Madeleine Vieira 8/22/22 Madeleine Vieira 8/22/22

Transitioning Back to School: How to Handle Your Child’s Anxiety

A new backpack, a different classroom, and an excited little learner–the new school year brings many changes and excitement for most children.

For other children, however, it can be a source of anxiety. Maybe they enjoyed the previous year but feel scared of the unknown of the new year. Or maybe your family has moved and they know they will have to make new friends.

Whatever the reason for the anxiety is, there are ways that you can help your child. Even if the anxiety is just normal, first day jitters, a little preparation can go a long way.

A new backpack, a different classroom, and an excited little learner–the new school year brings many changes and excitement for most children.

For other children, however, it can be a source of anxiety. Maybe they enjoyed the previous year but feel scared of the unknown of the new year. Or maybe your family has moved and they know they will have to make new friends.

Whatever the reason for the anxiety is, there are ways that you can help your child. Even if the anxiety is just normal, first day jitters, a little preparation can go a long way.

Walk Them Through What to Expect

Taking out the element of the unknown can make a big difference in calming nerves. Set aside time in the week or month before school starts to talk about the new schedule. Discuss who their new teacher will be, where their classes will be, and what to expect throughout the day.

If possible, try to set up a time to meet their new teacher. Many schools will have an open house to allow students to see the building, their classroom, and the teacher. Take full advantage if this is the case for you. Let your child practice opening their locker and help them find their desk.

If you can’t get into the school before the first day, you can still drive by and talk about the drop-off and pickup. Or if your child walks to school or rides the bus, the two of you can role play what they will need to do each morning and afternoon. Not only will this help calm their nerves, but it will also keep them safe and in the right place on the first day.

Establish Connection Throughout the Day

For some children, the hardest part of the first day of school is simply that they don’t like being separated from their parents or siblings. In this case, creating a way for them to continue to feel connected to their loved ones even when they’re separated is essential. Here are some ideas of ways to do just that.

Leave a Note in their Bag or Lunchbox

A little one-line note can let them know that you are thinking about them and cheering them on from afar. A lunchtime note can help break up the school day and may reach them at just the right time to give them a boost to finish the day.

If you know that your child often struggles at a different point in the day, try putting a note in the backpack and letting them know what time they should go looking for it. It could be at a specific time or after a certain class.

Read Books

Children’s story books can be a great tool to help children recognize their feelings and know how to handle them. Feeling anxiety when separating from a caregiver is a very common experience, so there are many resources to help families tackle these feelings.

Some of my favorite books to help children conquer non-clinical separation anxiety include:

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney
Love You All Day Long by Francesca Rusackas
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst

If you think that your child might be suffering from a more intense form of separation anxiety, my book Charlie Cub Is Afraid To Leave His Mother can be a useful resource. This book follows the journey of Charlie Cub as he wants to go to a sleepover but is terrified to leave his mother behind. It uses a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approach to help him face and conquer his fear. Your child may be able to see themselves in Charlie Cub and use his approach to overcome their anxiety too.

Charlie Cub Is Afraid To Leave His Mother can be pre-ordered by clicking here.

Get Matching Bracelets, Necklaces, or Backpack Tags

There are many products that you can buy that establish a physical point of connection between you and your child. Matching bracelets or necklaces can give your child something to touch throughout the day and know that you are doing the same.

However, you don’t have to purchase something to get this experience. You can make matching bracelets out of string and beads. Or the two of you can make matching pictures to put in their locker and your work bag. The possibilities are endless!

Adjust Their Sleep Schedule

A tired child is a more emotional child. That’s the last thing that you want during an already emotional time.

If your child has been sleeping in a bit later in the morning this summer and staying up late each night, don’t wait until the first day of school to adjust their schedule. Start a week or two before the first day pushing their wake time and bedtime up by 10 minutes. This slow transition will go much smoother and will help your child be rested and ready to learn on their first day.

Focus on the Positive

When we’re anxious or nervous, it’s easy to focus on the negative in the situation. You may need to help your child see the good things in the new school year instead of just the scary things.

Talk with them about what fun activities they’ll do in the classroom and the exciting games they’ll play with their friends. Encourage them to list the things about their new school or classroom that they’re excited to try out like new playground equipment.

Have a Debrief

Give your child time to recoup and relax when they get home from school. Schedule a chunk of time with nothing to do so that they can breathe and do whatever activity calms them.

