Childhood Stress: Signs, Causes & How to Help Your Child

What Is Stress in Children?

Childhood stress is a physical and emotional response to challenging situations or demands that exceed a child's perceived ability to cope. While some stress is normal and even beneficial for development, chronic or overwhelming stress can negatively impact a child's physical health, emotional wellbeing, and cognitive development.

Stress is a natural part of life that affects everyone, including children. When children encounter challenges, their bodies respond with the same stress hormones that adults experience - cortisol and adrenaline prepare them to face the situation. However, children's developing brains and limited life experience mean they may struggle to understand or manage these intense feelings.

The concept of stress in children has gained significant attention in recent decades as researchers have better understood how early experiences shape brain development. The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University identifies three types of stress responses in children: positive stress, tolerable stress, and toxic stress. Understanding these distinctions helps parents and caregivers provide appropriate support.

Positive stress involves brief increases in heart rate and mild elevations in stress hormones. Examples include the first day at a new school, getting a vaccine, or meeting new people. This type of stress is actually beneficial for development, helping children learn to cope with challenges in a supportive environment. With caring adult support, children recover quickly from positive stress and develop greater resilience.

Tolerable stress involves more serious, but still temporary, stress responses. Events like parental divorce, natural disasters, or the death of a loved one can trigger tolerable stress. The key factor that keeps this stress tolerable rather than toxic is the presence of supportive relationships with adults who help the child adapt. With appropriate support, children can recover from tolerable stress without long-term consequences.

Toxic stress occurs when children experience strong, frequent, or prolonged adversity without adequate adult support. Examples include physical or emotional abuse, chronic neglect, caregiver substance abuse, or persistent extreme poverty. Toxic stress can damage developing brain architecture and affect multiple organ systems, potentially leading to lifelong problems with learning, behavior, and physical and mental health.

How Stress Differs by Age

Children of different ages experience and express stress in varying ways, reflecting their developmental stage and cognitive abilities. Understanding these differences helps parents recognize stress signals and provide age-appropriate support.

Infants and toddlers (0-3 years) cannot verbally express stress, so they communicate through behavior. Signs include excessive crying, changes in eating or sleeping patterns, increased clinginess, regression in developmental milestones (like a toilet-trained child having accidents), or withdrawal from caregivers. Very young children are highly sensitive to their caregivers' stress levels and may become distressed when parents are anxious or upset.

Preschoolers (3-5 years) may show stress through regressive behaviors, such as thumb-sucking, bedwetting, or baby talk. They might develop new fears, have nightmares, become clingy, throw more tantrums, or show aggression toward siblings or peers. Their magical thinking may lead them to believe they caused stressful events, creating additional anxiety that requires gentle correction.

School-age children (6-12 years) often express stress through physical complaints like headaches and stomach aches. They may show changes in school performance, withdraw from friends and activities, become irritable or moody, or develop sleep problems. This age group may also begin to worry about real-world issues like safety, family finances, or world events they hear about in the news.

Adolescents (13-18 years) face unique stressors related to identity formation, peer relationships, academic pressure, and physical changes. Teen stress may manifest as mood swings, social isolation, risk-taking behavior, changes in eating or sleeping, declining grades, or loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities. Some teens may express stress through irritability or anger rather than sadness.

What Are the Signs That a Child Is Stressed?

Signs of stress in children include physical symptoms (headaches, stomach aches, fatigue, sleep problems), emotional changes (irritability, mood swings, anxiety, crying easily), behavioral shifts (withdrawal, aggression, regression to younger behaviors), and cognitive effects (difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, declining school performance). Children often cannot verbalize stress, making it essential for parents to recognize these indirect signals.

Recognizing stress in children requires careful observation, as children often lack the vocabulary or self-awareness to explicitly state they are stressed. Instead, stress manifests through changes in their physical health, emotions, behavior, and thinking. These signs may appear gradually or suddenly, and they may differ from how the child typically behaves.

Physical Symptoms

The body's stress response produces real physical sensations that children may not connect to emotional causes. Physical symptoms are often the first indicators parents notice, and children may focus on these symptoms because they are tangible and easier to describe than feelings.

