Children might get anxious and scared of many things we usually think are trivial but it does not mean it does not affect them emotionally.
As they grow up and learn to experience more social situations and emotional reactions, they may not fully understand why they are experiencing such emotions and what they are dealing with.
If you find your children to be anxious or refuse to participate in any social situation, do not be quick to judge or scold them.
Instead, ask them why they choose to behave in a certain way and explain to them about the situation.
Children may look at things differently than we do and sometimes, we do have to provide them a deeper understanding of the things they are dealing with.
It is our responsibility as adults to guide them and explain to them about their concerns.
However, if the behavior persists and your children remain uncomfortable when it comes to being anxious about something, it might be best to take a second look or seek a professional opinion about it.
Not many people are aware that children, too, can be vulnerable to mental disorders such as ADHD, anxiety and other behavioral issues.
Even in adulthood, anxiety disorders are not given much attention and those who are affected by it are simply often be told to not overthinking and that the anxiety is normal.
Just like adults, children can develop an anxiety disorder which will further affect their social life, studies, health and their overall quality of life.
Statistics show that 1 out of every 8 children develops an anxiety disorder and if left untreated, it can lead to difficulty in developing and maintaining relationships, sleep problem, substance abuse and depression.
It is good if your children can voice out their feelings but more often than not, many children struggle to tell that they are actually struggling from anxiety.
Their cry for help may be different than what you expect so it helps if you know what triggers them. You can also look for these signs:
- Constant stomach aches during stressful situations
- Agitation
- Restless behavior
- Avoiding people/situations that could even slightly stress them out
- Meltdowns over slight issues
- Difficulty transitioning
- Extreme perfectionism
- Strange coping mechanisms that could be considered as self-harm (biting, scratching, pinching or even the pulling of their own hair)
Being nervous about something especially when it is unfamiliar to them is normal but if the behavior continues for quite some time and it intervenes with their day-to-day activities, it may be best to seek professional help.
