Childhood fears of monsters lurking in the dark or statements like, “I don’t have any friends,” are common. Unless your child is consumed with daily worries that seem resistant to parental assurance and words of comfort you should not be overly concerned. However, these worries, even in a young child, may develop into anxiety, that interferes with your son or daughters’ ability to have fun and participate in activities that other children are able to enjoy.
What started out as something small and insignificant like your child thinking, “I don’t like the dark,” may lead to increasing fear and anxiety. Once fear and worry become anxiety, the child is held hostage by those unwanted feelings. Children will go to great lengths to avoid the focus of their fear and will ask many repetitive anxiety driven questions. Many parents feel helpless, but making accommodations and encouraging your child to avoid the feared situation will only intensify your child’s anxiety response.
Some worries are irrational or unrealistic like believing in monsters. Most children recognize that monsters are not real, but even irrational fears seem real to a child. Whether the cause of their fear is imaginary or not, the fear is still real and can become emotionally draining.
Other childhood worries are based in reality, but have become exaggerated through your child’s gift of imagination. For example, your child might watch a TV program or news story and see a house being burglarized and afterward worry that their home is no longer safe. Both realistic and unrealistic fears can lead to anxiety in children and adults. Anxiety is infectious and if left unchecked can start to infiltrate other areas of your child’s life.
The whole family, not just the child, is affected by anxiety. Parents become impatient and irritable when they are asked to respond repeatedly to the same “worry” questions. Interrupted sleep from nightmares and other fear responses prevent family members from getting a good night's sleep and leads to fatigue during the day. Plus, jealousy and resentment may be created between siblings, if one sibling is receiving additional attention from a parent for anxiety.
Where does anxiety come from? Researchers believe there is a genetic component, whereas other researchers feel anxiety is a learned response. Most likely it is a combination of both genetics and environmental influences. If one person suffers from anxiety, chances are there is someone else in the family who is also susceptible to anxiety. Just like people are born with blue eyes or a witty personality, people can also be born with a genetic predisposition toward anxiety. In addition, stress acts as a trigger for anxiety. Major changes such as divorce or separation, moving, a change of school, medical issues or a death in the family may lead to increased anxiety. Whatever the cause, help is available.
Childhood anxiety is a real concern that negatively influences the child and his or her family. Making new friends, performing well in school or being flexible enough to adapt to change may be subsequently affected by anxiety. Children who suffer from anxiety can receive treatment and a new perspective on life.
What started out as something small and insignificant like your child thinking, “I don’t like the dark,” may lead to increasing fear and anxiety. Once fear and worry become anxiety, the child is held hostage by those unwanted feelings. Children will go to great lengths to avoid the focus of their fear and will ask many repetitive anxiety driven questions. Many parents feel helpless, but making accommodations and encouraging your child to avoid the feared situation will only intensify your child’s anxiety response.
Some worries are irrational or unrealistic like believing in monsters. Most children recognize that monsters are not real, but even irrational fears seem real to a child. Whether the cause of their fear is imaginary or not, the fear is still real and can become emotionally draining.
Other childhood worries are based in reality, but have become exaggerated through your child’s gift of imagination. For example, your child might watch a TV program or news story and see a house being burglarized and afterward worry that their home is no longer safe. Both realistic and unrealistic fears can lead to anxiety in children and adults. Anxiety is infectious and if left unchecked can start to infiltrate other areas of your child’s life.
The whole family, not just the child, is affected by anxiety. Parents become impatient and irritable when they are asked to respond repeatedly to the same “worry” questions. Interrupted sleep from nightmares and other fear responses prevent family members from getting a good night's sleep and leads to fatigue during the day. Plus, jealousy and resentment may be created between siblings, if one sibling is receiving additional attention from a parent for anxiety.
Where does anxiety come from? Researchers believe there is a genetic component, whereas other researchers feel anxiety is a learned response. Most likely it is a combination of both genetics and environmental influences. If one person suffers from anxiety, chances are there is someone else in the family who is also susceptible to anxiety. Just like people are born with blue eyes or a witty personality, people can also be born with a genetic predisposition toward anxiety. In addition, stress acts as a trigger for anxiety. Major changes such as divorce or separation, moving, a change of school, medical issues or a death in the family may lead to increased anxiety. Whatever the cause, help is available.
Childhood anxiety is a real concern that negatively influences the child and his or her family. Making new friends, performing well in school or being flexible enough to adapt to change may be subsequently affected by anxiety. Children who suffer from anxiety can receive treatment and a new perspective on life.