Your child's health - anxiety - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Feeling anxious from stress is not limited to adults. Children can feel anxious as well. It is a normal part of childhood.

Doctor Rachel Ziegler says if you notice a changes in your child's behavior like stomach aches, headaches or fears about getting sick, could be signs of anxiety. Doctor Ziegler says you should keep track of how often it happens and how long it lasts.

"Often it's the severity or the length of time the symptoms have occurred. Generally speaking children are going to face daily stressors, but when it gets to the point where the child is refusing to go to school, is not engaging in activities with the family, or they're more tearful or the complaints are preventing them from doing something. That's often when they're going to give our office a call to get the symptoms checked out."

Doctors say anxiety is a normal part of childhood, and every child goes through phases. A phase is temporary and usually harmless, but children who suffer from an anxiety disorder experience fear, nervousness, and shyness, and they start to avoid places and activities.

Treatment can be simply counseling or sometimes medication, but it is important to get it evaluated.