Running head: ANXIETY IN CHILDREN 1

Anxiety in Children

Evangelina Madrid-Kerr

Pacific Oaks - HD300

7/26/16
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Introduction

I thought long and hard about children and the various challenges they experience

growing up that caused them to have anxiety. I looked at environmental, social, physical, and

cognitive. Not every child has the same up bringing and each child doesnt come from the same

economic background. I ask myself what causes anxiety? Be it academic, social, and

environmental. What trauma has this child experience that they perceive the world as a threat?

Understanding and preventing situations that cause children to have high level of anxiety will

assist them in the world. I want to find the problem and be the solution for these children. I know

that children with anxiety have a hard time with emotional regulation, which then causes other

issues later on in life? My purpose in this paper is to understand the causes of children anxiety,

find what has helps, and what ways could we help more. Reminding ourselves that these children

are our future.

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Literature Review

The children development institute identified 5 anxiety disorders found in children as

Generalized anxiety disorder, Phobia, Panic disorder, Obsessive-compulsive disorder, Post-

traumatic stress disorder. These disorders are defined with certain symptoms.

GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISODER. Children with generalized anxiety disorder experience

extreme, unrealistic worry that does not seem to be related to any recent event. Normally these

children are very self-conscious, feel tense, have a strong need for reassurance, and complain

about stomachaches or other discomforts that dont appear to have any physical basis, which

they will go to the hospital and doctors regularly but nothing physical can be found. (Children

Development Institute, 2016)

PHOBIA.is an unrealistic and excessive fear of some situation or object. Children with this type

of anxiety or fear, will not want to participate in things that we have them face their fear (dark,

heights, elevators, etc.) (Children Development Institute, 2016) which can limit the childs

ability to reach its full potential do to a lack of schemas.

PANIC DISORDER. Panic disorder is marked by repeated panic attacks without apparent

cause. Panic attacks are periods of intense fear accompanied by pounding heartbeat, sweating,

dizziness, nausea, or a feeling of imminent death. (Children Development Institute, 2016) The

experience may so intense for the child that it may prevent them for going to regular school, or

any situation for that matter.

OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER. A child with obsessive-compulsive disorder

becomes trapped in a pattern of repetitive thoughts and behaviors. Even though the child may

agree that the thoughts or behaviors appear senseless and distressing, the repetitions are very
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hard to stop. The compulsive behaviors may include repeated hand washing, counting, or

arranging and rearranging objects. (Children Development Institute, 2016)

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. Post-traumatic stress disorder can develop in

children or adolescents after they experience a very stressful event. Such events may include

physical or sexual abuse; being a victim of or witnessing violence; or being caught in a disaster,

such as a bombing or hurricane. Young people with post-traumatic stress disorder experience the

event again and again in strong memories, flashbacks, or troublesome thoughts. As a result, the

young person may try to avoid anything associated with the trauma. They may also overreact

when startled or have difficulty sleeping. (Children Development Institute, 2016)

Getting a basic understanding of the development aspect of anxiety in children. Various

development patterns have been found for childhood anxieties as well as the frequency, research

has discovered that children anxiety tend to decrease with age. The peak age for anxiety was age

2-4 (Lewis & Miller, 1990) The development of these anxiety stem from infancy, which loud

noises would either startle the infant, or over exposure to stimuli, unfamiliar exposure to new

stimuli, or separation from one parent or both parents predominate (Rutter & Garmezy, 1983)

It has been estimated that 50 percent of children have some six to seven signs of

anxiety, which included fears of animals, thunder and lighting, and medical procedures such as

injections. (Foxman,P. 2004. p 21). The anxiety for a two year old will not be the same for a 10

year old or this would be consider abnormal. (Foxman, P. 2004) Separation Anxiety is consider

normal between the ages of 1-6, which it appears that children begin to have a sense of security

in regards to their loved ones not living them. Anxiety for children the age of 7 and 8 our more

based on television viewing, dark, being alone and bodily injury. Children age 9- 12 were more

related to tests, school performance, physical appearance, bodily injury, and death.
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It has been shown through various studies that children have different types anxiety that

manifest during different age ranges. It also has been indicated that various types of personalities

are more prone to stress and anxiety in children. This is called the Anxiety Personality Style

the anxiety-prone child is usually responsible, dependable, and motivated. He/ She is typically a

student that strives to be the best academically. (Foxman, P. 2004) This child wants to please his

teacher, parents and seeks the approval of others. This child is usually what people would

consider perfectionist. Children with this trait have a difficult time relaxing and often will

procrastinate when things are difficult for them because of fear of failure, they have a tendency

to please other at their own expense, they have a hard time saying no and setting healthy

boundaries.