Once they’ve had some downtime, make sure to ask them about their day. Let them know that you want to know what was great and what could have gone better. Having this talk every day will help you know what’s going on with them at school and help you be able to address problems before they get too big.

To hear more about after-school restraint collapse, check out my podcast episode Ep. 7: Why Is My Child Acting Out? Oppositional Defiant Disorder Explained .

Remember to Take Care of Yourself

The start of the school year means a lot of changes for you, too. You may be getting up earlier to get your children ready. You’re likely running them to more events and trying to coordinate new schedules.

Make sure to take time to rest and relax. You cannot take care of everyone else’s needs if your needs aren’t met first.

Reach Out for Help if Necessary

If the transition into school this fall seems even more difficult than usual, remember that it’s just a phase. Change is hard, but we are capable of adapting. If after a few weeks, your child is still really struggling, don’t be afraid to reach out for help from their teacher, the school counselor, or a mental health professional. We’re all in this together!

Would you like more tips on how to proactively nurture your child’s mental health? Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter!

My podcast covers a variety of mental health topics, as well. You can check out all the episodes here.

References

Madeleine Vieira 5/17/22 Madeleine Vieira 5/17/22

More Than Childhood Fear: How to Identify and Address a Specific Phobia

Many children hang on their mother’s leg with apprehension on the first day of kindergarten. Other children struggle to sleep some nights because of the monsters they think are under the bed. Or maybe the trip to the dentist each year is a source of anxiety for your child.

These are all normal childhood fears. They are specific to one experience, and they can be worked through, and the child quickly moves on from them.

When a child’s fears become disproportionate to the actual situation and are long-standing, bleeding into many areas of the child’s life, there may be more going on, such as a Specific Phobia.

A Specific Phobia centers on one particular activity, object, animal, or situation. The fear that the child feels drives them to avoid that trigger at all costs. An inability to avoid the trigger causes intense distress.

Girl walking away carrying lion stuffed toy

These are all normal childhood fears. They are specific to one experience, and they can be worked through, and the child quickly moves on from them.

When a child’s fears become disproportionate to the actual situation and are long-standing, bleeding into many areas of the child’s life, there may be more going on, such as a Specific Phobia.(1)

Fear of water (Aquaphobia)
Fear of the dark (Nyctophobia)
Fear of thunder and lightning (Astraphobia)
Fear of insects (Entomophobia)
Fear of dogs (Cynophobia)
Fear of places or situations that might cause panic (Agoraphobia)
Fear of social situations (Social Phobia)

This isn’t an exhaustive list. There are many other things that children may develop a Specific Phobia around. Looking for the tell-tale symptoms and speaking to a mental health professional are the best ways to determine if your child is suffering from a Specific Phobia.

Symptoms

Children with Specific Phobia can experience both emotional and physiological symptoms. The emotional symptoms of intense, unrealistic fear and panic around a specific situation or thing are what most people think of when they think of a Specific Phobia.(2) However, children can also feel a compelling need to avoid the object of their anxiety. This need for avoidance shapes their behavior and influences how they make decisions.

Physical symptoms that are experienced with Specific Phobia can include headaches, stomachaches, a racing heart, trembling, difficulty breathing, sweating, and feelings of weakness.(5) Children can experience any combination of these physical symptoms in addition to the emotional symptoms they experience.

Specific Phobia can interfere with many aspects of a child’s life by disrupting their sleep patterns or ability to have fun.(4) It can also cause concentration problems that often result in behavior issues in the classroom. If the symptoms of Specific Phobia have progressed to this point, the child needs help from a mental health professional.

Causes

The three main causes of Specific Phobia are predisposition, genes, and environment. Predisposition speaks to a child’s personality. Some children are more prone to be anxious and are less capable of handling stressors in their lives.

Mental illnesses can be hereditary or related to genetics.(3) A child with more anxious people in their family history is more likely to be diagnosed with a Specific Phobia. Finally, if a child’s environment is stressful, that can also be a cause of Specific Phobia. These environments could include living in a volatile home, feeling stressed at school, having parents going through a divorce, or a loss of a family member.

Very rarely is just one of these factors at play with a diagnosis of Specific Phobia. More often two or three factors are involved to varying degrees.

Treatments

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is often the most effective type of therapy to treat a Specific Phobia.(7) CBT works to help a child identify their thought patterns and how those thoughts may be helping or hurting them. As they begin to recognize what their thought patterns are and the power that they hold, children can work to change those thoughts and, in turn, change their behavior.

