Ending Anxiety Masquerading
as Disruptive Behavior

You may have noticed that your child seems to have difficulty controlling their anger and thought it wasn’t serious, that it is just a passing stage experienced by many children at one time or another while growing up. You are not alone in this type of thinking; many parents can find it distressing to accept that their children may be having difficulties. Unfortunately, inability to manage anger effectively and other disruptive behaviors may be a sign of something more serious. Acting out can be a manifestation of anxiety that may need to be further explored.

The Wake Up Call

Something may have happened that caused you to realize that the small signs you noticed in your child may hold a deeper meaning. Your child may have had an outburst in school after they were upset by a comment made by a classmate, made disrespectful or disruptive comments to a teacher when upset, maybe even got into a physical altercation. You may begin to worry what others may think of your child or even you. During times like these many turn to the professional help of a therapist, one who would be non-bias while thoroughly assessing your child’s symptoms and unique needs.

Your child may be experiencing anxiety masquerading as excessive or irrational anger, this anger could actually be triggered by fear. Unable to effectively express their thoughts and feelings, your child could be acting it out or manifesting their anxiety in the form of “behavior dysregulation.” You may have many questions related to your child’s behaviors, questions that may be best answered by a professional.

Disruptive Behavior and Anxiety

To be able to provide your child with understanding as well as prompt and appropriate treatment, it can be important that you know the signs of anxiety. Aside from exhibiting outbursts and uncontrolled anger, your child may also manifest other signs and symptoms, such as:

  • Difficulty concentrating or staying focused
  • Not getting enough sleep, maybe even experiencing night terrors or bad dreams
  • Poor appetite
  • Having pervasive negative thoughts
  • Feeling edgy and restless, or frequent visits to the toilet
  • Frequent crying
  • Appearing overly attached or “clingy”
  • Frequently feeling unwell or complaining of tummy aches

Providing the Right Help

It can be important to get to the root of your child’s behaviors so that they are not wrongly judged or punished, often times this will not be helpful and may even worsen the symptoms and associated behaviors. In many cases, the child can unduly suffer as the behavior can be easily misconstrued in a lot of ways. If your child’s disruptive behavior is a sign of anxiety or something more serious, you may want to engage in counseling. Look no further than Carolina Counseling Services – Southern Pines, NC. Licensed, independently contracted therapists are available, trained in the most effective ways to address your child’s unique needs. Don’t hesitate, call CCS – Southern Pines, NC today to schedule your first appointment.

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