The various symptoms go on and on, but how did these children become this way? What

is the root cause of this disorder? And how can we help these children, so they can lead more

healthy fulfilling lives? One thing that Ive read across the board was that successful

development requires a secure connection at each stage. Which when one of the stages is not met

then it produces anxiety and sometimes depression.

Some theorist believe that bonding happens way before the child is born, it moves when

the mother moves and knows the mother tone of voice before it is even born. It also feels its

mother stress due to the release of stress hormones in the mothers blood stream, which goes

directly through the embryos life-support line. It is possible that some children are born with the

predisposition toward anxiety symptoms due to exposure to prenatal stress hormones. (Foxman,

P., 2004, p.55)

Freud indicated that anxiety is attributable to separation trauma, often occurring at birth.

He added that it could also occur during the infant- mother bonding period, which if proper
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bonding doesnt occur. (Foxman, P. 2004) That the infant experiences a loss of a loved one the

moment it is born, or at lease it is a common birthing practice in hospital-based delivery.

Research tells us that children brains develop its fullest capacities when it is not focused

on coping with stress or anxiety. When we are anxious, tense, undecided, or insecure, the focus

of attention is divided among the three brains, each having its own agenda. A child with on going

stress will prioritize the growth of the brain stem. In fact a child that grows up in a stressful

environment or negative conditions, the brains focus on survival interferes with a childs

intellectual development and locks the neocortex into the service of the brain stem. (Foxman, P.

2004)

Actual MRI of Adolescents who had committed violent crimes, have signs and symptoms

of brain damage resulting from prior trauma. Childhood trauma and neglect have also been found

to inhibit growth of the brain as a whole. (Foxman, P. 2004, p. 63-64) Understanding that

development begin at the moment of conception, leads me to believe that it is important for

parents to understand that the moment they decide to have a child, it is their duty to protect and

nurture that human. I also believe that adolescent that have committed a crime due to in proper

brain development, are the responsibility of the Adults that raised him during its developmental

years.

Child development comes in stages, a pattern recognized by virtually all child-

development theories. Each development stage varies by each theorists, Freud (1933) focus was

on emotional development in children. Erickson (1950) focus was on children social

development stages, and Piaget (1952) focus was on children cognitive development. (Foxman,

P. 2004) Psychologists describe the interaction between children and their environment in the
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terms of assimilation and accommodation. Which if we create an environment that is safe and

secure from birth, with appropriate exposure than a child should experience minimal anxiety.

Methodology

Understanding all this information made me think long and hard about how I raised my

own children. So I asked several Children a few simple questions, taking note of each of these

children home environment, I also did basic observations. Each of the familys lived in various

environment, which 2 were living in homes where there was only one parent, which the parents

where living in the in city. The other child was from the homes where two parents where

available, and lived in the suburbs. Each of the family had various stress in the home, which the

children were exposed. I will ask these children a series of questions 1). I asked what their

childhood was like? 2) When asked what was their biggest fear? 3) I asked what their biggest

worry was? 4) I asked them if they believed they had a good support system? 5) What they did

to relieve their stress?

The first child whom I will be interviewing will be Identified E. was 11 years old from a

home were the mother was renting a room, for her and her daughter. Father was able to see the

child at lease 1 weekend a month due to financial reasons. E was asked what her childhood was

like? Which she described it as being good, until the day that her father was removed away from

home because of DCFS. E stated that she would cry constantly and just felt lost without him,

which began at age 4. E. stated that her mother tried to love her through this ordeal but nothing

appeared to work, which anytime she got close to someone, and they had to move would
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instantly put her into crisis. E shared that she has watched her Mom struggle with relationship,

which made it scarier for her because she believed that if her mother who has a lot going on for

her and was struggling, how would her life be. When asked what was her biggest fear? She

stated that her biggest fear was that her mother wouldnt be able to make ends meet and they

would struggle just to survive. I asked what her biggest worry was? E verbalized that her biggest

worry is that she will not be able to college because her mother wont be able to afford it. I asked

E if she believed that she had a good support system? E expressed that she is really close to her

friends and is always on the phone with them, but rarely does she share what is going on, unless

it is with her best friend. I asked E what she did to relieve her stress? E. said listen to music,

watch T.V., or talk to her friends. I asked what her current living situation was like? E. said it

was really tense because her mother doesnt get along with her roommate and it causes so much

tension.

