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Anxiety in Children & Teens
It's heartbreaking to see your child struggle like this, and it's natural to feel concerned or unsure of how to help. You're not alone, and there are ways to make things better. But first, it helps to understand all the different ways anxiety can show up.
A child or teen with Generalized Anxiety "GAD" might seem like their brain is stuck in "what if" mode, thinking about all the things that could go wrong, big or small. They might constantly worry about situations like, 'What if my parents get sick? What if we lose our house? What if I'm not good enough at school?' These worries aren't just fleeting thoughts; they're almost always there, making it hard to concentrate on anything else. They might seem restless, have trouble sleeping, or complain of stomaches often. It’s not just an occasional bad day—GAD sticks around for months and can really get in the way of enjoying life.
GENERALIZED ANXIETY
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Some people experience anxiety about particular things -- dogs, spiders, bees, or extreme weather. Imagine a child who's so afraid of dogs that they refuse to go to a friend's house because they might have a pet. Or, a teen who avoids going to the doctor because they have a fear of needles, even if they're really sick. It's an intense, almost paralyzing fear that can control their choices. Clinicians recognize this kind of anxiety as a Specific Phobia.
Specific phobias are characterized by an intense, irrational fear of a specific object, situation, or activity that poses little to no actual danger. Common phobias include fear of natural disasters, fears of animals, fears of blood or medical procedures (like shots), or fears of vomiting.
SPECIFIC PHOBIAS
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When a child’s fear of being apart from loved ones is extreme, lasts a long time, and makes daily life hard, it may be separation anxiety disorder. Kids with this may worry a lot about something bad happening to their parents, refuse to be away from home, struggle to sleep alone, or even feel sick when faced with separation. While this is most common in elementary-aged kids, teens and even young adults can experience it too.
SEPARATION ANXIETY
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A panic attack in children is a sudden and intense rush of fear that can happen without warning, making them feel like something terrible is happening to their body or mind. During a panic attack, a child might suddenly feel their heart racing, struggle to breathe, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or experience a sense of choking or tightness in their chest. They may start shaking, sweating, or feeling numb, and some children describe it as feeling like they’re going to faint, lose control, or even die.
Some clients might experience a panic attack before a class presentation or a big test, feeling so dizzy and short of breath that they think they’re having a serious medical emergency. With the right support and coping strategies, children and teens can learn to manage and reduce their panic attacks over time.
PANIC
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Treatment for Anxiety
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be very beneficial for clients who experience excessive worry about unlikely or unrealistic events. CBT helps children manage these worries by teaching them how to identify and challenge negative thoughts, develop coping strategies, and gradually face their fears in a safe and controlled environment. Click HERE to learn more about CBT.
Exposure Therapy: To reduce children’s anxieties about situations they are likely to experience in their lives day to day, for example, separating from their parents, getting a shot, being exposed to germs that could make them sick, or giving a presentation in front of the class, exposure therapy can be incredibly effective. This approach involves gradually introducing the child to their fear in a controlled, manageable way. Click HERE to learn more about Exposure Therapy.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: For older children and teens, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is often used in conjunction with exposure therapy and/or CBT. ACT can be highly effective for anxiety disorders because it focuses on helping people develop a healthier relationship with their thoughts and feelings, rather than trying to fight or avoid them. Click HERE to learn more about ACT.
Types of Treatment
Social anxiety in children and teens is more than just shyness—it’s an intense fear of being judged, embarrassed, or making mistakes in social situations. A child with social anxiety might avoid raising their hand in class, even if they know the answer, because they’re afraid of saying something wrong and having everyone look at them. A teenager might dread going to a party, worrying for days ahead of time about what to say, how to act, or whether others will judge them. Even after a social event, they may replay everything in their minds, convinced they embarrassed themselves somehow. This kind of anxiety can make school, friendships, and new experiences feel overwhelming.
SOCIAL ANXIETY
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