• Headaches: Frequent headaches, especially tension headaches, are common stress indicators in children. These may occur particularly before school, tests, or social events.
• Stomach problems: Stomach aches, nausea, and digestive issues frequently accompany childhood stress. Some children may experience appetite changes - eating significantly more or less than usual.
• Sleep difficulties: Stress often disrupts sleep, causing difficulty falling asleep, frequent waking, nightmares, or resistance to bedtime. Some children may sleep excessively as an escape.
• Fatigue: Chronic stress is exhausting, and stressed children may seem unusually tired even with adequate sleep. They may lack the energy for activities they previously enjoyed.
• Physical tension: Muscle tension, particularly in the neck, shoulders, and jaw, may indicate stress. Some children develop nervous habits like nail-biting, hair-twisting, or teeth-grinding.
• Frequent illness: Chronic stress weakens the immune system, potentially leading to more frequent colds and infections.

Emotional Signs

Stress affects children's emotional regulation, often making them more reactive to everyday situations. Emotional signs may be dismissed as "just a phase" or attributed to other causes, but persistent emotional changes warrant attention.

• Irritability and moodiness: Stressed children often become easily frustrated, quick to anger, or prone to emotional outbursts over minor issues.
• Increased anxiety: Excessive worrying, new fears, or heightened startle responses may indicate stress. Some children become preoccupied with "what if" scenarios.
• Sadness or withdrawal: Some stressed children become quiet and withdrawn, losing interest in activities, friends, or things they previously enjoyed.
• Crying easily: Increased tearfulness or crying over small frustrations suggests emotional overwhelm.
• Low self-esteem: Stress may cause children to become self-critical, expressing beliefs that they're not good enough or that others don't like them.
• Feeling overwhelmed: Stressed children may express feeling like "too much is happening" or that they can't handle their responsibilities.

Behavioral Changes

Changes in behavior often reflect a child's attempts to cope with stress or their inability to manage overwhelming feelings. These changes may be subtle at first but become more pronounced over time.

• Regression: Stressed children may revert to behaviors from earlier developmental stages, such as bedwetting, thumb-sucking, baby talk, or increased attachment to comfort objects.
• Withdrawal: Avoiding friends, family interactions, or previously enjoyed activities can signal stress. Some children may spend excessive time alone in their room.
• Aggression: Some children express stress through aggressive behavior, including hitting, biting, or verbal outbursts.
• Clinginess: Increased need for parental presence, separation anxiety, or reluctance to go to school may indicate stress.
• Changes in habits: Shifts in eating patterns, personal hygiene, or daily routines may reflect stress.
• Avoidance: Avoiding specific situations, people, or places that trigger stress is common.

Cognitive Effects

Stress affects brain function and can interfere with children's thinking, learning, and memory. These cognitive effects may be particularly visible in academic settings but can impact all areas of life.

• Difficulty concentrating: Stressed children may struggle to focus on tasks, appearing distracted or "spacey."
• Memory problems: Forgetfulness about homework, chores, or instructions may increase under stress.
• Declining school performance: Grades may drop, and children may lose motivation for schoolwork.
• Negative thinking: Stressed children may develop pessimistic thought patterns or catastrophize about potential problems.
• Indecisiveness: Difficulty making decisions, even about minor matters, can indicate cognitive overwhelm.

What Causes Stress in Children?

Common causes of childhood stress include family changes (divorce, moving, new siblings), academic pressure, social challenges (bullying, peer conflicts, friendship difficulties), overscheduling, exposure to news and world events, parental stress, health issues in the family, and major life transitions. Even positive changes can cause stress in children who find change difficult to navigate.

Understanding what causes stress in children helps parents prevent and address it effectively. Stressors vary widely based on the child's age, temperament, and life circumstances. What overwhelms one child may barely affect another, making it important to understand each child as an individual.

Family-Related Stressors

The family environment profoundly influences children's stress levels. Children are highly attuned to family dynamics and may absorb stress from their surroundings even when parents try to shield them.

Divorce and separation rank among the most significant stressors for children. Even when handled well, divorce involves multiple changes - new living arrangements, different routines, potential moves, and shifts in financial circumstances. Children may worry about the future, blame themselves, or struggle with loyalty conflicts between parents. The ongoing adjustment period typically lasts two to three years.

Parental conflict, whether in intact or separated families, creates stress for children who witness arguments, tension, or hostility between caregivers. Children may feel caught in the middle, scared, or responsible for fixing adult problems. Chronic exposure to parental conflict is associated with anxiety, depression, and behavioral problems in children.

