3 Signs Your Child Might Have Anxiety

Child says negative things.

Does your little one engage in a lot of negative self-talk and frequently feel they're bad at things, like schoolwork, sports, or similar activities? While this certainly isn't a clear indication, it could be something you want to pay attention to. Belief in negative thoughts (ex. "I'll never pass the test because I'm so bad at maths") can affect self-esteem and lead to larger issues like anxiety.

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Child is frequently worrying about things.

Image Source: Unsplash / Joseph Gonzalez

"Anxiety also presents in different forms. Common ways that anxiety manifests is avoidance behaviour, worries, self-doubt, excessive fears, and social anxiety," said Sharma.

Take a look at the sorts of things they're worrying about, and the severity of those worries. Is it hindering them from other aspects of life? Are they avoiding certain school activities because they're worried about something bad happening? Or worried about what the other kids might think?

Keep in mind that it's healthy to worry about certain things, so you'll have to use good judgment. "In many cases, feeling anxious or nervous is normal."

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Child struggles with sleepovers and being away from the parent.

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"When children have anxiety about sleepovers, you are likely to notice that the child has other worries or discomforts as well," noted Sharma. "Reflect to see if the child dislikes or worries about other social situations or situations where they are separated from their parents."

There's a lot you can do in this case, though treatment options are age-dependent. "A phase plan could be helpful where the child has friends over late, then a sleepover with one friend at their house a couple of times before having a sleepover at a friends house."

This isn't something that should be forced, though. "It is important to make decisions about sleepovers, and other anxiety-provoking situations, based on where the child is at and how significant anxiety is. If they can tolerate distress and work through it, that can be very helpful. But putting a child in a situation where they will become flooded with anxiety can be harmful."

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