Children's Anxiety Symptoms

Everybody worries about things, but sometimes worrying can become extreme. If your child worries so much that it interferes with his daily life, he might have an anxiety disorder. The following are some symptoms of anxiety disorders in children.

Worry

If a child is worried frequently about many things over a period of 6 months or more, and if the worrying is affecting her life and relationships, she may have an anxiety disorder.

Physical Symptoms

Some children experience headaches, muscles aches, stomach aches or fatigue from holding tension inside their bodies.

Stress

For many children, both the physical and emotional symptoms of anxiety can worsen in times of stress.

Control

Kids who worry a lot often try hard to control their environment, thinking that if they can make everything right, there won't be as much to worry about. Also, many things in children's worlds are beyond their control, so they often try to control what they can.

Treating your child's anxiety

Your child doesn't have to be handicapped by anxiety. There are both medical and nonmedical treatments. Make sure to talk to your doctor or therapist.

Resources

• Katherine Teel writes a parenting blog
• Katherine Teel's adoption blog