What is Anxiety?
It's normal for children to feel worried or anxious from time to time, such as when they're starting school or nursery, or moving to a new area. But for some children, anxiety affects their behaviour and thoughts every day, interfering with their school, home and social life.
What are the symptoms/ effects?
Symptoms may include:
- finding it hard to concentrate
- not sleeping, or waking in the night with bad dreams
- not eating properly
- quickly getting angry or irritable, and being out of control during outbursts
- constantly worrying or having negative thoughts
- feeling tense and fidgety
- using the toilet often
- always crying
- being clingy
- complaining of tummy aches and feeling unwell
How is it diagnosed?
It is important to talk to your child about their anxiety or worries as many anxieties can go away after a while, with your reassurance. However, if it is not getting better, or is getting worse you could seek professional support.
An appointment with a GP is a good place to start. You can talk to the GP on your own or with your child, or your child might be able to have an appointment without you. If the GP thinks your child could have an anxiety disorder, they can refer them to the local children and young people's mental health service(CAMHS) for further assessment or support.
Are there any treatments?
There are services and resources available that may help your child to learn to understand and manage their anxiety.
If your child does not want to see a doctor, they may be able to get help directly from a local youth counselling service such as
The Marketplace Leeds.
You could also discuss your concerns with your child's school, it might be that there is some support that they can offer, or they can refer to their local community support network (cluster)for additional assessment and support via a single point of access panel known in Leeds as Mindmate SPA.
A formal diagnosis of an anxiety disorder is not needed to access this support.
Support strategies or treatments may include:
- Medication
- Psychological interventions such as cognitive behavioural therapy
- counselling or talking therapy
Support within schools and educational settings
If your child’s condition or diagnosis has an impact on their learning and education, we would advise requesting a meeting with their school.
The meeting should be used to talk about your child’s needs and behaviours and agree a plan around supporting and managing them.
Support strategies could be developed around:
- Routines, structure and organisation
- Preparing for change and transition
- Getting used to new people and environments
- Managing stress
- Calming techniques and coping strategies
- Communicating their worries to others
- Understanding and learning to regulate their emotions
- The effects of any medications
You might also find our
SEND meeting checklist helpful.
This type of planning could come under SEND support planning in mainstream schools, known as the graduated approach.
More about SEND support in mainstream school
If you feel that your child's needs were above what can be met in mainstream under SEND support, you could apply for an EHC needs assessment that may then lead to an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
If there is already an EHCP in place, this type of planning could be used during the next review of the plan.
More about EHC needs assessment and Plans
If your child is refusing to attend school due to their anxiety, you might also find our
attendance page helpful.
Further information, advice and support
Leeds Sendiass are not responsible for the content of sites or services offered by third parties.
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NHS
Overview of anxiety disorders in children along with symptoms, treatment and where to get help
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Young Minds
Advice about what anxiety is and what to do about it, also includes a guide for parents
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Mental Health Foundation
The Anxious Child - A booklet for parents and carers wanting to know more about anxiety in children and young people
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Royal College of Psychiatrists
Worries and anxieties - helping children to cope: advice for parents and carers.
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IPSEA
Advice on school refusal due to anxiety and SEND