Children have very different sleep patterns than adults and children who suffer from child sleep anxiety will notice that they are not able to sleep at all. Sleep disorders such as insomnia, restless leg syndrome or other similar sleep problems can have very serious consequences when left untreated. Sleep anxiety in children can lead to severe medical conditions like asthma, seizures, diabetes, and heart arrhythmia. Even if the symptoms disappear once the child has grown out of it, they can come back at a later age. There are many reasons for this and some of the more common ones are as follows:
* During childhood it is very common for children to have tantrums or cry during the night. This can sometimes be quite embarrassing for the child as well as for the parents. When a child suffers from child sleep anxiety, this problem will manifest itself during the night as the child keeps crying and wailing without any reason. Parents must take note of such behaviour and make sure it does not happen again.
* Childhood anxiety is very common among children and it is often associated with sleeping problems. Children who experience frequent nightmares or have panic attacks at night are more prone to have sleep disorders. Children can feel very irritable and tense due to anxiety or boredom, which often leads them to wet their beds during the night. Parents must take note of such behaviours and ensure the child is comforted.
* Childhood bed wetting is also another serious condition associated with child sleep anxiety. Wet beds are very hazardous because it leads to early childhood diseases like enuresis and bedwetting. Such children often lack concentration and can develop behavioural problems. They might also display aggressive and hostile behavior around other children. It is therefore very important to address this problem in order to ensure a good night’s sleep for the child.
* Physical manifestations of child sleep anxiety include irritability, hyperactivity and fidgeting during the day. In addition, the child may be unable to concentrate on objects or tasks. These manifestations are difficult to control because the child feels they are unable to control these symptoms. Parents should never leave a child alone during the night and must carry out behavioural interventions as soon as possible to help the child sleep well.
Childhood anxiety is often caused by various factors. These include social experiences during the early years, environmental conditions, biological factors and heredity. It is therefore not surprising that children who have frequent nightmares or have frequent bedwetting are usually anxiety-stricken. There is no known treatment for childhood anxiety. However, there are several treatments available which could greatly improve the child’s condition.