is anxiety in kids generally a symptom of something else?

[Anonymous]

Forgive this basic question.
My son (almost 10) has anxiety. In the classroom it exhibits itself as frustration over new material. The teachers have told us time and time again that he can do the material, he just gets thrown for a loop very easily when things are new, or don't go his way exactly.
On the sports field (in his case baseball) he does super well in practice but then strikes out very frequently in games because he is so worried that he won't get a hit. (I would take him out of baseball but he despite his struggles he loves it).

We have never had him formally evaluated by a developmental pediatrician (he has had some CBT by a therapist and she didn't notice any red flags).

That said, I know very little about this.

Is anxiety generally a symptom of other things in kids or a primary condition in and of itself?

Thank you for any thoughts on this.

[Anonymous]

No

[Anonymous]

I'm not an expert, but my experience with my kid is that anxiety is an issue unto itself and not a symptom of something else. It can manifest is a thousand different ways, from difficulty sleeping to anger and aggression to upset stomach to problems with making/keeping friends, etc. Every kid's situation is unique and so there is unfortunately no road map, but lots of trial and error. You're not alone, that's for sure.

[Anonymous]

Child therapist here - no answer to this question because sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't. The important thing is to figure out that very question though. Also, identifying what kind of anxiety - is this perfectionism? ADHD? What you described could be either or all of these.

[Anonymous]

My DS has ADHD and some anxiety symptoms - fwiw the ADHD symptoms initially presented much more strongly than anxiety.

[Anonymous]

Some kids need help in learning how to handle disappointment and frustration. He may always have some trouble but as long as it doesn't interfere with daily activities/school, it will probably be okay. A therapist or parenting class could help. He'll learn how to identify what is a big deal and what isn't and how to move past/work through it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Child therapist here - no answer to this question because sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't. The important thing is to figure out that very question though. Also, identifying what kind of anxiety - is this perfectionism? ADHD? What you described could be either or all of these.

I agree. It may or may not be a symptom of something else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some kids need help in learning how to handle disappointment and frustration. He may always have some trouble but as long as it doesn't interfere with daily activities/school, it will probably be okay. A therapist or parenting class could help. He'll learn how to identify what is a big deal and what isn't and how to move past/work through it.

Handling disappointment and frustration appropriately could well be a separate issue than anxiety. Mine has these issues, but his eval didn't show anxiety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Child therapist here - no answer to this question because sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't. The important thing is to figure out that very question though. Also, identifying what kind of anxiety - is this perfectionism? ADHD? What you described could be either or all of these.

another therapist here and I agree. I work with a slightly older population (inpatient) and invariably, our sickest patients do have a Dx of "anxiety" somewhere in their charts, from an early age. Later, other comorbidities may be diagnosed. On the other hand, sometimes anxiety in a child is situation-driven and doesn't last.

[Anonymous]

For both my son and daughter, the answer was yes. We sensed the anxiety in older daughter first. When we finally received a competent diagnosis it was high functioning Aspergers/ADHD/Anxiety. Child no. 2 was anxiety with ADHD/Exec. functioning issues.

[Anonymous]

For us yes, DK has always been borderline ADHD but it was undiagnosed Lyme disease that pushed DK into some true anxiety behaviors. With antiobiotic treatment, they have mostly subsided but we keep a close eye.

In the family members and others I know with anxiety there are typically other issues at play. I imagine it could be a stand alone issue too, but from my limited experience there are usually other issues there too.

[Anonymous]

My kid has anxiety primarily driven by working memory deficiencies. We have been working on tools to help. But it can be hard for kids with adhd with working memory and/or processing speed issues, especially as you go higher in grades. Meditation, counters to negative thought, and tools to help with areas of challenge (i.e., working memory) are helpful.

[Anonymous]

Not psychiatrist but I mom of high anxiety child from early age. In him anxiety overwhelms everything and causes learning issues, making it a learning disability. But, not all kids are the same. In DS's case, anxiety first, then it causes a whole array of other issues.

[Anonymous]

Can tics be caused by anxiety? Will they go away if we can manage the anxiety? I worry that it is Tourette's, but am not sure that that has an anxietal cause.

[Anonymous]

Parent of Lyme DK here, DK also had tics but it was a result of his tick diseases (no pun or joking here). His tics were and sometimes still are facial and in the upper body - a shoulder that jerks or pulls up into a shrug. They are not really verbal. If your child's tics aren't primarily verbal (although you indicate possible Tourette's which I believe is more verbal) and the anxiety is sudden onset and there are other weird things going on...well, I'd look into tick diseases.

I have seen others who have verbal tics that do get worse under pressure.