One technique of CBT, known as Graded Exposure, helps children systemically face their fears and more effectively manage their symptoms.(6) Through repeated practice of Graded Exposure, a child can gain mastery over their fear.

The mental health professional may help your child understand how the outcome that they imagine when they are anxious is not realistic. They might teach your child how to use self-talk to combat fear. Therapy sessions may also consist of your child learning various relaxation techniques, like breathing exercises.(6) The exercises are great for you as the parent to learn as well so that you can help coach your child through them when they are anxious.

For a child suffering from a Specific Phobia and their parents, an effective technique like Graded Exposure can be an amazing tool. So let me tell you a bit more about implementing Graded Exposure with your child.

Graded Exposure

While treatment of a Specific Phobia should always be overseen by a mental health professional, there are strategies that can be practiced at home to help your child.

My anxiety disorder series, I’M AFRAID, has a book focused on Specific Phobia. Sophia Swan Is Afraid of Water! follows Sophia as she faces her intense fear of water. She uses Graded Exposure to slowly expose herself to water and address her fear step-by-step.

This book can be a wonderful tool to see the practical application of Graded Exposure. Your child may see themselves in Sophia. They can watch as a character that feels the same fear that they do is able to succeed in facing her fears.

The book also has a page outlining this stepladder approach and other coping strategies that may be useful.

Other Therapy Strategies

The mental health professional you partner with may also try other techniques to help your child address their fear.

Role-playing techniques can be a great tool to work through a worst-case scenario that a child is picturing. Through role-playing, the child can most often see how that scenario is not likely or even not possible.

A mental health professional can help a child find the combination of different strategies that work best specifically for them. They can also provide the space and encouragement to continue to practice these techniques until the child is able to use them successfully.

Remember, some childhood fears are normal. The many new and unusual things that a child experiences are bound to bring out some feelings of trepidation. However, if any anxiety is beginning to seem prolonged and unrealistic, reach out for help.(2) Even if there is no diagnosis, it never hurts to have someone come alongside you and your child and give you strategies to cope with anxiety.

Pre-order Sophia Swan Is Afraid of Water! HERE. To check out other books in the I’M AFRAID anxiety disorder series, visit: www.DrMadeleineVieira.com/books/imafraid

Would you like more information on childhood anxiety? Listen to my Genius Little Minds two-part podcast series on childhood anxiety disorders now! Click here for part 1 and Click here for part 2.

And don’t forget to subscribe to my monthly newsletter to stay up-to-date on the latest blogs and podcasts on infant and childhood mental health!

References

Madeleine Vieira 3/16/22 Madeleine Vieira 3/16/22

3 Things to Do if You're Raising an Anxious Child

The past couple of years have been hard on all of us. But if you’re a parent, you’re a real hero. Working and parenting from home—all while tackling crippling pandemic anxiety—has become the new norm for many people.

And your children are likely feeling anxious too. They may not use the exact phrase “I’m anxious,” but the pandemic hasn’t been easy on anyone. And they probably don’t even have the words to describe exactly what they’re feeling.

So it’s up to you to notice and tackle the issue head on.

Is the question, “Mom, what if…?” followed by the disaster of the day on repeat in your household?

So it’s up to you to notice and tackle the issue head on.

Is the question, “Mom, what if…?” followed by the disaster of the day on repeat in your household?

No matter how many ways you assure them they’re safe—does their brain still get on an anxiety loop of worst-case scenarios?

And are you struggling to soothe them when their fear or worry becomes overwhelming?

Navigating a childhood anxiety disorder can be really taxing.

There are only so many ways you can assure your child they’re okay. When their brain gets on an anxiety loop of “what if… what if… what if…” it can feel impossible to flip the switch.

So how do you help them cope when you’re hanging on by a thread yourself?

You start with learning the signs and symptoms.

Signs of Anxiety in Children

Anxiety in children can look and sound different than anxiety in adults.

So What Does Childhood Anxiety Actually Look Like?

Crying spells
Frequent stomachaches and/or headaches
Being unwilling to go to school or attend social events with peers
Being afraid that something bad will happen to you or other loved ones
Changes in mood, sleeping and eating habits or behavior

Symptoms vary from disorder to disorder. That’s why seeking professional evaluation and treatment is so necessary and important.

Should I Be Worried About My Child’s Anxiety?

It’s completely normal for children to be anxious or worried sometimes. They are human, after all! Just like you and me, sometimes they get scared or nervous when facing a new challenge, meeting new people, or being in an unfamiliar environment.

