Anxiety in children and young people
Anxiety is common in autistic, and other children. The says anxiety becomes a concern when it interferes with school, home or social life, and that parents should seek help if it is severe, persistent or affecting everyday functioning.
For children, anxiety is often linked to uncertainty, sensory overload, communication differences, masking, transitions, social pressure or previous bad experiences.
What anxiety can look like
- Anger or aggression
- Avoidance or refusal
- Repeated questions or needing reassurance
- Tummy aches, headaches or feeling sick
- Sleep problems
- Clinginess or separation difficulty
- School refusal or attendance dips
- Meltdowns or shutdowns
What helps at home
- Validate first, problem-solve later.
- Keep routines predictable.
- Use visual plans for the day or week.
- Prepare for change in advance.
- Break worries into smaller, manageable steps.
- Reduce demands when anxiety is high.
When to seek extra help
Speak to your and school if anxiety is severe, getting worse, affecting daily life, or your child is talking about not wanting to be here. , school counsellors, and local mental-health services may be able to help.
Helpful phrase
"I believe you. Your worry feels big. Let's make the next step smaller."