Anxiety disorders in children

It’s normal for children to feel worried or anxious from time to time, such as when they’re starting school or nursery, or moving to a new area.

Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear – it's an understandable reaction in children to change or a stressful event.

But for some children, anxiety affects their behaviour and thoughts on a daily basis, interfering with their school, home and social life. This is when you may need professional help to tackle it before it becomes a more serious issue.

So how do you know when your child's anxiety has reached this stage?

What are the signs of anxiety in children?

Anxiety can make a child feel scared, panicky, embarrassed or ashamed.

Some of the signs to look out for in your child are:

• finding it hard to concentrate
• not sleeping, or waking in the night with bad dreams
• not eating properly
• quickly getting angry or irritable, and being out of control during outbursts
• constantly worrying or having negative thoughts
• feeling tense and fidgety, or using the toilet often
• always crying
• being clingy all the time (when other children are ok)
• complaining of tummy aches and feeling unwell

Your child may not be old enough to recognise why they're feeling this way.

The reason for the anxiety (if there is one) will differ depending on the age of the child. Separation anxiety is common in younger children, whereas older children and teenagers tend to worry more about school performance, relationships or health.

What types of anxiety do children and teenagers experience?

Common types of anxiety in children and teenagers are described below.

When is anxiety a disorder that needs treating?

It is probably time to get professional help for your child's anxiety if:

• you feel it's not getting better or is getting worse, and efforts to tackle it yourself have not worked
• you think it's slowing down their development or having a significant effect on their schooling or relationships 
• it happens very frequently

How serious can it be?

Long-term anxiety can severely interfere with a child's personal development, family life and schooling.

Anxiety disorders that start in childhood often persist into the teenage years and early adulthood. Teenagers with an anxiety disorder are more likely to develop clinical depression, misuse drugs and feel suicidal.

This is why you should get help as soon as you realise it's a problem.

Where should I go for help?

You can talk to your GP on your own or with your child, or your child might be able to have an appointment without you. The doctor should listen to your concerns and offer some advice about what to do next.

Your child may be referred to the local child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS), where the workers are trained to help young people with a wide range of problems. Professionals who work in CAMHS services include psychologists, psychiatrists and psychotherapists. They should offer help and support to parents and carers as well as the child.

More about from CAMHS Young Minds 

Youth counselling services 

If your child doesn't want to see a doctor, they may be able to get help from a local youth counselling service.

Youth counselling services are specially set up for young people to talk about what’s worrying them, and get advice.

For more information, search Scotland's Service Directory for mental health and wellbeing services in your area that can help young people. 

Telephone or online help

Telephone helplines or online services can be helpful for children and young people, who may feel it's easier to talk to someone who doesn’t know them. 

How can an anxiety disorder be treated?

The type of treatment offered will depend on what is causing your child's anxiety.

What can I do to help my child?

If a child is experiencing anxiety, there's plenty parents and carers can do to help. First, it's important to talk to your child about their anxiety or worries.

Why are some children affected and others not?

Some children are simply born more nervous and anxious and less able to cope with stress than other children.

A child's anxious personality may be partly determined by the genes they've inherited from their parents. Parents of anxious children may recognise the signs and remember feeling and behaving the same when they were younger.

Stressful environment

Children can pick up anxious behaviour from being around anxious people.

Some children can also develop anxiety after a series of stressful events. They may be able to cope with one of these events, but several difficult events together may be too much for them to cope with. Examples are:

• frequently moving house and school – it can be hard to settle when you're always expecting change
• divorce or separation of parents, especially when there are new step parents and siblings (although many children will adapt to this and settle in time)
• parents fighting or arguing
• death of a close relative or friend
• becoming seriously ill or injured in an accident
• having someone in the family who is ill or disabled
• school-related issues such as homework or exams, or bullying or friendship problems
• becoming involved in crime
• being abused or neglected

Medical conditions

Children with certain conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autistic spectrum disorders may experience anxiety as part of the symptoms of their condition, because of differences in the way their brain functions.

How common are anxiety disorders in children?

Nearly 300,000 young people in Britain have an anxiety disorder. 

In the UK, anxiety disorders are estimated to affect 5-19% of all children and adolescents, and about 2-5% of children younger than 12.

Separation anxiety is the most common anxiety disorder in children younger than 12.