But when a child has an anxiety disorder, they feel extreme fear and worry. And the anxiety they feel is disproportionate to the situation at hand. It might feel impossible for them to relax because their worry is so pervasive. Their “fight or flight” response is activated even when there isn’t any real danger present. And they might have symptoms that show they aren’t coping with their fear and stress very well.

Your child may try to hide their anxiety from you due to shame, fear, or just not knowing what’s going on inside their own body and brain. Try to cultivate a sense of safety so they share their feelings and experiences with you.

If your child’s anxiety is so severe they feel physically ill, don’t want to go to school, have trouble focusing on schoolwork, and you’re unable to soothe them, then you may want to seek professional help.

Anxiety disorders in children and teens are actually quite common. It’s estimated that 1 in 8 children in the US (1) and between 5 and 19% of children and adolescents in the UK have an anxiety disorder. (2)

If you suspect your child has an anxiety disorder, try not to stress yourself out. “Disorder” is not a dirty word! And even if your child has a diagnosable anxiety disorder, it doesn’t mean they’re doomed.

What Causes Childhood Anxiety?

There are a number of factors that contribute to children developing anxiety disorders.

Genetics

This may be hard to hear, but just like your child might have inherited your hair and eye color, they might have also inherited your anxiety. Children of parents with an anxiety disorder can be as much as seven times more likely to develop an anxiety disorder themselves. (8)

Not all children with anxious family members will develop anxiety.

But a 2016 literature review found that panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder are linked to specific genes. (5)

And predispositions to neuroticism, shyness, conscientiousness and low extraversion also tend to be associated with anxiety. (6)

Most researchers will tell you that genes play a part in a child developing clinical anxiety. But remember, you’re also a hero and role model! When your child sees you coping and using healthy strategies to deal with your anxiety, they learn that anxiety is manageable. Together, you can reduce worries, implement self-care routines, and make healthy choices.

Biology and Brain Chemistry

Biology can also play a role—sometimes children’s dopamine and serotonin neurotransmitters can get out of whack. Consulting with your child’s healthcare provider can help rule out or hone in on any imbalances that need to be addressed.

Anxiety and depression often present simultaneously, so be sure to keep an eye out for depressive symptoms in your child as well. In children and teens, depression may present as irritability. (7) Stay tuned for the upcoming podcast episode with more information on childhood depression and how you can help your child overcome it.

Environmental Factors

A child’s environment also plays a role in how anxious they are. Stressful living situations, major life changes, the death of a loved one, or family problems can make a child’s anxiety skyrocket.

Life can be stressful—that’s just a reality we all have to face. But do your best to come up with a plan with your child before a stressful event so they know what to expect.

And the more you can cope with your own stress and show support as your child learns age-appropriate ways to manage their anxiety, the better.

How Can I Help My Anxious Child?

Calming an anxious child is no easy feat.

Finding a therapist who specializes in anxiety disorders can be extremely helpful. Early detection and intervention can help reduce the severity of symptoms and improve your child’s quality of life. (3)

The best thing you can do is seek out professional help sooner rather than later. Licensed mental health professionals specializing in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Graded Exposure Therapy are a great place to start. They can also provide training on what you as a parent or caretaker can do to help your child take small steps toward conquering their fears.

Here are 3 steps you can take to help your anxious child today.

1. Seek Out Professional Help

Therapy is safe and non-invasive. But it does require a medium to long-term commitment of weekly sessions. And those can range from a few months to over a year of treatment, depending on the severity of symptoms.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is usually the first line of treatment for anxiety disorders, though in some cases medication is also useful. CBT is a form of talk therapy based on the idea that unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors can be changed into more realistic thoughts—which in turn has a positive effect on feelings and behavior. (4)

Under the CBT umbrella there are two therapeutic interventions that are particularly useful for treating anxiety:

Graded Exposure Therapy: With a stepladder approach, children are slowly and systematically exposed to the thing they fear, reducing their anxiety symptoms.
Exposure Response Prevention Therapy: This is the CBT-based therapy of choice for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). It helps children with OCD face their fears while refraining from engaging in compulsive behaviors.

2. Read Therapeutic Books Together

In addition to therapy, reading therapeutic books together can help your child understand their anxiety. Through storytelling and beautiful illustrations, your child will learn to overcome their fear-based behaviors.

