Anxiety in Children

Anxiety can be part of normal childhood development. In most cases, anxiety in children does not lead to significant negative impacts, and most children “grow out of it”. For example, pre-schoolers often show a fear of the dark and of being on their own. School-aged children may demonstrate fears of the supernatural, physical harm, social situations, or tests. However, sometimes these normal developmental fears and concerns can ‘linger on’ and begin to negatively impact a child’s functioning in a variety of contexts. If you are concerned that your child is experiencing anxiety above and beyond what is developmentally expected, it is a good idea to speak to a trained health professional. Childhood anxiety can be effectively treated, and early intervention is recommended. If left untreated, childhood anxiety can linger and escalate into adolescence and adulthood, where it can become more difficult to treat.

At Anxiety House Sunshine Coast, our team of psychologists are skilled in the assessment and treatment of a wide variety childhood anxiety presentations, including but not limited to: school refusal, phobias, worry (generalised anxiety), selective mutism, separation anxiety, social anxiety, and anxiety around friendships.