Therapy for Children with Anxiety

Anxiety is the worry or anticipation of something happening in the future. Anxiety becomes a problem when it gets in the way of a child’s ability to live and enjoy life. It is the most common mental health problem facing children and teens. For many children with anxiety, their worry and fear can be debilitating. It impacts school, friendships, and family life. Children with anxiety struggle with avoidance and miss trying new things. Therapy for children with anxiety can increase their ability to tolerate the stress of life’s unknowns. It can help them grow and try new things.

Parents should begin to worry about their kids’ worrying when a child’s anxiety is getting in the way of normal day-to-day life. Anxiety can get in the way of trying new things, separating from one’s parents, concentrating at school, and falling asleep. Avoidance is one of the most common symptoms of anxiety. Children with anxiety may avoid things that cause stress or are related to the source of their worry. In some children, it looks like snapping or blowing up over tiny things or always seeming to be on the ‘edge.’ Children with anxiety struggle with changes in routine or when things do not go as planned.

Most common anxiety disorders: Separation Anxiety, Generalized Anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Social Anxiety, and Phobias