How to Spot the Signs of Anxiety in Kids
Anxiety is a common challenge among children, and it can often go unnoticed as kids may struggle to express their feelings. As a parent or caregiver, it’s important to know the signs so you can help your child cope with anxious feelings.
Here are some key signs of anxiety in kids to watch for:
1. Excessive Worry
Children with anxiety often worry excessively about everyday situations. They might express fear about going to school, meeting new people, or participating in activities they used to enjoy. This worry may seem disproportionate to the situation, which leads them to focus on worst-case scenarios.
2. Physical Symptoms
Anxiety often manifests physically. Your child may complain of stomachaches, headaches, or other unexplained pains, particularly before stressful events like school or social outings. They may also experience rapid breathing, dizziness, or fatigue when anxious.
3. Avoidance Behaviors
Kids who are anxious may avoid certain activities, people, or places that trigger their anxiety. This could include refusing to go to school, avoiding social interactions, or expressing fear about new experiences. These avoidance behaviors can sometimes interfere with their everyday routines.
4. Restlessness and Trouble Sleeping
Restlessness, fidgeting, or being unable to sit still can be signs of anxiety. Additionally, anxiety can disrupt your child’s sleep, causing nightmares, difficulty falling asleep, or frequent waking during the night.
Read this blog to learn how your lighting can impact your sleep.
5. Irritability and Mood Swings
Children with anxiety may become irritable or easily frustrated. Mood swings, especially in situations that would not normally be stressful, are another common sign.
How to Help Your Child
If you notice any of these signs in your child, it’s important to take action. Encouraging open conversations, validating their feelings, and teaching relaxation techniques can help. If the anxiety persists or affects their daily life, reaching out to a mental health professional can provide the support and tools needed to manage their anxiety effectively.
How Dr. Sofeia Aslam at Next Step 4 Mental Health Can Help
Dr. Sofeia Aslam specializes in working with children and adolescents and offers a compassionate and effective approach to treating anxiety. Her expertise in child and adolescent psychiatry makes her the right fit for helping children navigate their anxiety and regain a sense of peace and confidence.
With Dr. Aslam’s guidance, your child can learn coping strategies, develop emotional resilience, and improve their overall mental well-being. If you’re noticing signs of anxiety in your child, Dr. Aslam is here to help.
Contact Next Step 4 Mental Health today to schedule an appointment and take the first step toward supporting your child’s mental health.
Learn More5 Steps to Break Free from Behavioral Addiction
Addiction is no longer limited to substances like drugs or alcohol. The concept of addiction has expanded to include behaviors that activate the pleasure center of the brain, such as gaming, social media use, gambling, and even shopping. These behaviors, known as behavioral addictions or process addictions, can be just as compelling and disruptive as substance addiction.
Read on as Dr. Dan Guy explores what drives behavioral addictions and how to use that information to shape five steps for overcoming behavioral addictions.
What Drives Behavioral Addictions?
What drives these behavioral addictions? The answer lies in the intricate workings of our brains. When we engage in activities that trigger the pleasure center, such as winning a game or receiving likes on a social media post, our brains release feel-good chemicals like dopamine and endorphins.
Over time, our brains learn to crave these experiences, leading to a cycle of reinforcement where the behavior is repeated to achieve the same pleasurable outcome.
Watch this video to learn more about the reward system in your brain.
Addiction Isn’t Limited to Substance Abuse
Chemical drugs are notorious for stimulating the pleasure center of the brain, but various behaviors can also activate the same area.
Dr. Dan Guy explains:
“Indulgences like consuming sweet foods, watching humorous shows, achieving success in challenging tasks, experiencing intimacy, or making enjoyable purchases can trigger the release of feel-good chemicals such as endorphins, dopamine, and oxytocin, leading to a sense of reward.”
However, both chemicals and certain behaviors carry the potential for addiction. Some have even elevated addiction from a mere behavior to a complex medical condition or chronic brain disorder. The challenge with addictions, whether to chemicals or behaviors, lies in the need for escalating doses to achieve the same level of pleasure over time, leading individuals to seek out more stimuli to feel good.
Intermittent rewards and social reinforcement, such as receiving validation on social media, further reinforce addictive behaviors. Intermittent reinforcement, such as the unpredictable nature of social media likes or notifications, can further strengthen addictive behaviors. Our brains become conditioned to seek out these rewards, leading to compulsive behavior patterns.
