The Huddle Wisdom Blog: For Parents of Anxious & Sensitive Kids
Expert guidance and real-world reflections from a child psychiatrist who’s also a parent.
The Hidden Impact of Anxiety in Children—and What We Can Do About It
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Anxiety in children often hides in plain sight. It doesn’t always show up as obvious distress—instead, it masks itself as quiet avoidance, perfectionism, tummy aches, or “bad behavior.” And while it may be hidden, its long-term effects can be profound.
Let’s take a closer look at what anxiety does to a child’s mind, body, and development—and why early understanding and support can change everything.
The Rising Tide of Childhood Anxiety
The numbers speak volumes. According to the CDC, around 9.4% of children aged 3–17 were diagnosed with anxiety between 2016 and 2019. More recent studies estimate that over 20% of youth worldwide now experience anxiety symptoms. That’s 1 in 5 kids.
This isn’t just a trend—it’s a growing mental health crisis that deserves urgent, compassionate attention.
Anxiety Often Hides in Silence
Unlike physical ailments, anxiety often goes unnoticed. Many children don’t have the language to describe their inner world. Others fear being judged, misunders...
A Wake-Up Call: Prevention of Mental Health Problems Starts at Home đźŹ
A recent article in The Lancet highlights the alarming prevalence of multimorbidity among individuals with severe mental illness, underscoring the need for comprehensive care. These are things we already knew but have now been tactfully validated by the good authors of this paper.
But to me… here’s the crux:
Prevention MUST start at home. đźŹ
When children are well-connected with their families, they are less likely to fall into the traps of phone addiction, substance abuse, and youth crime.
Some Key Takeaways from The Lancet Article🗝️
- Prevalence of Multimorbidity: People with severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia-spectrum disorder and bipolar disorder, face higher rates of both physical and psychiatric multimorbidity compared to those without severe mental illness. [Go figure!]
- Impact on Health Outcomes: The presence of multiple chronic conditions significantly worsens health outcomes for individuals with severe mental illness.
- Younger Populations at Higher Risk: Younger ...
