervous your child is. How do you know if your child really does have child anxiety symptoms?
The answer is very simple: you will know when your child is anxious, and if your child is showing signs of anxiety if you notice the following behavioral changes. If you notice that your child is less interested in school work, gets easily startled or starts to behave differently after doing a specific activity, then there is a good chance that your child has some form of anxiety disorder. Anxiety in children usually begins during childhood, but it can also begin at any age.
So how do you know if your child is showing signs of anxiety in school? One of the classic signs of child anxiety symptoms is when your child starts to skip school, or doesn’t show up at all. Another sign is if they become very talkative or exhibit behavior problems. They might even resort to physical threats or actions. If your child tends to act out of the normal behavior way before any other time, then he or she probably has a child anxiety disorder.
One of the most effective ways to determine if your child has a child anxiety disorder is to ask them about their day. Ask your child questions like how did you learn to get your grades and pass that test. Did you learn any new tips or strategies? Did anything seem difficult? If you don’t get any answers from your child, then there is a very strong possibility that your child may be suffering from anxiety symptoms.
If you are feeling that something could be potentially wrong, don’t hesitate to visit your pediatrician. You want to make sure that everything is alright and your child anxiety symptoms aren’t caused by another medical condition. If you suspect that it could be something like depression or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, then you want to seek professional help immediately. Depression can seriously affect your child’s development and must be treated accordingly.
If you are still uncertain as to whether or not your child anxiety symptoms are something to be concerned about, then it is best to have everything out in the open and face those feelings head on. Don’t be afraid to discuss it with others including your child’s teacher, and your child’s friends. Also try not to isolate yourself or keep all your hopes up based on your child’s mental health. There is plenty of support out there for anyone who suffers from child anxiety symptoms, so you are not alone.