Moving and relocation disrupts children's sense of stability and belonging. They must navigate a new environment, make new friends, and adjust to different schools. The stress is often greater for older children who have established deeper social connections and for children who move frequently.

New family members, including new siblings, step-parents, or step-siblings, require adjustment even when ultimately positive. Children may feel displaced, jealous, or anxious about changing family dynamics and their place within the family.

Financial stress affects children even when parents try to hide it. Children pick up on parental anxiety, overheard conversations, and changes in lifestyle. Poverty and economic insecurity are associated with chronic stress that can impact child development.

School and Academic Pressure

School represents a major part of children's lives and is a common source of stress. Academic demands, social navigation, and the daily routine of school can overwhelm many children.

Academic expectations can create significant pressure, especially in competitive educational environments. Fear of failure, pressure to achieve, and workload demands may overwhelm children. Some children internalize unrealistic expectations, becoming perfectionistic and self-critical.

Homework and testing anxiety is widespread, with many children experiencing significant stress around assessments. High-stakes testing can be particularly distressing, especially when children feel their worth is measured by test scores.

Learning difficulties create chronic stress when children struggle to keep up academically. Undiagnosed learning disabilities like dyslexia or attention problems like ADHD can make school consistently challenging and stressful.

Social Challenges

Peer relationships become increasingly important as children grow, and social difficulties can cause considerable stress. The social world of children is complex and sometimes cruel.

Bullying is a serious stressor that can cause lasting psychological harm. Whether physical, verbal, relational (exclusion and rumor-spreading), or cyber-bullying, victimization is associated with anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts. Many bullied children suffer in silence, making parental awareness crucial.

Friendship difficulties including making friends, maintaining friendships, and navigating conflicts can cause significant stress. Social rejection is particularly painful for children.

Peer pressure intensifies in later childhood and adolescence as children seek acceptance while navigating pressures to conform. This may involve pressure related to appearance, behavior, substance use, or other areas.

Overscheduling and Busy Lifestyles

Modern children often have schedules packed with activities - sports, music lessons, tutoring, clubs, and more. While activities offer benefits, too many can leave children exhausted, with too little time for rest, play, and family connection.

Children need unstructured time for imaginative play, relaxation, and simply being children. Overscheduled children may miss these opportunities, leading to stress and burnout. Parents should watch for signs that activities have become burdensome rather than enjoyable.

Media and World Events

Today's children have unprecedented access to news and information about world events. Exposure to violence, natural disasters, climate change, and other frightening topics can cause significant stress and anxiety, particularly in sensitive children.

Social media adds another dimension, exposing children to cyberbullying, social comparison, and content that may be developmentally inappropriate. Screen time itself may contribute to stress through sleep disruption, reduced physical activity, and displacement of face-to-face social interaction.

How Can Parents Help a Stressed Child?

Parents can help stressed children by creating open communication, validating feelings, maintaining consistent routines, ensuring adequate sleep and nutrition, teaching relaxation techniques, modeling healthy stress management, reducing overscheduling, limiting exposure to stressful media, and knowing when to seek professional help. The most important factor is providing a secure, supportive relationship where children feel safe expressing their struggles.

When children are stressed, parents play a crucial role in helping them cope and recover. The quality of the parent-child relationship is the single most important protective factor against the harmful effects of stress. Children who feel securely connected to their caregivers are better equipped to handle challenges.

Create Open Communication

Encouraging children to express their feelings is fundamental to helping them manage stress. However, simply asking "How was your day?" often yields minimal response. Effective communication with children requires patience, timing, and technique.

Choose the right moments. Children often open up during low-pressure activities rather than direct conversations. Car rides, walks, bedtime, or while doing activities together may provide natural opportunities for talk. Some children communicate better when not facing the parent directly, such as while riding in the car or lying in bed in the dark.

Listen without judgment. When children do share, resist the urge to immediately solve the problem, dismiss their feelings, or offer excessive reassurance. Instead, listen fully, acknowledge what you hear, and validate their experience. Statements like "That sounds really hard" or "I understand why you feel that way" help children feel heard.

Ask open-ended questions. Questions that can't be answered with "yes" or "no" encourage more conversation. Try "Tell me about your day" or "What was the hardest part of today?" rather than "Did you have a good day?"

Share your own experiences. Age-appropriate sharing of your own stress experiences normalizes struggles and teaches children that stress is a universal human experience that can be managed.

