Stress in Childhood

Signs of unresolved stress in children

Children may not recognize that they are stressed. Parents may suspect that the child is excessively stressed if the child has experienced a potentially stressful situation and begins to have symptoms such as:

• Physical symptoms
  • headache
  • upset stomach or vague stomach pain
  • sleep disturbances
  • nightmares
  • new or recurrent bedwetting
  • decreased appetite, other changes in eating habits
  • stuttering
  • other physical symptoms with no physical illness
• Emotional or behavioral symptoms
  • anxiety
  • worries
  • inability to relax
  • new or recurring fears (fear of the dark, fear of being alone, fear of strangers)
  • clinging, unwilling to let you out of sight
  • questioning (may or may not ask questions)
  • anger
  • crying
  • whining
  • inability to control emotions
  • aggressive behavior
  • stubborn behavior
  • regression to behaviors that are typical of an earlier developmental stage
  • unwillingness to participate in family or school activities