How Anxiety Can Present in Children and Adults

Anxiety can have many different symptoms depending on the person and situation. Sometimes anxiety can often be hard to recognize. It can present with physical symptoms or mental struggles. When anxiety is high, people can present with trouble concentrating, increased irritability, changes in appetite, difficulty sleeping, having nightmares, constantly worrying, having negative thoughts, fidgety, being clingy, crying, or having repeated headaches or stomach aches. Anxiety can be mild, moderate, or severe. The longer anxiety is left untreated; there is a higher risk of it increasing in severity. Severe levels of anxiety can interfere with daily life, including missing school and/or work, social isolation, and/or developing physical symptoms.

Reference

National Health Service. Anxiety Disorders in Children, NHS, 15 Dec. 2023, www.nhs.uk/mental-health/children-and-young-adults/advice-for-parents/anxiety-disorders-in-children/#:~:text=Symptoms%20of%20anxiety%20in%20children,tummy%20aches%20and%20feeling%20unwell.