Anxiety and Children – Is Becoming Normal Today

There should never be a connection between anxiety and children. Parents hope their children will lead happy, carefree lives as they grow up. But, there is so much daily stress in modern life, that it’s very difficult - almost impossible, to hide our anxiety, and children see these adult cares.

All children experience some level of anxiety at one time or another. Recent and dramatic shifts in the world economy, have many adults experiencing extreme anxiety, and children cannot, but share, in its negative effects.

Small children are much more aware than we would like to think. They may display intense, distressful anxiety, and children, of toddler size, may scream uncontrollably at the thought of being out of sight of their parents. This anxiety will get even worse if the parents are fighting.

Statistics show that the number one cause of family friction is - financial worries. These worries can only be worsened by the economic crisis. So, try harder than ever, to keep to yourself your anxiety and children keep on playing as they should. Heavy discussions should be behind closed doors. Avoid talking about worries in front of the children.

Would you expect a baby elephant to carry the weight of the world? Of course not! You wait until the elephant grows up before you put on a full load. Unfortunately, too many parents don’t give their children the carefree childhood they deserve. We, all too often, expect the children to grow up way too fast. Big mistake!

Parents should be on the alert for early signs of anxiety, so they can minimize them.

Anxiety and Children's Reactions

• overwhelming, intense fears about the safety and guaranteed continuous presence of parents and caregivers
• refusal to go to school, often with the excuse that they can't be sure the caregivers will not slip away during their absence
• frequent aches and pains, and other physical ailments, which may not be real at all
• extreme reluctance to go to sleepovers and being away from home
• clinging to the caregiver as if their lives depended on it
• panic when the parents are not together
• difficulty sleeping, bed-wetting, and nightmares
• compulsive worrying and fantasizing about things that "might go wrong"
• low self esteem
• and lack of self-confidence

Anxiety and children can, and should, be kept separate. Early access to treatment can reduce difficulties to a minimum. There are many treatments, which may include family counseling, medications, psychotherapy, and consultation with teachers.

If medications are used, then the more natural they are the better. Too many modern synthetic medications carry collateral effects that can do more harm than good.

A comprehensive range of medications that can reduce anxiety and children will like, can be accessed via the links. Just click on any of the links.