Moreover, the removal of stimuli can lead to negative reinforcement, perpetuating a cycle where individuals feel compelled to seek out more to maintain their well-being. This pursuit can have detrimental effects on various aspects of life, including work performance and relationships.
Positive Versus Negative Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement involves receiving a reward for a behavior, while negative reinforcement involves the removal of something unpleasant. For example, playing a video game may temporarily alleviate anxiety, serving as negative reinforcement. Similarly, receiving likes or comments on a social media post can act as positive reinforcement, encouraging us to continue posting.
How to Reclaim Control of Your Life
If addictions were easy to stop, by definition, it wouldn’t be an addiction.
While it’s not easy… it’s also not impossible.
Step One: Awareness
Recognizing and addressing behavioral addictions is crucial for reclaiming control of our lives. Awareness is the first step. By acknowledging the signs of addiction and its impact on our lives, we can begin to take proactive steps towards recovery. Preferably, it’s ideal to reach this awareness before reaching rock bottom.
Step 2: Organize Support from Family, Friends, and Professionals
Seeking support from friends, family, and professionals is essential. Having external accountability and guidance can help us establish healthier habits and coping mechanisms.
Step 3: Establish Limits
Setting limits, whether through parental controls on devices or budgeting for shopping, can also prevent excessive indulgence in addictive behaviors.
Step 4: Explore the Underlying Cause of Addiction
Furthermore, it’s essential to explore the underlying causes of addiction. Often, addictive behaviors serve as coping mechanisms for underlying issues such as anxiety or low self-esteem.
Dr. Dan Guy adds, “So, dig in and find what is underlying the addiction (example: to escape anxiety) and deal the underlying cause head on. Often, this is where professional help comes in. If you decrease the anxiety, for example, you decrease the need for addiction.”
By addressing these root causes, we can decrease the reliance on addictive behaviors.
Step 5: Learn Healthier Habits and Rewire Your Brain for Lasting Change
Finally, learning to cultivate new, healthier habits is key to long-term recovery. Rewiring the brain to find pleasure in other activities and enjoying life beyond the pursuit of the next fix is essential for lasting change.
Get the Help You Need
In conclusion, behavioral addictions are a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach to address effectively. By understanding the mechanisms behind these addictions and taking proactive steps towards recovery, we can regain control of our lives and cultivate a healthier, more fulfilling existence.
As a multidisciplinary practice, the Next Step team can address all facets of addiction from underlying anxiety and depression to impulsive behavior. To schedule an appointment, click here.
About Dr. Dan Guy
Dr. Dan Guy is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who has provided quality mental health services for over 29 years. As a gifted and highly observant listener, Dr. Guy serves adults, older teens, couples, and families with compassion and care.
Dr. Guy graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Bible Studies from Kentucky Christian University. He then earned a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology at Morehead State University. He continued to work his way across the state of Kentucky, completing his formal education by obtaining his Doctorate of Psychology at Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky.
Dr. Guy has had the privilege of working in a variety of settings throughout his career. While working in Kentucky Community Mental Health Centers, he provided psychological testing and worked with both children and adults struggling with issues ranging from behavioral disorders to emotional and thought disorders. Dr. Guy also served as the Clinical Manager at a Louisville hospital, managing the counseling services for an inpatient psychiatric unit, a partial hospitalization unit, a mental health intensive outpatient program (IOP), a chemical dependency IOP, and an outpatient office. He has also served as the Clinical Director for a residential youth services organization providing mental health services for Kentucky youth who are in state care.
Dr. Guy specializes in the treatment of ADHD, depression, anxiety, mood swings, relational problems, and issues pertaining to self-doubt and self-value. He is skilled in the use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), solution focused therapy, and reality therapy. He also provides psychotherapy for individuals with bipolar disorder and some addictive behaviors. Dr. Guy has helped hundreds of individuals, couples, and families establish loving relationships, healthy communication, and effectively address mental health issues. As a trusted professional, Dr. Guy will walk beside you as you face challenges in your life and will guide you toward healing and fulfillment.
You can now book an appointment with Dr. Guy here. or give us a call at our Louisville, Kentucky mental health clinic at 502-339-2442 .
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