The book series I’m Afraid, which is based on Graded Exposure Therapy, demonstrates that it is possible for children to manage their anxiety.

They’ll find themselves identifying with Sophia Swan Who’s Afraid of Water, Charlie Cub Who’s Afraid to Leave His Mother, or Khloe Kitten Who’s Afraid of Germs. These beautiful stories bring your child’s lived experience to the page. At the end of each story, they’ll see fears are conquerable. Pre-order my therapeutic book series about childhood anxiety disorders today!

3. Learn More About Childhood Anxiety Disorders

By learning about what your child is going through, you’ll be better equipped to help them cope. Children often have a hard time finding the words to express their anxiety. So being cognizant of the physical signs and behaviors is so important.

Listen to my two-part Childhood Anxiety Disorders series on my podcast, Genius Little Minds, where I unpack 8 anxiety disorders and how they present in children.

Listen here:

Childhood Anxiety Disorders: Part One – My Child Cries When I Go to Work! And Other Anxious Tendencies

Childhood Anxiety Disorders: Part Two – My Child is Afraid of Messes! And Other Anxious Tendencies

And don’t forget to subscribe to stay up to date with the latest in children’s mental health!

References

Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Facts & Statistics. 2014. http://www.adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics.
(2020, September). Anxiety Disorders in Children. NHS Inform. https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/mental-health/anxiety-disorders-in-children
Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Boston Children’s Hospital. https://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions/g/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad
(2017, July). What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. American Psychological Association https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families/cognitive-behavioral
(2019, June). Is Anxiety Genetic? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/is-anxiety-genetic#symptoms
Personality Traits Associated With Anxiety. Brainsway. https://www.brainsway.com/knowledge-center/personality-traits-associated-with-anxiety/
The Relationship Between Anxiety and Depression. Hartgrove Behavioral Health System. https://www.hartgrovehospital.com/relationship-anxiety-depression/
(2020, August). Does Anxiety Run in Families? UNC Healthtalk. https://healthtalk.unchealthcare.org/does-anxiety-run-in-families/

Madeleine Vieira 2/1/22 Madeleine Vieira 2/1/22

Childhood Anxiety vs. Adult Anxiety: How Anxiety in Children Looks Different

Anxiety disorders are some of the most common mental health conditions today.

7.1% of children aged 3-17 years have an anxiety diagnosis.(1) And it's estimated that 30% of children and adolescents will have an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives.(2)

Anxiety disorders can develop at any age, though we know that half of mental health disorders begin in childhood. While both children and adults can struggle with an anxiety disorder, there are some key differences in how these disorders present themselves.

Socially anxious child covering their face

Anxiety disorders are some of the most common mental health conditions today.

7.1% of children aged 3-17 years have an anxiety diagnosis.(1) And it's estimated that 30% of children and adolescents will have an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives.(2)

Anxiety disorders can develop at any age, though we know that half of mental health disorders begin in childhood. While both children and adults can struggle with an anxiety disorder, there are some key differences in how these disorders present themselves.

Read on for the distinctions.

What Are The Similarities Between Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adults?

First, let’s look at the similarities between childhood and adult anxiety.
Both children and adults with an anxiety disorder often experience: (3)

·       Excessive worrying
·       Feeling restless, irritable, or uneasy
·       Physical symptoms like a racing heart, headaches, or stomach aches
·       Trouble sleeping
·       Difficulty focusing

Each individual will have different symptoms, and some people may experience only a few of these symptoms while others may experience many. Anxiety symptoms also differ across the various types of anxiety disorders.

What Are The Different Types of Anxiety Disorders?

Anxiety disorders are generally characterized by excessive fear or worry. Here are some of the most common disorders: (4)

·       Generalized Anxiety Disorder
·       Phobias
·       Panic Disorder
·       Social Anxiety Disorder
·       Separation Anxiety Disorder
·       Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
·       Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Adults and children can both develop these types of anxiety disorders. So how does anxiety manifest itself in children?

What Does Childhood Anxiety Look Like?

There are a few key distinctions between adults and children when it comes to anxiety disorders.
Childhood anxiety vs. adult anxiety involves differences in:

·       How children process their anxiety
·       Diagnostic criteria
·       The symptoms children exhibit
·       The prevalence of certain disorders at specific ages

What Are The Developmental Differences?

Perhaps the biggest difference between adults and children is that children have not finished developing. Unlike adult brains, children's brains are still growing and thus, children are still learning how to process the world around them.

