Lesser known symptoms of anxiety in kids you may miss

Just like adults, children too are susceptible to constant worry, stress and anxiety. While their problems may not look as grand or grievous as the problems of adults, they can still have a negative effect on the child's psyche.

Furthermore, anxiety in kids may be more detrimental, especially because, unlike adults they may lack certain communication skills or may not be as expressive or vocal about their feelings, emotions and worry. Having said that, it is important that parents stay vigilant, aware about and involved in their child's life.

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According to the UK's National Health Services (NHS), anxiety in kids can occur due to various reasons.

"From the age of around 6 months to 3 years it's very common for young children to have separation anxiety. They may become clingy and cry when separated from their parents or carers. This is a normal stage in a child's development and should stop at around age 2 to 3," the health body says.

Furthermore, for preschool-age children, it is common to develop specific fears or phobias including fear of animals, insects, storms, heights, water, blood, and the dark, which usually go away on their own.

Other types of anxiety in kids include: Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Selective Mutism, Social Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder.

Children suffering from some type of anxiety usually show some classic signs including irritability and extreme mood swings including being tearful and clingy, difficulty in concentrating, lack of confidence, avoiding social interactions and activities and more. However, parents must also watch out for the lesser known signs of anxiety in kids that often get missed.

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Research suggests digestive issues are one of the most common signs and symptoms of anxiety. Especially in kids, who are very prone to stomach aches and infection, the lesser known sign of anxiety may often get missed. However, if your child constantly complains of stomach pain that has no unexplained cause, do keep an eye on them and look out for nay other signs of stress and worry they may show. Based on that, you can help them with the required treatment.

Being tired after returning from school or playing with friends is completely normal. But if your child feels the same way throughout the day, without any activity, then it can also come from stress, lack of sleep, boredom, and poor diet.

There's a huge difference between picky eating and loss of appetite due to anxiety. If your child is being fussy about certain food groups but is having a feast with their favourite food items then it may not be an anxiety-based eating disorder. However, if your kid is avoidant of eating any kind of foods or is having difficulty in eating at all, then it could be a sign of worry.

As discussed, anxiety can cause stomach issues, which can further lead to a lack of appetite and a decrease in the amount of food a child eats. This may then cause certain deficiencies which are associated with fatigue, tiredness and weakness.

Frequent urination is a common anxiety disorder symptom that can even occur in kids. This need for emptying one's bladder may constantly arise even when one has just peed.

This is because anxiety can lead to muscle tension, impacting the sensation of the bladder.

Furthermore, due to anxiety, a child may feel more aware about the things going around and 'inside' of them, which could also mean their breathing, their heart rate and their need to pee.

Anxiety can cause a series of emotional, mental and physical symptoms. One of the most common signs could be sleep issues.

In kids, this could mean having trouble settling off to sleep, not getting proper sleep or even waking up in the middle of the night due to a bad dream or nightmare.

There could be many triggers including additional homework, problems with friends, experiencing bullying or a move to a new neighborhood.

Having said that, identifying the stressors, calming your child down, helping them face their fears and communicating with them on a regular basis is extremely important. Do not ignore any sign of worry in your children, so as to avoid any negative consequences.