Validate and Normalize Feelings

Children need to know that all feelings are acceptable, even difficult ones. Avoid minimizing their concerns with statements like "Don't worry about that" or "There's nothing to be afraid of." While well-intentioned, these responses may make children feel their feelings are wrong or that they shouldn't share them.

Instead, acknowledge the reality of their experience. You might say, "It makes sense that you're nervous about the test - tests can feel really scary" or "I can see you're really upset about what happened with your friend." This validation helps children feel understood and less alone in their struggles.

Teaching children to identify and name emotions is valuable. Emotional literacy - the ability to recognize, understand, and express feelings - is associated with better emotional regulation and coping. Help children develop a vocabulary for their feelings and recognize physical sensations associated with different emotions.

Maintain Routines and Predictability

Consistent daily routines provide a sense of security and predictability that helps reduce stress. When children know what to expect, they expend less energy managing uncertainty and can direct their resources toward coping with specific challenges.

Regular schedules for meals, homework, activities, and bedtime create a stable framework for daily life. During times of change or stress, maintaining these routines becomes even more important. While flexibility is sometimes necessary, try to preserve the overall structure.

Rituals and traditions provide additional anchors of stability. Family dinner conversations, bedtime routines, weekend activities, or holiday traditions create predictable positive experiences that buffer against stress.

Ensure Physical Well-being

Physical health significantly influences stress resilience. When basic needs are met, children are better equipped to handle emotional challenges.

Adequate sleep is essential for stress management. Sleep-deprived children are more emotionally reactive and less able to cope with challenges. School-age children need 9-12 hours of sleep per night, while teenagers need 8-10 hours. Establish consistent bedtimes, limit screens before bed, and create calming bedtime routines.

Nutrition affects mood and energy levels. Regular, balanced meals with protein, complex carbohydrates, and fruits and vegetables support stable blood sugar and optimal brain function. Avoid excessive caffeine and sugar, which can exacerbate anxiety.

Physical activity is one of the most effective stress relievers. Exercise releases endorphins, improves sleep, and provides healthy outlets for tension. Children should have at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily. Find activities your child enjoys, whether organized sports, family walks, dance, or active play.

Teach Coping Strategies

Helping children develop their own stress management toolkit empowers them to handle challenges independently. Practice these techniques together during calm moments so they become familiar and accessible during stressful times.

Deep breathing activates the body's relaxation response and can be used anywhere. Teach children to breathe slowly and deeply, perhaps imagining they're inflating a balloon in their belly. Fun variations include "smell the flowers, blow out the candles" or using pinwheels or bubbles for younger children.

Progressive muscle relaxation involves tensing and releasing muscle groups to reduce physical tension. Guide children through tensing their fists, then releasing, and continue through the body. This technique helps children recognize and release the muscle tension that accompanies stress.

Mindfulness and grounding techniques help children stay present rather than worrying about the future. Simple exercises like the "5-4-3-2-1" technique (naming 5 things you see, 4 you hear, 3 you can touch, 2 you smell, 1 you taste) redirect attention to the present moment.

Problem-solving skills help older children approach challenges constructively. Teach them to identify the problem, brainstorm solutions, evaluate options, and try an approach. Emphasize that mistakes are learning opportunities rather than failures.

Model Healthy Stress Management

Children learn more from what they observe than what they're told. How you handle your own stress teaches children about coping. While you don't need to hide all stress from children, demonstrate healthy responses to challenges.

Let children see you using coping strategies, taking breaks when needed, and treating yourself with compassion during difficult times. Verbalize your process: "I'm feeling stressed about work, so I'm going to take a walk to clear my head." This narration helps children understand that everyone experiences stress and that there are healthy ways to manage it.

What Coping Strategies Work Best for Children?

Effective coping strategies for children include physical activities (exercise, sports, outdoor play), creative outlets (art, music, writing), relaxation techniques (deep breathing, meditation, yoga), social support (talking to trusted adults, time with friends), problem-solving approaches, positive self-talk, and healthy distraction through play. The best strategies match the child's age, temperament, and the specific stressor they're facing.

Different children respond to different coping strategies, and what works for one situation may not work for another. The goal is to help children develop a diverse toolkit of strategies they can draw upon depending on their needs. Age-appropriate approaches are essential, as younger children need simpler, more concrete techniques while older children can use more sophisticated cognitive strategies.

