Childhood Anxiety

When worry starts getting in the way of childhood, it may be anxiety.

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It's normal for children, and adults, to worry.

Children worry about the first day of school.

Sleeping away from home.

Trying something new.

Making mistakes.

Those worries come and go.

Anxiety is different.

There are many different types of anxiety including:

  • separation anxiety

  • social anxiety

  • generalized anxiety

  • specific phobias.

Anxiety begins to interfere with everyday life. It convinces children that ordinary situations are dangerous, causing them to avoid the very things that help them grow.

Over time, their world increasingly shrinks in response to their fears.

But it doesn't have to stay that way.

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What does anxiety look like in children?

Some children become quiet and withdrawn.

Others become irritable, tearful, or reluctant to separate from their caregivers.

You might notice your child:

  • Worrying excessively about everyday situations

  • Avoiding school, social activities, or new experiences

  • Seeking frequent reassurance

  • Complaining of stomachaches or headaches before stressful events

  • Having difficulty sleeping alone or away from home

  • Becoming overwhelmed by making mistakes or disappointing others

  • Avoiding situations because they feel scary or uncertain

Anxiety isn't a sign of weakness.

It's your child's nervous system trying to protect them, even when protection isn't needed.

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How therapy helps

Children don't overcome anxiety by avoiding what scares them.

They overcome anxiety by discovering they can handle more than anxiety led them to believe.

Using evidence-based approaches like CBT, children gradually face fears, learn to trust themselves through experience, and begin reclaiming the parts of childhood anxiety has been asking them to avoid.

Step by step, they discover something important:

They are capable.

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There is hope.

I have watched children who once refused to go to school return to school, make new friends, and find joy in being a child.

Progress doesn't happen overnight.

But it does happen.

One brave step at a time.

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Ready to take the next step?

If OCD is beginning to take over your child's life, you don't have to face it alone.

Together, we'll help your child discover that they are capable of doing hard things while helping your family reconnect around confidence instead of fear.

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