My child worries a lot. When is it anxiety?
It is common for children to feel worried and scared, and the worry often passes by itself. If the fear is so strong that it shows every day and affects everyday life, it may be anxiety, and both the child and the parents can need help. Contact healthcare if worry or anxiety affects your child's daily life and feels hard to handle (1177).
What are common signs of anxiety in children?
- Cries easily or has frequent outbursts.
- Seems restless, irritable or has trouble concentrating.
- Has difficulty falling asleep.
- Withdraws or is hard to reach.
- Suddenly reacts in a new way, for example no longer dares to sleep over at a friend's or be home alone.
- Feels it in the body: stomach ache, nausea, a pounding heart, pressure on the chest or a lump in the throat.
How can I help my child?
- Take the worry seriously from the start, and learn about anxiety. That makes you a better support.
- Encourage your child to be brave and do, step by step, what they are afraid of. Avoiding what causes anxiety tends to make it stronger.
- Set reasonable goals. Practising despite anxiety can build self-esteem.
- Getting angry is human, but scolding a child who is already afraid does not help.
- Healthy routines help: food, movement, sleep and rest. Physical activity has been shown to be especially helpful against anxiety and low mood.
- Anxiety in children is very rarely caused by bad parenting. Get support for yourself too if you need it.
How is anxiety treated?
Treatment is adapted to the child's age and usually works better when parents take part. It starts with knowledge about anxiety, and the recommended treatment is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), often with gradual exposure. Medication can be added if CBT is not enough. For an anxiety disorder to be diagnosed, symptoms should usually have lasted at least six months.
Try this week
- Set aside ten calm minutes a day to talk, for example on the way to school or at bedtime.
- Name the feeling together: "It sounds like you feel worried about…"
- Plan one small brave step this week and praise the effort, not the result.
When to get help
Seek help if worry or anxiety affects everyday life, school, sleep or friendships, or if you worry it affects your child's development. In Sweden, call 1177 for advice on where to go; help is available through child health services (under 6), youth clinics and child and adolescent psychiatry (BUP). Children and young people under 18 in Sweden can call or text Bris on 116 111 at any time. Outside Sweden, contact your doctor or local healthcare service. If there is any risk to life, call 112 or your local emergency number immediately.