Research indicated that about 7% of children between the ages of 3-17 years suffer from an “anxiety disorder,” and another research found that “signs of anxiety appear in 10% of children between the ages of 2-5 years,” and a more recent analysis showed that an anxiety disorder It affects 20.5% of the world's youth.
Signs of anxiety disorder in children
Katie Hurley, child and adolescent psychotherapist, tells us, "The child's anxiety is treatable, especially with early intervention, detecting signs of anxiety and monitoring its causes, and then teaching the child coping skills and how to deal with feelings of anxiety."
It can be difficult to detect anxiety sometimes, "because children can express it in different ways depending on their age or language skills," says Dr. Khadija Booth Watkins, to the Huffington Post.
Child anxiety is treatable, especially with early intervention, detecting signs of anxiety and monitoring its causes (Pixels)
Among the signs of anxiety in children in these stages: anger or aggression, frequent crying, muscle tension, difficulty sleeping or excessive sleep, and complaints of stomach pain and headache without a medical reason.
As for older children, they tend to worry more, once they reach the age of seven or eight, "as they gain a greater understanding of the world around them," says family counselor Jane Berman.
Parental behavior may cause anxiety in the child
“Some seemingly normal and well-intentioned parenting practices can make things worse,” says Karen Banes, a child and family writer, including:
Pressure on children to be perfect, as
children suffering from anxiety "start to avoid situations, things, people, and places that make them feel uncomfortable," according to Dr.
Mary Alford, Pediatric Anxiety Specialist.
"Do not encourage your child to avoid things, just because they make him anxious, and you think that by doing so you will make him less anxious, as avoidance causes more anxiety and reduces the child's self-confidence," according to parenting expert, Laura Lynn Knight.
Instead, Dr. Khadija recommends parents "balance between sympathy and support, by reassuring the child of their support for him, in parallel with developing his coping skills."
Children who have a parent who is overly concerned about them are 7 times more likely to develop an anxiety disorder (Shutterstock)
Overprotection
, says Dr.
Golda Ginsburg, professor of psychiatry at the University of Connecticut, "When parents are overprotective, or show their fears, they increase the risk of their child's anxiety."
As soon as a child complains about something, we appear anxious, "without realizing that children feed on our feelings."
Research has shown that "children whose parents worry too much about them are 7 times more likely to develop an anxiety disorder than children whose parents don't worry about them."
Better yet, teach the child that "anxiety is a natural response to their problems, by keeping our anxiety in check, while empathizing with their anxiety," Banes says.
The rush to defend
, as parents' instinctive eagerness to defend their children "may increase their anxiety sometimes", and going to your child's school to solve a simple problem that he confided in you, makes him worry about telling you anything again, and makes him feel that you do not trust his ability to solve his problems by himself.
The best, according to Banes, "is to defend the child, with his knowledge and consent, and help him find a solution that he can implement himself."
"Teaching a child the skills to deal with anxiety is one of the most important things a parent can do," says Kenesha Sinclair McBride, a psychiatrist at Boston Children's Hospital. The goal is not to eliminate anxiety, "but to help the child deal with it," says Clark Goldstein, Pediatric Anxiety Specialist.
Some seemingly normal and well-intentioned parenting practices may make things worse (Shutterstock)
Compensation for weaknesses
, so parents are ready to help the child overcome the least obstacles, such as rushing to bring a private tutor if the grades of an academic subject decrease, for example, forgetting that children cannot always avoid their weaknesses, and it is better to teach them to focus on strengths, according to the recommendation of Banes, who says "Instead of spending time looking for a tutor, the child can be encouraged to focus on what they are good at, until they regain their sense of confidence and competence."
Goldstein also advises, saying, "Let your child know that you appreciate his efforts to confront anxiety, encourage him to engage in life, and let anxiety take the curve of getting used to, as it decreases with time, by getting used to the pressure."
Pay attention to results and ignore effort
. "It's important to praise your child's effort, and to remind them that they are loved and important, no matter what they achieve," says McBride. Knowing they're good enough, even if they don't excel at everything."
Also, Banes advises, "Praise your children when they excel, but don't make their excellence a reason to expect more from them. Excessively high expectations can cause performance anxiety."
It is important to praise your child's effort, and remind him that he is loved and important, regardless of the results he achieves (Shutterstock)
Hiding problems.
Most parents may think that not disturbing children with family or private problems provides them with protection from anxiety, "without expecting that they are very sensitive and can feel everything."
Therefore, Khadija Booth Watkins says: "It's okay to talk to your children about your anxiety too, when you find him anxious, it may be useful for him to know that he is not alone, and that you understand what he is going through."
And Banes warns, "It is not intended that we pile our troubles on the shoulders of our children, but only that we are more clear about our fears, and share with them what makes us anxious, and explain to them how we deal with it, in order to train them to get rid of anxiety in a practical way."
This is confirmed by Goldstein, saying, "To teach your children to deal with anxiety, let them hear you and see you manage your anxiety and bear it calmly, and feel content when you overcome it."
An authoritarian parenting approach
, Anne-Louise Lockhart, child psychologist and parenting coach, tells us, “Children who live in authoritarian homes, with lots of strict rules and punishments, and little warmth and contact with parents, often worry about Do everything right."
"Many of the children who grow up in these homes become idealists to make their parents proud of them, to avoid punishment, and to prove that they are good children."