Just like adults, young people and adults often feel anxious. However, as their emotions and minds are still developing, they may need more support opening up and dealing with their feelings.
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is a feeling of worry or fear that can appear as a combination of physical sensations, thoughts, and emotions. Anxiety will affect us all at some point in our lives and is a natural stress response.
Anxiety is normal. Although, it can become a problem when a young person feels trapped in it or feels like an overwhelming and helpless experience. Over time, if this kind of worrying continues, it can leave a young person feeling exhausted and isolated and limit the activities they think they can do.
Signs of stress and anxiety in children
Anxiety can impact us all differently. It may present symptoms like:
- Becoming irritable and upset often
- Being clingier than usual
- Not sleeping well and waking in the night
- Suffering from bad dreams
- Bedwetting
Older children might show symptoms like:
- Struggling with everyday tasks or challenges
- Low confidence
- Sleeping problems
- Difficulty controlling or expressing their emotions
- Lots of negative thoughts
- Avoiding friends or school
What makes young people and children anxious?
If your child or teenager is showing signs of stress and anxiety or has expressed they’re feeling overwhelmed, this is often a sign that something in their life isn’t right, and they need support to work out what the issue is.
Below are a few factors that commonly make children and young people feel more anxious:
- Having big responsibilities that are above their age and development
- Being around others who are very anxious, i.e. parents, siblings or grandparents
- Dealing with big changes in a short space of time, i.e. moving house or school
- Issues at school, including feeling overwhelmed by work, exams or their classmates
- Collective family stress at home around things like money or security
- Traumatic experiences which impact their feelings of safety, such as being bullied or witnessing or experiencing abuse.
Ways to help as a parent or carer
- Develop trust with your child and help them understand mistakes are opportunities to learn and grow, and are normal.
- Acknowledge your child’s feelings and be supportive about their concerns.
- Be supportive, and listen to your child’s concerns. Allow your child to try to solve their own problems, if appropriate. But, do offer to help and be available to help if your child needs it.
- Research helpful coping strategies and share them with your child
- Help build their confidence and sense of control by allowing them to make choices, i.e. allow them to choose activities for the family or arrange their room how they like.
- Don’t over-schedule your child with too many activities.
- Encourage them to let their feelings out. To cry, talk and express anger in healthy ways
- Teach them ways to relax. This can include mindfulness practices, yoga, sport, listening to music, arts and crafts.
Further resources and guidance:
Anxiety and Depression in Children | CDC
Anxiety: Understand Symptoms and Get Help – Crisis Text Line