Stress and anxiety in children: warning signs

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Extract from the article: Stress and anxiety are not just the preserve of adults. The frenetic pace of life today does not spare children and teenagers, who also have to cope with hectic schedules, the quest for excellence and success, competitiveness and evaluations. Stress

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Stress and anxiety are not just the preserve of adults. The frenetic pace of life today does not spare children and teenagers, who also have to cope with hectic schedules, the quest for excellence and success, competitiveness and evaluations. Stress and anxiety are sometimes difficult to detect in children. How can we recognize the signs and remedy the situation ?

Today, it's unanimously acknowledged that children are also highly stressed. Why is this? This is a fundamental but complex question. There's no doubt that “a multitude of factors explain such a phenomenon: genetic, environmental and social factors, overexposure to technology, the quest for performance, a sedentary lifestyle, parental overprotection”, says Pr Kolou S. Valentin Charles Dassa, Stress Counselor/Psychiatrist at CHU Campus de Lomé. As is the case for adults, exposure to chronic stress can pose a threat to young people's mental health. It's not surprising that the number of cases of depression and anxiety disorders diagnosed in primary and secondary school children is on the rise.

Sources of stress

To develop properly, a child needs support, security, guidance and reassurance, among other things. Numerous situations can be sources of stress or anxiety, such as: “the start of the school year, exam periods, difficulties at school (social or learning problems, bullying, failures), divorce or separation from parents, separation from a parent or caregiver, moving or changing schools, a trip or stay away from home, the birth of a child, a period of stress experienced by parents, domestic violence”, explains Pr Valentin Charles Dassa, Stress Counselor/Psychiatrist.

Supporting their child in times of stress

Stress and anxiety are very real ailments in children and teenagers, and need to be taken seriously. "Encourage children to express themselves about what's bothering them, and receive what they say without judgment. Listening, kindness and indulgence will help them to feel welcomed and understood, which in turn will help to make them feel more secure. Teach children how to recognize and name their emotions," advises Stress Counselor/Psychiatry.

For example, “I feel worried, stressed, anxious, overwhelmed”; putting words to what you're feeling has a calming effect and can help you find solutions. Avoid subjecting the child to performance pressure. Your child isn't perfect? That's normal and even wonderful. It makes him a human being. Make them feel accepted and loved, whatever their reactions, behaviors, abilities or achievements. "If the child seems to be showing signs of anxiety or difficulty managing stress, call on the expertise of a competent professional in the field, such as a child psychiatrist, psychologist or doctor. Such an approach will equip the child with tools that will be useful in the present and perhaps even throughout his or her life," recommends the specialist.

William O.