Physical Coping Strategies

Physical activity is one of the most effective and accessible stress management tools for children. Movement helps discharge the physical tension that accompanies stress, releases mood-boosting endorphins, and provides healthy distraction from worries.

Active play and exercise: Running, jumping, climbing, and other vigorous activities provide natural stress relief. Team sports offer additional benefits of social connection and mastery. Find activities your child genuinely enjoys rather than adding pressure through forced exercise.

Outdoor time: Nature exposure has documented stress-reducing effects. Time in green spaces, parks, or natural environments helps calm the nervous system. Even short periods outdoors can improve mood and reduce anxiety.

Yoga and stretching: Gentle movement combined with breathing can be particularly calming for anxious children. Child-friendly yoga classes or videos make this accessible, and the techniques can be used independently once learned.

Creative Expression

Creative activities provide outlets for emotions that children may struggle to verbalize. Art, music, and writing allow children to process feelings symbolically and can be deeply therapeutic.

Art and drawing: Children can express emotions through colors, shapes, and images without needing words. Provide various art materials and encourage free expression without judgment. Some children benefit from drawing their worries and then symbolically destroying the picture.

Music and singing: Both listening to music and making music can influence mood. Playing instruments, singing, or simply dancing to favorite songs provides emotional release. Some children find comfort in specific songs or playlists during stressful times.

Writing and journaling: Older children may benefit from journaling about their thoughts and feelings. Writing externalizes worries and can provide perspective. Younger children might dictate stories or draw pictures in a journal format.

Relaxation Techniques

Teaching children to consciously relax helps counteract the physical stress response. These techniques require practice but become powerful tools once mastered.

Deep breathing exercises: Simple breathing techniques can be used anywhere and quickly activate the relaxation response. Techniques like "square breathing" (breathe in for 4 counts, hold for 4, out for 4, hold for 4) are easy to remember and practice.

Visualization: Guided imagery helps children imagine peaceful, safe places. They might visualize a favorite beach, forest, or imaginary location where they feel calm and happy. This mental escape can reduce anxiety and promote relaxation.

Mindfulness: Age-appropriate mindfulness exercises help children stay present rather than worrying. Simple practices like mindful eating (really tasting each bite) or mindful walking (noticing each step) introduce mindfulness concepts in concrete ways.

Social Support

Connection with others is a fundamental human need and a powerful buffer against stress. Help children identify and maintain supportive relationships.

Talking to trusted adults: Children need adults they can turn to - parents, grandparents, teachers, counselors, or family friends. Having multiple trusted adults provides a safety net.

Time with friends: Peer relationships become increasingly important as children grow. Unstructured play time with friends provides stress relief through fun and social connection. Help children maintain friendships through playdates and social opportunities.

Pet interactions: For families with pets, animal companionship offers unique stress relief. Petting a dog or cat lowers cortisol levels and provides unconditional acceptance.

Cognitive Strategies for Older Children

As children develop, they can use more sophisticated mental strategies to manage stress. These cognitive approaches help them change how they think about stressful situations.

Positive self-talk: Help children identify and challenge negative thoughts. Replace "I can't do this" with "This is hard, but I can try my best." Creating personal mantras or affirmations can be empowering.

Breaking problems into steps: Large challenges feel less overwhelming when divided into manageable pieces. Teach children to ask, "What's the first small step I can take?"

Perspective-taking: Older children can consider situations from different angles. Questions like "Will this matter in a year?" or "What would you tell a friend in this situation?" promote helpful perspective shifts.

How Can Parents Prevent Excessive Stress in Children?

Prevention strategies include maintaining strong parent-child relationships, avoiding overscheduling, ensuring adequate rest and downtime, teaching stress management skills during calm periods, limiting exposure to stressful media, addressing family stress constructively, monitoring for early warning signs, and creating a home environment that feels safe and supportive. Prevention is more effective than intervention.

While some stress is unavoidable and even beneficial for development, parents can take proactive steps to prevent excessive or chronic stress that harms children. Prevention focuses on building resilience and creating supportive environments before problems develop.

Foster Strong Relationships

The parent-child relationship is the most powerful protective factor against stress. Children who feel securely attached to their parents are better equipped to handle challenges and recover from adversity.

Invest time in your relationship with your child through regular one-on-one time, shared activities, and genuine interest in their world. Be physically and emotionally available, especially during transitions and difficult periods. The security of knowing "my parents are there for me" provides a foundation of resilience.

