Anxiety
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Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety
Overview
Parents’ descriptions of Anxiety on Sleuth fit into six topic areas:
Fear and Panic
Defined by these five signs and behaviors: Panic attacks, Frequent crying, Panic, Separation anxiety, and Unusual fears or phobias.
Fight or Flight
Defined by these four signs and behaviors: Shaking (from anxiety), Fast or racing heartbeat, Hard or heavy breathing, and Sweating.
Loss of Control
Defined by these six signs and behaviors: Trouble sleeping or insomnia, Being irritable, Fidgeting, Difficulty focusing or concentrating, Angry behavior, and Sadness.
Overall Anxiety
Defined by these three signs and behaviors: Constant worry, Nervousness, and Anxiety.
Physical Responses
Defined by these five signs and behaviors: Nail biting, Headache(s), Headache(s), Stomach ache(s) or pain, and Vomiting.
Social Anxiety
Defined by these four signs and behaviors: Dislike for crowds, Keeping alone (keeping to self), Shyness or social anxiety, and Unwillingness to go out.
All Signs & Symptoms of Anxiety
Here are the top symptoms or behaviors listed by parents of kids diagnosed with Anxiety:
| Symptom | Frequency | Number of mentions |
|---|---|---|
| Nervousness | Often | 49 mentions |
| Panic attacks | Often | 42 mentions |
| Unusual fears or phobias | Often | 31 mentions |
| Shyness or social anxiety | Often | 26 mentions |
| Frequent crying | Sometimes | 25 mentions |
| Angry behavior | Sometimes | 16 mentions |
| Separation anxiety | Sometimes | 15 mentions |
| Constant worry | Sometimes | 14 mentions |
| Anxiety in social situations | Sometimes | 11 mentions |
| Fidgeting | Sometimes | 11 mentions |
When do symptoms start?
How to read this chart
Nervousness
0 years oldAmount of children: 1%1 years oldAmount of children: 1%2 years oldAmount of children: 3%3 years oldAmount of children: 3%4 years oldAmount of children: 2%5 years oldAmount of children: 2%6 years oldAmount of children: 3%7 years oldAmount of children: 1%8 years oldAmount of children: 2%9 years oldAmount of children: 2%10 years oldAmount of children: 3%11 years oldAmount of children: 0%12 years oldAmount of children: 1%13 years oldAmount of children: 2%14 years oldAmount of children: 1%15 years oldAmount of children: 0%16 years oldAmount of children: 0%17 years oldAmount of children: 0%average 7 years old
Panic attacks
0 years oldAmount of children: 0%1 years oldAmount of children: 0%2 years oldAmount of children: 2%3 years oldAmount of children: 1%4 years oldAmount of children: 1%5 years oldAmount of children: 2%6 years oldAmount of children: 2%7 years oldAmount of children: 1%8 years oldAmount of children: 2%9 years oldAmount of children: 2%10 years oldAmount of children: 1%11 years oldAmount of children: 3%12 years oldAmount of children: 2%13 years oldAmount of children: 1%14 years oldAmount of children: 1%15 years oldAmount of children: 2%16 years oldAmount of children: 0%17 years oldAmount of children: 0%average 9 years 6 months old
Unusual fears or phobias
0 years oldAmount of children: 3%1 years oldAmount of children: 2%2 years oldAmount of children: 2%3 years oldAmount of children: 3%4 years oldAmount of children: 3%5 years oldAmount of children: 2%6 years oldAmount of children: 0%7 years oldAmount of children: 0%8 years oldAmount of children: 2%9 years oldAmount of children: 1%10 years oldAmount of children: 2%11 years oldAmount of children: 1%12 years oldAmount of children: 2%13 years oldAmount of children: 0%14 years oldAmount of children: 0%15 years oldAmount of children: 0%16 years oldAmount of children: 1%17 years oldAmount of children: 1%average 6 years old
Change in symptoms of Anxiety*
What happens to common Anxiety symptoms over time?
| Symptom | Worse | A Little Worse | Stayed About the Same | A Little Better | Better | Completely Resolved |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nervousness | 2.1% | 12.5% | 27.1% | 27.1% | 31.3% | 0% |
| Panic attacks | 5.1% | 2.6% | 12.8% | 33.3% | 38.5% | 7.7% |
| Unusual fears or phobias | 0% | 20% | 16.7% | 23.3% | 40% | 0% |
| Shyness or social anxiety | 0% | 3.8% | 15.4% | 34.6% | 42.3% | 3.8% |
| Frequent crying | 0% | 12% | 24% | 28% | 32% | 4% |
| Angry behavior | 0% | 12.5% | 12.5% | 43.8% | 25% | 6.3% |
| Constant worry | 14.3% | 21.4% | 21.4% | 14.3% | 14.3% | 14.3% |
| Separation anxiety | 0% | 7.1% | 28.6% | 14.3% | 50% | 0% |
| Anxiety in social situations | 0% | 0% | 9.1% | 45.5% | 45.5% | 0% |
| Fidgeting | 9.1% | 18.2% | 18.2% | 36.4% | 18.2% | 0% |
Conditions with similar symptoms to Anxiety
Parents also mention the behaviors, signs, and symptoms associated with Anxiety when they describe these conditions:
Autism
Symptom Frequency Number of mentions Not making eye contact Often 70 mentions Delayed speech or language development Often 52 mentions Non-verbal (not able to use words) Often 52 mentions Sensitivity to sound (hyperacusis) Often 43 mentions Repetitive movement or behavior Sometimes 38 mentions Not talking Sometimes 37 mentions Limited (or lack of) social skills Sometimes 27 mentions Developmental delays (behind on expected milestones) Sometimes 23 mentions Lack of social skills Sometimes 20 mentions Rocking body back and forth Sometimes 19 mentions Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Symptom Frequency Number of mentions Hyperactivity Often 114 mentions Angry behavior Often 37 mentions Difficulty paying attention Sometimes 26 mentions Fidgeting Sometimes 26 mentions Impulsiveness Sometimes 25 mentions Short attention span Sometimes 23 mentions Forgetfulness Sometimes 21 mentions Difficulty focusing or concentrating Sometimes 20 mentions Talkativeness Sometimes 20 mentions Difficulty focusing in school Sometimes 18 mentions Depression
Symptom Frequency Number of mentions Sadness Often 38 mentions Keeping alone (keeping to self) Often 28 mentions Frequent crying Often 17 mentions Crying Often 14 mentions Sleeping a lot Sometimes 10 mentions Suicidal thoughts Sometimes 9 mentions Angry behavior Sometimes 7 mentions Self-harm Sometimes 7 mentions Anxiety Sometimes 6 mentions Fatigue, tiredness, or lethargy Sometimes 6 mentions
Care of Anxiety
Common treatments, therapies, and parenting techniques for Anxiety
| Treatment | Rating | Discussion |
|---|---|---|
| 1Therapy / Counseling | Positive3.9 of 5 | Read 2 comments |
| 2Medication (general) | Positive3.9 of 5 | Read 0 comments |
Less common responses for Anxiety
| Treatment | Rating | Discussion |
|---|---|---|
| 1meditiation | Positive4.1 of 5 | Read 0 comments |
| 2parenting technique: breathing (by child) | Positive3.8 of 5 | Read 0 comments |