Because children's cognitive functioning has not completely developed, children may not be able to identify or understand the source of their anxiety. They just know that they feel scared or uncomfortable. They can also have a difficult time communicating how they feel to others.

How Does Diagnosis of Anxiety Differ in Children?

The DSM-5 includes diagnostic criteria for the different anxiety disorders. Children must meet different diagnostic criteria than adults to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.

For example, to be diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, children only need to meet one of the six symptoms listed below, whereas adults need three of the six: (5)

·       Restlessness
·       Easily fatigued
·       Difficulty concentrating
·       Irritability
·       Muscle aches
·       Trouble sleeping

What Are The Signs of Anxiety in Children?

Some signs of an anxiety disorder in children include: (6)

·       Frequent crying
·       Emotional outbursts and tantrums
·       Having difficulty concentrating in school
·       Nightmares

Some of these symptoms may also be present in adults, but are more often seen among children. Because children have a harder time communicating and managing their emotions, they can become overwhelmed, angry, and emotionally dysregulated more easily than adults.

You know how children can get when you tell them, "no?" It's like someone swapped your sweet, well-behaved child for a pint-sized crocodile.

When it comes to anxiety, the same thing can happen. One second, they're fine, the next they're melting down because they can't find their favorite toy.

They may lack the skills to identify how they feel, the words to express their anxiety, and the coping strategies to deal with these uncomfortable feelings. Thus, they may act out in anger or defiance. A child who seems to be exhibiting disruptive behavior in school may actually be struggling with an undiagnosed anxiety disorder.

A child with obsessive-compulsive disorder, who has to complete certain rituals to alleviate their intense anxiety, may have their behavior misconstrued as being disobedient or oppositional.

Anxiety in children can manifest in a multitude of ways, which is why an evaluation by a mental health professional is the best way to determine an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Are There Differences Among Disorders?

Some anxiety disorders are also more common among children than adults.

For instance, while some adults may be diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder, it is more often seen in young children. Separation anxiety is actually a normal part of development until about the age of three. (7) After three years old, if a child continues to struggle with separating from caregivers, they may have separation anxiety disorder.

A child with separation anxiety can have a lot of trouble being away from their parents, even at school. They may cry and cling to their parents when it's time to go, have nightmares about being separated from them, or repeatedly ask if they are going to be okay.

What Does Adult Anxiety Look Like?

Unlike children, adults are more likely to be able to identify the source of their anxiety. Adults are generally aware of their anxious thoughts and feelings and can put them into words.

Additionally, because adult brains have fully developed, adults are better able to recognize cognitive distortions and regulate their emotions.

Well, at least most of the time. Adults can get emotionally dysregulated too—otherwise road rage wouldn't exist.

But in general, adults are better at understanding and managing their emotions.

Summarizing Key Differences Between Anxiety in Adults and Anxiety in Children

While anxiety often looks similar across adults and children, it’s important to know when it can be different.
The major differences in anxiety disorders between children and adults are:

·       Children are still learning how to process the world around them, while adults have a more developed cognitive functioning
·       Children may not be able to identify the source of their anxiety, while adults are generally more aware of their anxious thoughts and feelings
·       Children's symptoms may include behavior that doesn’t immediately look like anxiety, such as emotional outbursts, anger, and tantrums
·       The DSM has different criteria for diagnosing anxiety disorders in children and adults.
·       Some disorders are more prevalent at certain developmental stages

What Should You Do When You Think Your Child Needs Anxiety Treatment?

If you think your child is struggling with anxiety, seeking professional help is recommended. As a chronic condition, anxiety is not likely to go away on its own.

But support is available. If you’re not sure where to start, your pediatrician can provide a referral to a therapist or psychologist who specializes in anxiety disorders.

The type of treatment depends on the specific anxiety disorder, but the first line of treatment is often cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT helps children learn how to identify and manage their anxious thoughts and feelings. In structured sessions, children are given the tools to recognize their cognitive distortions and learn how to respond to them in a healthy way.

How I Help Children with Anxiety

As a clinical child psychologist who is an anxiety disorder specialist, I've worked with children with anxiety for years. I understand how anxious children think. And I encourage parents to seek expert guidance from a child psychologist first, before turning to medication for anxiety treatment.

My goal is to help children understand their thoughts and feelings and develop healthy coping skills that will serve them for a lifetime.

Are you looking for more information on how to support your child with anxiety? Be sure to sign up for my newsletter to get regular tips and resources, directly to your inbox.

References