Signs and Symptoms of Stress
Most Common Signs of Childhood Stress:
- Recurring headaches, tummy aches or neck pain
- Increased irritability, sadness, panic, anger
- Being more quiet than usual
- Trouble relaxing or sleeping
- Sluggish, daydreaming, withdrawal from activities
- Excessive energy or restlessness
- Immature behaviours
- Nervous habits such as nail biting, hair twisting, thumb sucking, or sighing deeply
- A strained look, frowning
- Trouble getting along with friends
Other Signs and Symptoms of Stress in Children
Body
- fast heartbeat
- quick breathing
- dry mouth
- cold, sweating palms
- skin rash
- eyes dart back and forth
- tense face
- disturbed sleep
- fatigue (more tired than normal)
- illness
- shaky
- tense muscles
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Feelings
- strong feelings
- withdrawn
- fearful
- anxious
- frustrated
- overwhelmed
- overly sensitive
- helpless
- hopeless
- threatened
- overexcited
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Mind
- poor concentration
- whirling mind
- forgetful
- less creative
- difficulty problem solving
- not spontaneous
- easily distracted
- confused
- irrational
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Behaviour
- whining
- clinging
- poor listening
- biting
- kicking
- crying
- day-dreaming
- jumpy
- impulsive
- cautious
- poor school performance
- lack of appetite or eating more than usual
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Stress by Age Group
The most common sign indicating that children are stressed is a change in behaviour. Children under stress change their behaviour and react by doing things that they normally would not do.
Preschoolers under stress may react by:
- being irritable
- having anxiety
- crying uncontrollably
- trembling with fright
- having eating problems
- having sleep problems
Toddlers may:
- go back to infant behaviours
- feel angry and not understand their feelings
- fear of being alone or without their parents
- withdraw, bite, or be sensitive to sudden or loud noises
- become sad, angry or aggressive
- have nightmares
- be accident prone
Elementary-age children may react to stress by:
- whining
- withdrawing
- feeling unloved
- being distrustful
- not paying attention to school or friendships
- having difficulty naming their feelings
- worrying about the future
- complaining of head or stomach aches
- having trouble sleeping
- having a loss of appetite
- needing to urinate frequently
Source: Neb Facts (http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/family/nf387.htm)
Stress and Childhood Illness
Influenza, pneumonia, and the common cold:
- Children have a greater risk of getting a contagious illness when under stress because their immune system is weakened (i.e. children often have an asthma attack after experiencing a stressful event)
If your child experiences symptoms of illness, consult the child’s family physician. When visiting the doctor for an illness consider mentioning the stress your child is under.
For more information on childhood sickness visit: Canadian Paediatric Society.
Based on: Teaching Children About Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach by Estelle
Weinstein, Efrem Rosen
