11/25/2025
Anxiety doesn't always look like worry — especially in young people. Children and teens often express distress in very different ways, and many of those signs can be easily misunderstood as "behavior problems" or "attitude." For younger children, anxiety may show up in the body or through clinginess and difficulty with change. Teens, on the other hand, may become more irritable, withdrawn, or overly focused on perfection. Understanding these differences helps parents, caregivers, and educators respond with support rather than frustration - and gives young people the emotional space they need to feel safe, regulated, and understood.