Anxiety is the most common mental health concern for children and adults. Because anxious teens are often quiet and compliant, they frequently go unnoticed by their parents and teachers. How can you relieve your child’s anxiety, and help them to be more confident?

 

Anxiety can emerge in a number of ways. Your child may be clingy or quick to throw tantrums. They may be excessively shy or worry a lot. In extreme cases they may complain of tummy or headaches, or even suffer from panic attacks.

 

Parents often say that they knew there was something different about their child from a young age, but did not think it was an anxiety problem. Some wait for their child to ‘grow out of it’ and never expect their child to become more debilitated over time.

 

Parents of anxious children and teens are often confused about what to do, as well as frustrated, and overwhelmed.

 

People with anxiety disorders present a variety of physical symptoms in addition to non-physical symptoms that characterize the disorders such as excessive, unrealistic worrying.  Many of these symptoms are similar to those exhibited by a person suffering general illness, heart attack, or stroke, and this tends to further increase anxiety.

 

The following is a list of physical symptoms associated with GAD:

 

• Trembling

• Churning stomach

• Nausea

• Diarrhea

• Headache

• Backache

• Heart palpitations

• Numbness or "pins and needles" in arms, hands or legs

• Sweating/flushing

• Restlessness

• Easily tired

• Trouble concentrating

• Irritability

• Muscle tension

• Frequent urination

• Trouble falling or staying asleep

• Being easily startled