I just like to be at home a lot because my parents are really really cool. 

What is Childhood Anxiety?

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Anxiety is like that one friend who’s always worried about something. It can show up as excessive worry, fear, or nervousness, and sometimes it can pop up out of nowhere—like when you’re about to present in class or when you can’t find your favorite stuffed animal. But when these worries start getting in the way of daily life, it might be time to consider that there could be more going on.

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For kids, anxiety might look a little different than it does for adults. In fact, you might not even recognize it as anxiety right away. But that’s where we come in!

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Common Signs of Anxiety in Kids:

〰️ Excessive Clinginess: Your little one suddenly can’t let go of your leg or insists on being around you all the time—whether you’re just running to the store or trying to use the bathroom.

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〰️ Avoiding Social Situations: They might refuse to go to school, playdates, or birthday parties. You’d think you were asking them to move to Antarctica with no Wi-Fi.

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〰️ Frequent Tantrums or Meltdowns: It’s not just about the cookie they didn’t get, but rather about the overwhelming emotions they can’t quite manage.

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〰️ Physical Symptoms: Stomachaches, headaches, or even nausea that seem to pop up whenever a stressful event is coming up (like school tests, family gatherings, or even a new routine).

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〰️ Sleep Problems: Afraid of monsters? Or maybe their brain is too busy “thinking about things” to fall asleep. Kids with anxiety might have trouble winding down or might wake up during the night with worries keeping them up.

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〰️ Fear of Separation: A sudden fear of being away from parents or caregivers, even if they’re typically independent.

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〰️ Perfectionism: Your child may refuse to finish homework or a project because they’re afraid it’s not perfect, or they’re terrified of making mistakes.

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〰️ Frequent Complaints of Feeling "Bad" or "Worried": They might not have the words to express exactly what's bothering them, so they’ll just say they “don’t feel good” or “don’t want to go.”

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〰️ Difficulty in New Situations: They might freeze up or act out in unfamiliar places—whether it’s a new class, new friends, or a new activity.

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〰️ Tense or "Shaky" Feelings: Sometimes, anxiety in kids shows up physically—like shaky hands, rapid heartbeat, or just looking a little “tense” all over.

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〰️ Regressive Behaviors: They might start exhibiting behaviors they outgrew, like thumb-sucking, bed-wetting, or needing to be rocked to sleep.

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〰️ Overthinking and Worrying: Your child might get stuck in a loop of “what if” scenarios—what if their best friend doesn’t like them anymore? What if they fail the test even though they studied?

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〰️ Excessive Need for Reassurance – Asking a million “What if?” questions and needing constant confirmation that everything will be okay (even if nothing has gone wrong).

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〰️ Startles Easily – Jumps at loud noises, unexpected touches, or when someone says their name too suddenly (as if they live in a constant state of mild panic).

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〰️ Irritability or Mood Swings – Anxiety doesn’t always look like fear—sometimes it looks like frustration, crankiness, or random outbursts over seemingly minor things.

〰️ Talking About Fears More Than Peers – It’s normal for kids to have some worries, but if yours is constantly worried about things like burglars, natural disasters, or whether they accidentally broke a rule, anxiety might be in the driver’s seat.

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〰️ Avoiding Activities They Used to Enjoy – Suddenly not wanting to go to soccer practice, dance class, or the park because it just feels too overwhelming today.

〰️ Difficulty Making Decisions – Struggling to pick between the red or blue cup, the swings or the slide, or whether they even want to go outside at all—because what if they pick the wrong one?

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〰️ Overly Cautious or Rule-Following – Avoids taking risks, even small ones (like trying a new food or raising their hand in class), and may get extremely upset when others break the rules.

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〰️ Zoning Out or “Checking Out” – Sometimes, anxious kids freeze instead of fight or flee, making them appear spaced out or lost in their own world when overwhelmed.

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〰️ Sensitive to Criticism – Takes even gentle corrections very personally and may spiral into self-doubt after making a mistake.

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〰️ Compulsive Behaviors – Repeating actions (like checking if the door is locked again or arranging toys in a specific way) to ease their worries, even if it doesn’t really make sense.

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Treatment for Anxiety May Include:

🔹 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – Basically, Jedi training for anxious brains. Helps kids learn to challenge their “What if everything goes wrong?!” thoughts and replace them with slightly less catastrophic ones.

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🔹 Exposure Therapy – The “face your fears” approach, but in tiny baby steps. Instead of throwing them into the deep end, we start with dipping a toe in. Over time, scary things become less scary (and no, we don’t start with skydiving).

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🔹 Relaxation exercises (like breathing techniques or yoga for kids—they'll think it's a fun game!)

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🔹 Medication (if needed, to take the edge off and help them get back on track)

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🔹 Stress management strategies (setting up routines, teaching coping skills, and creating some calm time)

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🔹 Family support (because, let’s face it, a team effort makes the dream work)

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🔹 Journaling & Creative Outlets – Sometimes, worries feel smaller when they’re written down (or turned into dramatic poetry). Art, music, or storytelling can also help kids process emotions without spiraling into an anxiety loop.

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🔹 Safe & Predictable Routines – Knowing what to expect can take the edge off anxious thoughts. Visual schedules, countdowns to new events, and not springing surprises on them out of nowhere? Gold.

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🔹 Sleep Strategies – Because “I can’t sleep, my brain won’t turn off” is an all-too-real struggle. Routine, screen limits, and relaxation techniques help kids actually get rest instead of running through a highlight reel of embarrassing moments from 3 years ago.

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🔹 Parent Training – Because if we panic every time our kid panics, we just have a whole house of panic. Teaches parents how to support anxious kids without accidentally fueling the worry train.

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🔹 School Accommodations (IEP/504 Plans) – Extra test time, quiet spaces, “Hey, can I step outside for a sec?” passes—little adjustments that can make a huge difference in helping anxious kids function at school without a meltdown.

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Final Thoughts:

Kids experience anxiety in unique ways, and sometimes, it can look like a case of the "jitters" or "nerves" about a new school year or the dentist. But if those worries start to take over, or if your child seems stuck in a constant loop of fear and distress, that’s where we can help.

No child should have to carry that burden alone. So if you think your little one might be dealing with anxiety, let’s chat! Because just like the puzzle analogy goes—don’t try to solve it with all the pieces missing. We’ve got the pieces you need to get your kiddo feeling confident and in control again.