Protect Downtime

In our achievement-oriented culture, unstructured time is often undervalued, yet it's essential for children's wellbeing. Free play allows children to process experiences, develop creativity, and simply be children.

Evaluate your child's schedule regularly. Are they enjoying their activities, or do they seem exhausted and stressed? Are there opportunities for spontaneous play, daydreaming, and relaxation? Remember that boredom is not harmful - it often leads to creativity and self-directed activity.

Create a Calm Home Environment

The home environment significantly influences children's stress levels. While homes needn't be silent or conflict-free, overall atmosphere matters.

Manage household chaos: Excessive clutter, noise, and disorganization can be stressful. Create calm spaces in your home and establish routines that reduce daily chaos.

Handle conflict constructively: When disagreements occur (as they will), model respectful communication and resolution. Avoid exposing children to frequent or intense parental conflict.

Limit media exposure: Be thoughtful about news and media in your home. Young children don't need exposure to world events, and even older children benefit from limited, supervised access. Discuss disturbing content they do encounter and provide context and reassurance.

Build Stress Resilience

Rather than trying to eliminate all stress, help children develop resilience - the ability to cope with challenges and bounce back from difficulties.

Allow appropriate challenges: Overprotecting children from all discomfort prevents them from developing coping skills. Age-appropriate challenges, with support, build competence and confidence.

Praise effort, not just outcomes: Teaching children that struggle and effort are valuable reduces fear of failure and perfectionism. Focus on process rather than product.

Model resilience: Show children that you face challenges, sometimes struggle, and persevere. Narrate your coping process to make it visible and learnable.

When Should You Seek Professional Help?

Seek professional help if your child's stress symptoms persist beyond 2-4 weeks, significantly interfere with daily functioning or school performance, include thoughts of self-harm or suicide, cause severe physical symptoms, lead to complete social withdrawal, or if you feel unable to help them cope. A pediatrician, child psychologist, or child psychiatrist can provide appropriate assessment and treatment.

While many stress symptoms can be managed with parental support, some situations require professional intervention. Early professional help can prevent problems from worsening and provide children with tools for long-term wellbeing.

Warning Signs Requiring Professional Attention

Consider seeking professional help if you observe any of the following in your child:

• Persistent symptoms: Stress symptoms that continue for more than 2-4 weeks despite supportive interventions warrant professional evaluation.
• Severe symptoms: Intense anxiety, panic attacks, severe depression, or complete social withdrawal require professional attention.
• Functional impairment: When stress significantly affects school performance, friendships, family relationships, or daily activities, professional support is needed.
• Self-harm or suicidal thoughts: Any expression of wanting to hurt oneself or not wanting to live requires immediate professional intervention. Take such statements seriously and seek help promptly.
• Physical symptoms without medical cause: Persistent physical complaints that medical evaluation cannot explain may have psychological roots requiring mental health support.
• Substance use: Any substance use to cope with stress in children or adolescents is a serious concern requiring professional intervention.
• Parental concern: Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong or you feel out of your depth, seeking professional guidance is appropriate.

Types of Professional Help Available

Various professionals can help children with stress and related issues. The appropriate choice depends on your child's specific needs.

Pediatricians can assess whether physical symptoms have medical causes and provide referrals to mental health specialists. They're often a good starting point for evaluation.

Child psychologists specialize in children's mental health and can provide therapy such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which is highly effective for childhood anxiety and stress.

Child psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in children's mental health. They can prescribe medication if needed and treat more complex cases.

School counselors can provide support within the school setting and help with academic and social stressors. They can also identify children who need additional services.

Family therapists work with the whole family when family dynamics contribute to or are affected by a child's stress. They help improve communication and family functioning.

What to Expect from Treatment

Professional treatment for childhood stress typically involves therapy, with medication rarely needed for stress alone. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most researched and effective approach for anxiety and stress in children.

CBT helps children identify and change unhelpful thought patterns, develop coping skills, and gradually face feared situations. Treatment typically involves weekly sessions for 8-16 weeks, with parent involvement. Parents learn how to support their child's progress and maintain gains after therapy ends.

With appropriate treatment, 80-90% of children with anxiety and stress problems show significant improvement. Early intervention leads to better outcomes, so don't wait to seek help if your child is struggling.