News and Information from Lilydale Heights College

Wellbeing - 

Anxiety Article 1

Emily Gerson - Leader of Student Engagement & Wellbeing

Dear Parents

 

We will be running an informative series in the next few school newsletters, written by Australian Child Psychologist, Michael Hawton.   Michael (a former teacher himself) has spoken with hundreds of school leaders nationwide through a range of workshops addressing child and teen anxiety.  Based on his close work in the education sector for many decades, Michael believes that far more parents are prematurely jumping in to fix a problem on their child’s behalf than was the case a generation ago. 

 

In these articles, we will be exploring what anxiety looks like, what parents can do to alleviate anxious behaviours in children, and how ’jumping in’ to fix a perceived wrong-doing to a child may in fact be reducing a child’s ability to resolve problems independently. The articles will also include some tips and strategies for parents to address anxiety early. 

We hope you enjoy the upcoming series and welcome any feedback you may have.

 

 

ARTICLE 1

Recognising Anxiety in Children: 

A parent's guide in the face of rising childhood anxiety 

 

By Michael Hawton, Child Psychologist (MAPS) and Parentshop founder.

As a psychologist who has worked with families for over thirty years, I've witnessed firsthand the sharp rise in childhood anxiety that's sweeping across Australia. What once seemed like isolated cases have now become the norm in many households and classrooms. The recent work by Professor Patrick McGorry and his colleagues in The Lancet Psychiatry Commission paints a stark picture: we're facing a mental health crisis among our young people that has reached what they describe as a "dangerous phase."[1]

 

McGorry's research reveals that the mental health of emerging adults in Australia has been declining steadily for the past two decades, with anxiety disorders at the forefront of this troubling trend. The COVID-19 pandemic and global megatrends—including social media pressures, climate anxiety and economic uncertainty—have further accelerated this decline.¹ As parents, this means we must become more adept at recognising the early signs of anxiety in our children before these patterns become entrenched.

 

Before we dive into identification, it's essential to understand that anxiety exists on a spectrum. We must be careful not to pathologize every worried thought or nervous moment our children experience and be cautious of the language we use around children. The term ‘anxiety’ is becoming more common in everyday language and that can result in children using it in their self-talk, their internal dialogue – ‘I’m feeling anxious today’,” I can’t do it, I’m too anxious’.  Normal developmental anxiety—such as a child worrying about a school test or feeling nervous before a performance actually serves an important purpose in building resilience and gives them experience of overcoming worrying times. 

 

However, when anxiety becomes persistent, interferes with daily functioning and causes significant distress, we're looking at something that requires intervention. The key distinction lies in whether the anxiety is proportionate to the situation and whether it's preventing your child from engaging in age-appropriate activities.

 

Adolescence (Ages 12-18) 

Teenagers face unique pressures that can manifest as social anxiety, panic symptoms, or generalised worry about the future. They might withdraw from family activities, show declining academic performance despite capability, or experience physical symptoms like rapid heartbeat, sweating, or difficulty breathing during stressful situations.

 

Children's bodies often tell the story before their words do. Persistent headaches, stomach complaints, muscle tension and sleep disturbances are common physical manifestations of anxiety. Emotionally, you might observe heightened reactivity—what seems like an overreaction to minor setbacks, increased irritability, or sudden tearfulness over seemingly small issues.

 

Pay particular attention to avoidance behaviours. When children consistently dodge activities, they once enjoyed, refuse to attend social gatherings, or resist going to school, anxiety may be the underlying culprit. These patterns often develop gradually, making them easy to miss until they become entrenched.

 

Next article: Responding to Anxiety in Children: What you can do as a parent 

 

References:

1. McGorry, P.D., Mei, C., Dalal, N., et al. (2024). The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on youth mental health. The Lancet Psychiatry, 11(9), 731-774.

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