Understanding Anxiety in Children

A child experiences a variety of emotions and may also suffer from many fears and worries. While some worries are natural to occur, some require professional help. It is necessary to notice when your child’s fear and worries start interfering with his/her everyday activities. Mental health problems in children are difficult for a parent to identify as unfortunately, psychiatric disorders are not “visible” like physical illnesses and most end up thinking it is part of a child’s personality.

This results in the child not receiving necessary treatment at early stages, which paves way for further deterioration of the child’s mental health.

There are various types of anxiety disorders that can affect children such as panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and so on.

In simple terms, anxiety in children is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or uneasiness about something with an uncertain outcome.

Sure, it is normal to feel anxious about certain situations such as the first day of school, moving to a new place or trying a new activity. However, the child needs professional anxiety treatment in Mumbai when these feelings become prolonged and start happening in the absence of a stressful event or interfere with the child’s everyday activities.

In most cases, the child may show one of the physical or psychological symptoms of anxiety such as:

1. A) Physical symptoms of anxiety: dry mouth, being clingy all the time, frequent urination, frequent stomach aches, and losing appetite
2. B) Psychological symptoms of anxiety: irregular sleep, irritability or anger, lack of focus, excessive crying, and fidgeting

If a child has any of these symptoms, it calls for immediate anxiety treatment in Navi Mumbai or Mumbai.

Causes of anxiety in children:

Just like adults, a variety of causes come together for a child to develop anxiety and there is no single cause.  Some of the common causes of anxiety in children are:

• Disturbed homes with parents fighting or arguing.
• Bullying in school or any other institutions or groups.
• Being neglected by parents or siblings.
• Witnessing or experiencing a major accident or death of a loved one.
• Moving of school or house
• Examination or competitions

Anxiety disorders when they interfere with your day-to-day life should be treated at the earliest. Early diagnosis and treatment help with a speedy recovery.

Anxiety treatment for children

1. Consult a psychiatrist if your child shows any signs of stress and anxiety for quick medication-based management
2. Cognitive therapy with a qualified psychologist for long-term management once acute symptoms have subsided

Consulting an expert for anxiety treatment in Mumbai can help you get to the root of the problem which is a crucial step in the recovery process.

There are many ways to handle anxiety in children. For instance, one of the most common reasons for student anxiety would be exam stress and this is how one can handle the same.

Let’s break this process into two phases:

• Preparation for studying
• Preparing to face the exam

Part 1 – Studying tips

• Keep goals small and achievable, instead of impossible goals like studying through the night. Try studying for 25-30 min, and re-read and revise what you have studied for the next 10 min. Take a good break for 15 minutes. Do something refreshing, walk a bit, eat, and again study in the same way.
• Make your own notes. Writing helps improve memory.
• Break harder portions into smaller units so that they are easy to remember.
• Use pictures. Diagrams are easier to recall, and this works best for preschool children.
• Fixed time schedule for studying helps focus.
• Maintain a proper sleep and exercise routine to boost memory.

Part 2 – Giving the Exam

• Avoid reading at the last minute. It will only create panic.
• Keep your study material, writing material, hall tickets etc. ready a day before exams.
• Avoid internet use and social media and other distractions
• For relaxation, talk with your friends, go for a walk, or listen to some music.
• Try deep breathing exercises, yoga, and meditation if you feel restless and anxious.
• If it doesn’t help, you can always consult a psychiatrist for help with worries related to exams, exam stress, panic attacks, depression, and worries about failure.

Consult a professional for anxiety treatment in Navi Mumbai or Mumbai now to help your child get the right guidance and assistance.