Stress and Anxiety
By Clinical Mental Health Team
Most adults and children experience stress. According to dictionary sources, “strain, tension, pressure, and tightness” also describe stress. Manageable stress can be helpful if it propels children toward positive experiences. Studying for a test, performing in a concert, or helping a sick family member are examples. Children often feel pride and relief when they overcome challenges.
Accumulating stress without relief can turn into anxiety. Parents may notice emotional or behavioral responses indicating difficulty coping. Reasoning, bribing, questioning, or discipline are often ineffective responses.
The American Psychological Association outlines behavioral and emotional signs of high anxiety in children: refusal to attend school, tears or tantrums, hyperactivity, difficulty focusing, or increased sibling rivalry. Young children may not understand their behaviors due to developmental immaturity. Parents acting as “detectives” can help identify underlying feelings. Teachers, grandparents, and peers may provide additional insight. Triggers can include parental discord, bullying, illness, loss, or moving.
Health problems may appear without clear physical cause. Headaches, sleep difficulties, stomachaches, or health preoccupations can result from stress. Regular communication with a child’s physician is important when symptoms persist.
Listening to your child is essential. Pessimism, irritability, tears, self-deprecation, or frequent reassurance-seeking are potential signs of high stress. Help your child identify and verbalize feelings. Activities such as journaling, reading books about worries, uninterrupted playtime, sports, parent dates, exercise, and music can reduce stress. Limit news exposure and monitor internet or video game activity.
While children may eventually outgrow phases of anxiety, persistent intense stress may increase vulnerabilities. In such cases, professional assistance may be necessary.