Anxiety

SEN Resources

Anxiety In Children

Just like adults, children and young people feel worried and anxious at times. But if your child’s anxiety is starting to affect their wellbeing, they may need some help. We hope this section of the website provides you with ideas and information that could help.

What causes anxiety in children?

There is no simple answer to this. Children can feel anxious about different things at different ages. It is normal to worry but sometimes the level of worry can lead to a level of anxiety that can interrupt everyday life. If your child’s anxiety is stopping them from doing things they usually like or even just causing them distress in order to cope with everyday life then don’t despair. There are many services and oragnisations that can helpful.

We would suggest doing your research…finding out about anxiety and what can be done to help. You could

Speak to your child’s GP or
Visit the SENCO at school

Knowledge is power and getting equipped with as much information as possible will help both you and your child.

NHS England shares the following information on how to recognise the signs of anxiety in younger and older children…

What are the signs of anxiety in children?

When young children feel anxious, they cannot always understand or express what they are feeling. You may notice that they:

Become irritable, tearful or clingy
Have difficulty sleeping
Wake in the night
Start wetting the bed
Have bad dreams

In older children you may notice that they:

Lack confidence to try new things or seem unable to face simple, everyday challenges
Find it hard to concentrate
Have problems with sleeping or eating
Have angry outbursts
hHave a lot of negative thoughts, or keep thinking that bad things are going to happen
Start avoiding everyday activities, such as seeing friends, going out in public or going to school

You can find out more about the symptoms of anxiety on the NHS page about anxiety disorders in children.

How can I help my child and their anxiety?

Open the doors to communication. Talking can definitely help. Pick your moment, find a time when you and your child are not too tired, when you both feel safe and calm – and take the time to talk and listen. Chat whilst you play or drive can be less ‘direct’ and more comfortable for those with anxiety. Encourage your child to explain how their anxiety ‘feels’ , helping them to put words to their feelings. E.g anxiety might feel like a storm that builds and then ebbs away. Getting them to rate their feelings on a scale and encouraging them to think of things they could do to help feel more relaxed. Stay solution focused. It can be incredibly empowering for a child to be asked to help find a solution and to help them realise that there are things they can do to learn to cope.

How to help your child reduce their anxiety levels.

Teach your child to recognise signs of anxiety in themselves. Putting words to describe their feelings can help them to understand their emotions more effectively.
Encourage your child to manage their anxiety and ask for help when they need it.
Model a relaxed attitude. Try not to stress because they are stressed.
Try to establish routines as these can be reassuring for children.
Talk through changes that are afoot and don’t put off difficult conversations. Explore the event coming up in order to help your child feel ‘in control’.
If you are able to pinpoint the ‘cause’ of your child’s anxiety (eg attributed to a specific life event) then don’t be afraid to research around that. There are some great books and films that can help explore the emotions associated with specific life events.
Practise simple relaxation techniques with your child, such as taking deep breaths, slow breaths, breathing in for a count of 3 and out for 3.
Build in distraction techniques to help your child not dwell on the cause of their anxiety. Eg if their anxiety increases as they go to school, find games that you can play on the way, to focus their attention elsewhere. distraction can be helpful for young children.
Be crafty! Find creative ways to help your child explore and articulate their feelings. Air drying clay, sand, paint can all be good tools to help a child express themselves.
Thought journals/diaries or ‘thought boxes’ and worry dolls can all be good tools to help children and young people feel that they can express and ‘drop off’ their feelings.
nhs.uk/mental-health/children-and-young-adults/advice-for-parents/anxiety-disorders-in-children/

When should you get help?

If you feel that your child’s anxiety is interrupting their life then it is important to seek help.

A visit to a GP is a good place to start. If your child’s anxiety is affecting their school life, it’s a good idea to talk to their school as well.

Find out more about anxiety in children and teens

As parents and carers you can get help and advice about children’s mental health from Young Minds’ free parent helpline on 0808 802 5544, from Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm.

Young Minds have produced this helpful guide for parents…

https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-a-z-mental-health-guide/anxiety/

Young Minds: supporting your child with anxiety

Find out more about treatments for anxiety on the NHS page about anxiety disorders in children.

You can also search for local and regional support using the Barnado’s Services Search Tool,

Barnardo’s Services Search Tool

Barnados have produced a Guide for Young People on What is Anxiety.

https://www.barnardos.org.uk/blog/our-news/what-anxiety

They have also produced a helpful guide for parents and carers who are supporting children with anxiety.

https://www.barnardos.org.uk/what-we-do/support-for-parents-and-carers/mental-health/supporting-your-child

Health for Teens: practical advice about dealing with anxiety

https://www.imenough.co/ Digital coping strategies for teens and young people.