Anxiety is a common issue among children and adults, and anxiety disorders are among those most diagnosed in the United States today. If you are a parent, it is important that you know the signs to look out for that your child may have an anxiety disorder. Then, you can take them to their pediatrician right away to get checked over and to get on the road to receiving the care they need to cope with the issue. 

Your Child Becomes Isolated or Withdrawn

While this symptom is commonly associated with depression rather than anxiety, it can also be indicative of an anxiety disorder. When a child is extremely anxious, they may find it hard to function out in the "real world." As such, they will tuck themselves away at home or in their room because that space feels safer to them. Your child may also refuse to go to school because of the anxiety they experience there. 

And if they have any type of social anxiety (anxiety triggered by being around other people or large groups of people), isolation is a way of avoiding those anxiety triggers. As such, withdrawal and isolation can be a sign of an anxiety disorder in your child. 

Your Child Feels Ill Quite Often

If your child suddenly starts to have stomach problems or otherwise feel ill quite often (with no evident physical cause), they could be expressing anxiety. Anxiety does not just affect the mind but the body as well. 

Many people with anxiety experience nausea or even vomiting and diarrhea. They can also feel clammy and sweaty or have the jitters and experience shaking (such as out of fear). These can all be signs of an anxiety disorder.

With these physical symptoms, it is important to rule out a physical cause first. As such, a trip or two to the pediatrician may be necessary to ensure that your child does not have an infection or other physical illness causing their problems. However, if the symptoms seem chronic or do not go away with proper treatment, anxiety could be the underlying cause. 

Your Child Expresses Fears or Worries

The most obvious sign of an anxiety disorder in a child is if they actually express their fears and/or worries to you. If they are always saying they are worried about something, they could have anxiety. For example, if your child is always worried that you will die when you leave the house to go to work, this is a form of anxiety (perhaps separation anxiety). 

If your child has irrational fears or phobias that cause them great distress, have recurring nightmares, or tell you other things they are worried about often, this is a sign that you should get them to their doctor to discuss these issues. 

Once you recognize the signs of anxiety in your child, your next step is to go to the pediatrician. They can recommend treatment or refer your child to a good counselor and/or child psychiatrist to help your child cope with their anxieties.