Childhood and adolescence are times of rising anxiety for many people. Even if your child has never dealt with this issue before, they may begin to struggle with its negative effects. This fact helps explain why rates for anxiety disorders rise steadily as your child gets older. It also explains why managing anxiety in children is essential. When properly customized, anxiety treatment for kids and adolescents can create a pathway back to stable mental health.
Does your family need anxiety treatment for kids or teens? Help is available at HillsidesCares. We feature age-specific residential and outpatient care programs for teenagers and younger children struggling with serious anxiety. With our support, recovery from this mental health issue is within reach. For more details, call us today at 323.641.4842.
Determining if Anxiety Treatment for Kids or Teens Is Right for Your Family
As a rule, anxiety looks different in younger children than it does in teenagers. Young kids tend to worry about external fears such as dark spaces, encountering monsters, or losing a parent. As children become teenagers, their anxieties typically turn inward and reflect their relationship to the larger world.
Most children and teenagers never develop an anxiety disorder. Instead, they cope well enough to maintain their day-to-day function. How can you tell if your child isn’t coping effectively and may be developing a serious problem? In a younger child, potential signs include:
- Frequent complaints of a headache or stomachache
- Difficulty sleeping with or without nightmares
- Frequent outbursts of tears or anger
- Heightened levels of fear or worry
- A refusal to attend school
Some of these signs can also appear in affected teens. In addition, overly anxious teens may:
- Become extremely self-conscious
- Find it hard to concentrate
- Avoid social contact or specific social situations
- Start drinking or using drugs
- Worry intensely about normal parts of their routine
Your affected teen may also start having problems at school.
Tips for Dealing with Anxiety in Children and Teenagers
As a parent, you can take steps to help your child cope with anxiety. That’s true whether or not they need formal treatment. Generally speaking, the goal is dealing effectively with anxious feelings, not eliminating them.
When dealing with anxiety in children, it’s important to take their fears seriously. However, try not to reinforce those fears. Instead, help your child think their feelings through. In this way, they can improve their ability to tolerate anxiousness.
Anxious teens often benefit from breathing exercises or other relaxation techniques. It’s also essential for them to get plenty of sleep. In addition, your teen may need help monitoring their social media use.
Treating Anxiety in Children and Teenagers
Sometimes, managing anxiety in children and teens at home is not enough. That’s especially true if your child has a diagnosable anxiety disorder. In these circumstances, they need formal help from a treatment program.
A type of psychotherapy called cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) is often effective for treating anxiety in children, as well as teenagers. CBT works by helping your child think and act in ways that support mental wellness. Affected teens may also benefit from medication. Antidepressants called SSRIs are often frontline options.
Call HillsidesCares to Enroll in Anxiety Treatment for Kids Today
Anxiety is a natural part of life for children and teens, just as it is for adults. However, as with adults, its effects can negatively impact mental health. You may be able to help your child manage their anxiety on your own. However, they may also need professional treatment.
Want to learn more about successfully managing anxiety in children and teens? The specialists at HillsidesCares are standing by to help. We feature treatment options for kids and teens between the ages of six and 17. You can also turn to us for timely advice and guidance. To get started, call us today at 323.641.4842 or message us online.