It is normal for children to feel anxious sometimes, just as it is for adults.  We need to be aware of the things that could harm us, and feeling anxious in new and challenging circumstances is not an unhealthy response – it helps to keep us safe.

When anxiety becomes persistent and out of proportion to their current circumstances, however, it can begin to affect your child’s everyday life, interfering with their relationships, home life and learning.   

The ups and downs of everyday life affect each of us in different ways.  For some children, separation anxiety (worrying about not being with their parent), which is more typical in younger children, but can also manifest in older children, in some cases can result in persistent worries about their parent’s or their own safety.  While for others, school can become a major source of anxiety, whether it is around their school work and performance, or issues relating to friendships, bullying, or relationships with teachers.

Children who have experienced frightening or distressing events go on to develop problems with anxiety, or post traumatic stress disorder, which can occur sometimes months and years after the event.

When children experience anxiety, it can manifest in a variety of ways, including: 

• Worries and phobias
• Disturbed sleep and nightmares
• Changes in appetite and eating habits
• Negative thinking and low self esteem
• Restlessness and agitation
• Difficulty concentrating 
• Tummy aches and going to the toilet frequently
• Overwhelming shyness or embarrassment 
• Obsessive thinking and behaviours

Anxiety can also manifest in less obvious ways, and in some children it can be hidden beneath defiance, angry and disruptive behaviour, or temper tantrums.

Whichever form your child’s anxiety takes, homeopathy can help to restore a more healthy emotional balance.  It works by stimulating the body and mind’s own ability to heal, and the medicine is chosen to match each individual child’s circumstances and personal experience.

Here are some examples of the homeopathic remedies that may be used in the treatment of anxiety in children.  It is important to work with a homeopath for individual treatment, as each child is unique: there are a great many remedies to choose from, and the remedy match is as unique as they are.

Calc carb

For those children who might benefit from Calc carb, anxiety will typically arise when they go to school.  They are methodical learners and need structure, but are often slow to learn and assimilate information. Anxiety can thus develop around their school work, and what others think of them.  They can be introverted and shy, very sensitive to ridicule and to being observed.  

Arsenicum album

Those children for whom Arsenicum is a match, will often become anxious about things outside their control, such as illness and loss ( including the death of loved ones, but also material loss such as burglary).  They fear things going wrong, and will do everything they can to maintain a strong semblance of control.  This can manifest as perfectionism: they like things to be just so – tidy, clean and well organised.  

Silica

Children for whom Silica will be helpful, are often shy and lacking in self confidence.  While they may be outwardly biddable and eager to please, they find it difficult to receive new ideas, and become anxious when they have to handle new situations.  This might include a change of school, or starting a new activity.  They will often experience anticipatory anxiety in the face of challenges, such as school tests or examinations.

Phosphorus 

Those children for whom Phosphorus is a match are typically open and outgoing, as well as impressionable.  Fears and anxieties will often arise from their imagination.  They fear something will happen, and especially fear ghosts and the dark, as well as thunderstorms.  They can become very fearful and anxious about being alone, especially at night.  

If you would like to consider homeopathic treatment for your child, you can book a free 30 minute discovery call with me here: https://karenleadbeater.co.uk/work-with-me/  Appointments for treatment are also available via the same link.

Photo credit:  🇸🇮 Janko Ferlič on Unsplash