Regrettably, the prevalence of anxiety disorders in children is widespread, with a concerning upward trend in diagnoses. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that approximately 7.1% of children aged 3-17 years, equivalent to around 4.4 million individuals, have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. To put it in perspective, this implies that 7-8 out of every 100 children have a formally identified anxiety disorder. It’s important to note that this statistic doesn’t encompass children who may be experiencing anxiety but haven’t undergone a formal diagnosis. The issue extends beyond the diagnosed cases, indicating a broader impact on childhood mental health.

Anxiety isn’t a rational thought that can be simply switched off. No child or teenager intentionally chooses to feel anxious, but without effective coping skills, anxiety persists, coursing through their bodies and perpetuating those uneasy feelings. When someone advises a child to “stop being anxious,” “calm down,” or “just relax,” they are assuming that it’s a feeling easily controlled. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way.

Regardless of how irrational a child’s thoughts or fears may seem, parental or caregiver explanations alone are insufficient to convince the child to switch off their anxiety. The complexity of anxiety goes beyond mere rationalization and requires supportive strategies for effective management.

Anxiety is an undeniable reality, whether or not an official anxiety disorder has been diagnosed. The thoughts and emotions that accompany anxiety can be profoundly debilitating, triggering negative cycles of behavior. Children and teens often go to great lengths to evade situations that provoke anxiety, sometimes displaying behaviors that may be perceived as misbehaviors.

The manifestation of anxiety can be quite pronounced as children and teens strive to assert control in uncomfortable situations. Bossy behavior, arguments, complaints, whining, and catastrophizing are all strategies employed to navigate or avoid anxiety-inducing circumstances. When they express physical symptoms related to anxiety, it’s not a mere fabrication; these sensations are genuine. Regardless of whether the situation logically warrants anxiety, if the child or teen perceives a genuine threat, their body responds accordingly, generating authentic feelings. Moreover, during heightened anxiety, rational thinking diminishes, making the thoughts experienced by the child or teen undeniably real to them in that moment.

Children employ various subtle strategies to avoid anxiety, often manifesting gradually and escaping notice initially. They might express reluctance, saying phrases like “I don’t want to go there; they were mean last time” or “That was boring at Beavers.” Over time, you may notice your child distancing themselves from specific activities or events.

As parents, witnessing a child in distress can be difficult, prompting a desire to shield them from such discomfort. While offering immediate relief, overlooking these challenging situations can prove detrimental in the long run. It hinders their development of independence, preventing them from learning how to navigate the world beyond your immediate presence and diminishing their engagement in social activities.

Anxiety issues stand out as the most prevalent challenges in childhood, and they frequently persist into adolescence and adulthood. Contrary to the belief that children naturally outgrow anxiety, it often becomes a risk factor for depression later in life. Hence, it is crucial for children to receive assistance in comprehending and effectively managing their anxiety.

People may experience certain situations or stages of life that might increase levels of anxiety. In contrast, there may be periods of time where someone with an anxiety disorder might have a slight reduction in symptoms or be able to return to some of their regular activities. This may feel like a person with anxiety no longer has the disorder, or that their symptoms have been “cured.” However, anxiety disorders can be chronic and persistent, and if not dealt with properly, anxiety symptoms are likely to return.

In addition, feelings of anxiety are usually linked to underlying personality traits or ways of thinking. Because of this, getting anxiety to go away often requires addressing certain aspects of how a person thinks or behaves. While this shift in perspective often doesn’t happen on its own, it can be achieved through therapy or coping strategies for anxiety. Although a person can certainly make progress and feel like their anxiety symptoms are under control, it is best to address symptoms and causes of the disorder head-on.

There are multiple differences between being shy vs. having social anxiety. On a basic level, social anxiety is an anxiety disorder, while shyness is considered part of someone’s personality. Social anxiety disorder, or social phobia, involves a persistent fear of social situations, or extreme worry about performance in a social group. Someone with social anxiety is extremely preoccupied with the fear that they will embarrass themselves or be scrutinized by others in a social situation, and they will often avoid social situations or experience extreme anxiety or panic in the lead-up.

Although people who are shy may be more likely to experience social anxiety, the two are not the same. People who are shy may feel slightly uncomfortable in social situations, or prefer solitude, but being shy is not characterized by extreme anxiety or panic in social settings.

A key difference between shyness and social anxiety is the level of distress experienced. In most cases, being shy is a personal quality that is often not overly upsetting. Social anxiety, on the other hand, can be extremely debilitating and isolating.