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Anxiety is a natural response to certain stresses or worrisome situations that triggers both physiological and psychological changes in a person. Like adults, children often experience feelings of anxiety, although the way a child reacts to these feelings may differ from how an adult processes them.

Most infants first begin to exhibit signs of wariness or anxiety between the ages of 7 months and 9 months. Normally, anxiety is part of the body’s alarm system, alerting a person to danger or providing the extra energy to help accomplish a task. However, some children experience anxiety for no particular reason, or anxiety that is out of proportion with the actual threat that may be present.

It is natural for children to exhibit anxiety in many types of situations and at various stages of development. For example, preschoolers may fear the dark or certain animals. As children grow older, they may continue to experience anxieties related to certain events (e.g., thunderstorms, a big test at school). In most cases, these fears are temporary and quickly pass when the anxiety-producing situation is resolved. Parental support and reassurance often helps to reduce these temporary bouts of anxiety.

However, some children may experience anxiety that is present much of the time. These children may feel anxious even when such emotions cannot be traced to any kind of precipitating event. Such anxiety may interfere with a child’s ability to perform normal tasks, ranging from school work to getting a good night’s sleep. Anxiety can also impair a child’s social development. As children grow to adolescence, they may feel anxiety surrounding social situations or may have a general sense of anxiousness that is present much of the time.