Recognizing Signs of Anxiety in Children and Teens

Discover how to identify both subtle and obvious signs of anxiety in your child.

In this module, weโ€™ll explore the signs and symptoms of anxiety in children and teens. While itโ€™s normal for everyone to experience anxiety at times, it becomes concerning when it starts to interfere with daily life. Anxiety can present itself in various formsโ€”physical, emotional, and behavioralโ€”and is often a signal of underlying emotional challenges. As a parent, recognizing these signs early on can help you guide your child through their anxiety and provide the support they need. Letโ€™s learn how to spot these symptoms and respond effectively.

Common Pain Points

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Misinterpreting Anxiety as Normal Worry

Many parents mistake anxiety for typical worry or stress, telling their child, "Itโ€™s nothing to worry about." However, anxiety can go beyond common fears and create overwhelming feelings that children may struggle to articulate, leading to underestimation of their distress.

Difficulty Understanding Physical Manifestations of Anxiety

Parents often donโ€™t recognize that their child's racing heart, sweating, or trembling could be signs of anxiety. These physical symptoms are not always obvious connections to emotional struggles, leaving parents unsure of how to help.

Feeling Overwhelmed or Anxious Yourself

When your child is anxious, it can be challenging not to feel anxious or helpless in response. Parents may feel overwhelmed and unsure of how to reassure their child or may unintentionally dismiss their childโ€™s anxiety in an attempt to ease the tension.

A word from our Families

When looking for information on children’s mental health, parents can feel frantic and hasty to understand what’s happening with their child. There’s a sense of hopelessness coupled with the worry, “Is my child the only one going through this?” Dr. Maya’s calm and welcoming demeanor provides an unsaid sense of normalcy. It’s as if she’s reassuring us, โ€œHey, I’ve seen this before. We can approach these topics calmly together because I know there is light at the end of the tunnel.โ€ The “Get Started” process is super easy to use too. It feels like you’re building a recipe for the areas where your child needs help. This is the kind of information that someone would expect to have in a therapy session, so you get the experience of therapy without any requirement beyond a monthly commitment of $50. Because of this I think that Pathformers is a solid investment for parents and anyone else looking for information on child psychology.

Kristyn and Laron J.

Kristyn and Laron J.

I had the chance to check out Pathformers on my phone and computer, and let me tell you, the computer version really blew me away. The site’s beautiful aesthetic and diverse family photos and videos really capture the richness of family life. The topics they talk about are super helpful, and navigating the site is a breeze, especially with the filters that stay put until you change them. Dr. Klein explains things in a way that’s easy to get, which I think will hit home for a lot of people, not just parents like us. I’m actually pretty excited to tell my colleagues about it. We’re always looking for meaningful ‘lunch and learns’, and I really think Pathformers could be a big hit with us and others.

Jamie and Kevin T.

Jamie and Kevin T.

Module Benefits

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Recognizing Emotional and Physical Signs of Anxiety

This module helps parents understand how anxiety can show up emotionally and physically, from nervous behavior and restlessness to racing hearts and trembling hands. Knowing these signs will empower you to identify when your child is struggling with anxiety.

Practical Tools for Responding to Anxiety

Learn how to approach your childโ€™s anxiety with empathy and patience. This module offers tips on how to create a safe space for your child to express their feelings and how to help them manage their anxiety in healthy ways.

Understanding Your Own Emotional Response

This module introduces the concept of โ€œcountertransference,โ€ where parents may mirror or take on their childโ€™s anxiety. Youโ€™ll gain insight into your own emotional responses and learn how to remain calm and supportive, even when your childโ€™s anxiety feels overwhelming.

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