Many children experience worries and fears in their lives, therefore, feeling hopeless every so often. They may suffer from significant fears at different instances during their growth. For instance, most toddlers are usually stressed whenever their parents are away despite being well cared for. Despite worries and fears being normal in children, extreme or constant episodes of sadness might be caused by depression or anxiety. Such signs and symptoms usually are termed internalizing disorders because they comprise feelings and thoughts. It is evident that anxiety and depression in children have several signs.
Anxiety
Suppose your child is worried and afraid to the extent that they no longer want to engage in home, school, or other activities. In that case, they may be suffering from an anxiety disorder. The other symptoms of anxiety disorder in children are listed below.
Signs of Anxiety in Children
- Experiencing extreme fear concerning a particular thing or incidence like insects, dogs, or visiting the doctor, which is termed phobias, is a sign of anxiety.
- If your child worries about the future and anxiety about negative things
- Children having fear any time their parents are away is known as separation anxiety. It occurs regardless of the person taking care of them as long as they are not the child’s parents.
- Being fearful about school and other individuals, usually known as social anxiety
- Your child may also experience panic disorder through persistent instances of unexpected, sudden, and extreme fear. They are characterized by difficulties in breathing, heart pounding, feeling shaky, dizzy, or sweaty.
Anxiety in your child may show instances of fear or worries. However, your child may also become angry and irritated. Other signs of anxiety in children also comprise difficult sleeping and physical symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, or stomachache. If you are not careful, you might not realize that your child suffers from anxiety, especially if they do not talk about it. Therefore, it is significant to seek help from professionals helping kids with anxiety.
Depression
It refers to a mood disorder that makes an individual feel irritable, sad, or hopeless. Depression in children interferes with their relationships with family and friends. As a result, your child will not enjoy sports, school, hobbies, or the usual child activities. Approximately 5% of adolescents and children experience depression at a specific time. Therefore, children who suffer from loss, stress, anxiety, or experience difficulties learning are more vulnerable to depression.
Signs of Depression in Children
- Social withdrawal – Your child may start spending a lot of time in their room alone. However, it would help determine whether the time spent alone in their room is more than usual. Additionally, determine whether they spend the time alone during family time.
- Difficulty in engaging in extracurricular activities both in school and at home is another symptom. It also includes losing interest in interacting with friends. It means that your child is no longer interested in what they used to enjoy.
- Constant feeling of hopelessness and sadness – Your child not being hopeful about the future is also a sign of depression.
- Anger or crankiness – It leads to the shifting of your child’s mood. If your child is not smiling or laughing, as usual, there might be a problem. If your child is also more silent than usual, they may be experiencing depression. Other signs include irritability and frustration.
- Reduced energy and fatigue
- Reduced or enhanced appetite
- Crying or vocal outburst
Depression and anxiety can occur to any person regardless of their age. It is usually detected if its signs are a few weeks old. Depression and anxiety in children are concurrent. Anxiety is a medical disorder that leads to panic, fear, or worries about daily situations. Anxiety and depression are more prevalent in older teenagers and children ranging from 12 to 17 years. It is significant to look out for the above symptoms and many others so that your child may not be suffering in silence. It is critical to seek help early enough if you suspect your child suffers from anxiety or depression. If you take long without taking your child for treatment, it may affect their life and become a persistent issue.
