As a parent, ensuring that your little one is comfortable at home, school, and in social situations becomes a top priority. But even with effort, it’s still common for children to develop anxiety disorders as they grow and assert their independence in new environments. If you’re concerned about their behavior and whether you should reach out to a child therapist for counseling, review the following list of anxiety disorder symptoms.

A Parent’s Guide to Children With Anxiety

1. Refusal to Speak

Does your normally talkative child, refuse to speak or engage with others at school or in social situations? Refusing to talk and staring expressionlessly into space when getting called on by teachers or when addressed by classmates could be a form of anxiety known as selective mutism. This typically occurs around the age of 5 when children enter a school setting and can be curbed with the help of a therapist who specializes in behavioral therapy. 

2. Extreme Homesickness

While it’s natural for children to miss their parents, some kids demonstrate extreme separation anxiety. This can be reflected in on-going tears, lack of interest in school or play dates, and a growing concern or feeling that something bad will happen while they’re separated from the family. 

3. Irrational Fear

A tantrum may occasionally occur when a child does not get their way, but if these meltdowns are on-going and include crying, loss of control, screaming, hyperventilation, or flailing, they may have a panic disorder that’s triggered by irrational fears. Some children will get anxiety when seeing a certain animal, riding in a car, or having to go to school. To work with these issues, a therapist may employ cognitive behavioral therapy or prescription medication. 

4. Incessant Worrying

Children with a healthy interest in earning good grades and doing well in sports and extracurricular activities isn’t a cause for alarm; however, when this desire to succeed is overwhelming and results in sleepless nights, stress over performance, and the constant need for approval and re-assurance, you should see a therapist to determine whether your child has a generalized anxiety disorder that should be monitored. 

If you believe your child has an anxiety disorder, contact Colleen Torrence, MEd, LPC. Based in Juneau, AK, she has been a trusted and dedicated family therapist serving residents throughout Juneau, Douglas, and the Auke Bay area—as well as clients in the farther reaches of Alaska over video conference—for over 15 years. If you’re looking for a child therapist to help your little one work through anxiety, PTSD, or a mood disorder, call the office today at (907) 789-9212 to schedule an appointment. For more information on this compassionate counselor, visit the practice online.