Second Child I interviewed was a 12-year boy who I will identify as A. A currently lives

with his biological father and Stepmother. I asked what him childhood was like? A stated that he

grew up with his father because his biological mother and father were divorce, A reported to see

his mother every other weekend. A stated that his father still loves his mother but his mother

wouldnt stay because of the abuse and cheating. A verbalized that his mother fought for him in

court which his father won full custody. A stated that his father remained single until he had

turned 11 years old, which he finally remarried his Stepmother. Client stated that his Stepmother

is very verbally abusive and his father and her are constantly fighting, and at time he has asked

his father if he could live with his mother. A stated that his Stepmother always tells him why

dont you go live with you mother. As father stated that he would rather divorce his new wife

than lose him. A verbalized the relationship has gotten so bad that his father has actually filed
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divorce. When I asked what was him biggest fear? He stated that his biggest fear would was that

his Stepmother, would interfere with his relationship with his mom. A stated that every time he

went to his mother house and would return his step mother would start a big fight with his father.

I asked what her biggest worry was? A verbalized that his biggest fear would be to have to

choose between his biological parents, because he loves them both. I asked A if he believed that

he had a good support system? Which a stated that he was really close with the guys on his

baseball team, which recently he aged out from, A also stated that he has a lot of friends at school

but since it is summer time he has been spending a lot of time at their family own business,

which his step mother was the manager. I asked A what he did to relieve his stress? He stated that

he would return home and usually spend a lot of time with his dog or play video games.

The third child I interviewed lived at home with his father, I will be identifying this child

as H. I asked what Hs childhood was like? H stated that he has always lived with his father and

has never met his mother. H stated that he loved his father but sometimes wish he got to meet his

mother. H stated that he does have a lot of female role models, which are his caretakers. H stated

that he is grateful for him and his Dads relationship because his dad has always made him feel

safe and loved. When asked what was his biggest fear? H stated that his biggest fear would be to

lose his Dad because he has no one else. Which I asked what he meant by that, H stated that him

and his father have been on there own and he really doesnt have any other family. I asked what

his biggest worry was? He stated that his biggest worry was that his Dad wasnt able to make

enough money to make ends meet, and they would lose their home. H shared that his fathers

hours have been cut at work and they are barely making ends meet. I asked H if he believed he

had a good support system? H stated that he knows that he is loved by many, and he has people
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who would always be there for him if he needed. I asked H what he did to relieve his stress?

Which he stated that he loved to ride his bike, play video games, and go swimming.

Results/Data:

Each of these children had their own stress and it appeared that no matter what the living

situation that stress was present. The two children living with one parent seemed to have

different struggles, but the one struggle that these two had was feeling that if their parent

couldnt support them they have no one else.

E loved her father but didnt feel she could lean on him for support, and that the only

person that would take care of her needs would be her mother. H on the other hand has never met

his mother and has only been with his father, and feels that his father is the only person he could

depend on. A has a totally different situation even though he has two parents in the house hold he

can only rely on one for emotional support. A verbalized that the relationship between him and

his stepmother is rough and he believes that his Stepmother hates him, and she has actually

caused him more insecurity by telling him that he should go live with his mother.

Each of these children has separation anxiety, which was develop with in different ages.

H mother hasnt been in his life since he was a baby. E father has not been in the home since she

was 5 years old. A parent divorced when he was 4 years old. Each of these situations causes these

children trauma, which eventually presents itself as anxiety. I believe that each child loves their

parent and take on the suffering in order to please their parent, and the parent believes that they

are doing the right thing, but after talking to these children and recognizing the anxiety they had.
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Discussion/ Conclusion:

Each stated having fears of needs not being met, which these children are always in the

fight or flight. Each of these children are struggling academically, not because they arent smart

but because they operate for the brain stem. I learned that the unseen damage that parent cause

by divorce or separation, and the long-term affects cant go ignored. None of these children were

receiving therapy in order to develop emotional/cognitive/social skills need to overcome this.

Which if these children do not develop the coping skills needed that they would more like make

poor choices under pressure. Understanding the brain damage trauma causes, and we are not

talking about physical trauma, prolong emotional trauma a child experiences causes the brain to

change which causes brain damage.

After getting a basic understanding of what causes anxiety in children, had me thinking

everyone causes trauma in children. Truth though is that children are resilient but sometimes

children dont even know they have experience trauma, and they usually bounce back. It is the

ones that live with fear that Im worried about, the ones that worry about basic needs being met,

these are the children that need us the most. I learned that to help children with anxiety we have

to create a world they feel safe and secure in, or they will not develop proper. I know that

growing up in a home where there is trauma can cause children to have problems educationally,

socially, and cognitively. Because they werent able to develop in certain areas in the brain, I

believe if we give children a place where they feel they can be themselves they will be able to

develop more. Understanding how these children view the world can also assist us in helping

them with cognitive distortion.

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References:

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Plenum Press.

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Handboook of Child Psychology, Vol. IV, Socialization, Personality and Social

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http://www.simplypsychology.org/Erik-Erikson.html

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