According to the CDC, approximately 7% of children between the ages of 3 and 17 years old have been diagnosed with anxiety. Since children are still developing their verbal skills they can’t say, “I have anxiety” or “I’m really worried.”
Instead, their anxiety shows up in complaints such as stomach aches, headaches, or behavioral issues like temper tantrums. Other common anxiety symptoms in children include restlessness, inattention, avoidance, and frequent meltdowns. Sadly, these symptoms often get misdiagnosed as ADHD – and then medicated.