The Checklist

The following check list can help you observe your child or teen and recognize anxiety. If you recognize with certainty at least five of those traits, you need to help your child/teen:

Pessimism and negative thinking patterns such as imagining the worst
(Someone is going to break in, no one likes me
Constant worry about things that might happen or have happened
Over-exaggerating the negatives
(This ALWAYS happens to me)
Rigidity and inflexibility, self-criticism, guilty thoughts, etc.
(I will never be able to learn that, I will never know how to…)
Anger
Aggression
Restlessness, irritability, tantrums
Opposition and defiance
Crying
Physical complaints such as stomachaches, headaches, fatigue, etc.
Avoidance behaviors, such as avoiding things or places or refusing to do things or go places
Sleeping difficulties, such as difficulty falling or staying asleep, nightmares, or night terror
Perfectionism
(redoing this, feeling very rigid)
Excessive clinginess and separation anxiety(can show in acting out to force the parent to cancel an appointment to stay home)
Procrastination
Poor memory and concentration
Withdrawal from activities and family interactions
Eating disturbances

Anxious children and teen can be very demanding and will often become emotional when things don’t go the way they want. Parents can find it difficult to be firm and know what the right limits are, this often leads to giving in to the demands.