What Does Anxiety Look Like in Children?

Anxiety in children doesn’t always look the same. Emotionally, it can appear as fear, excessive shyness, irritation, or anger. Behaviorally, children might cry easily, cling to parents, avoid certain situations, refuse to do things, or strive for perfection. They may seem nervous, express constant worries, or need frequent reassurance. Physically, anxiety may show up as headaches, dizziness, sweating, blushing, rapid breathing or difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, nausea, stomach aches, shakiness, or fatigue.