When my family was thrust head-on into life with Lyme and tick-borne diseases, anxiety was one of the many symptoms we had. While anxiety is very common with Lyme it manifested in different ways for each one of us.

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When my daughter, at 7 years old, began having anxiety and OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) my pediatrician told me it was very common in kids her age, handed me a book list, and kindly sent me on my way. She told me if things got worse I could take her to a psychiatrist and get prescription medications for her.

DISCLAIMER: I’m not a doctor and what I share here is only for your personal reading and not intended to be used as a medical diagnosis or treatment plan. Please seek the care of a doctor if you or your child are experiencing any symptoms that you are concerned about.

My pediatrician didn’t believe that my daughter’s symptoms were caused by tick-borne diseases even though I had taken her in for multiple tick bites and discussed some of the research I found showing a connection.

When my young daughter began having anxiety, I didn’t initially recognize it as such and so in this post I wanted to share some of the ways children can exhibit anxiety.

SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY IN CHILDREN

• Not wanting to go to sleep at night, sometimes stating fear as a reason.
• Waking up in the middle of the night.
• Having bad dreams.
• Wanting to sleep in their parent’s room.
• Afraid to go into another part of the house unless a parent is with them.
• Not wanting to leave home.
• Not wanting their parent to leave them.
• Being overly clingy.
• Getting more upset than usual when being corrected; overreacting, screaming or yelling.
• Crying over little things, being whiny or sad all the time.
• Complaining of headaches, stomachaches, diarrhea, nausea.
• Unable to focus on schoolwork.
• Unwilling to do certain assignments or read specific books.
• Loss of interest in things that they used to enjoy doing.
• Not wanting to play with siblings or friends.
• Appearing to be difficult, argumentative, or defiant.
• Fighting with siblings or other children on a regular basis.
• Lying about wrong-doings.
• Making up stories about things that didn’t happen.
• Watching TV or movies more than usual.
• Spending unusual amounts of time on the computer.
• Isolating themselves from others for extended periods of time.

Of course, this is not an exhaustive list and some of these symptoms could be a normal part of childhood. It’s important to pay attention to your child’s behavior and try to communicate with them about what they’re thinking or feeling. If you’re concerned that your child may have anxiety, as a Mom who has been there I highly recommend taking the time to research how nutrition can be a major factor.

Food allergies, tick-borne diseases, hormonal imbalances, & heavy metal toxicity are among some of the things that could cause and exasperate anxiety in your child. Depending on your doctor’s knowledge and philosophy, these might only be diagnosed and treated effectively by a natural, holistic or alternative doctor.

Join me next time as I discuss some specific ways you can help your child when they are experiencing anxiety in my post Calming the Storm Anxiety in Your Child

For Further Reading:

Anxiety Disorder in Children

Dr. Zendi – Integrative Psychiatry

Kids Health – Parents OCD
A Helpful Book for Children:  What To Do When You Worry Too Much

How To Find the Best Therapist
Alternative Neurotransmitter Testing