How to recognize signs of distress in children and Common reactions to stress in children.

Recognizing signs of distress in someone can be crucial to providing help and support.

It’s important to understand what signs to look out for, such as changes in behavior, mood swings, or physical symptoms like headaches or stomach aches.

Knowing these signs can help you identify when someone is struggling and may need assistance.

Common reactions to stress in children.

Children have different reactions to adverse events in their environment. Culture influences how we express emotions. In some cultures, for example, it is not appropriate to show strong emotions like crying loudly, while in others it is widely accepted.

Some signs of distress may not be so obvious. Here are some of the signs of distress at different ages. Different children will show different signs of distress.

Many of these reactions only last for a short time and are normal reactions to stressful events. If these reactions last for a prolonged period, the child may need specialist support.

0-3 years

Clinging to their caregivers more than normal
Regressing to former (younger) behaviors
Changes in sleeping and eating patterns
Higher irritability
Increased hyperactivity
More afraid of things
More demanding
More frequent crying.

4-6 years

Clinging to adults
Regressing to former (younger) behaviors
Changes in sleeping and eating patterns
Higher irritability
Poorer concentration
Becoming more Inactive or more hyperactive
Stop playing
Take on adult roles
Stop talking
More anxious or worried.

7 to 12 years

Becoming withdrawn
Frequent concern about others affected
Changes in sleeping and eating patterns
Increasingly fearful
Higher irritability
Frequent aggression
Restlessness
Poor memory and concentration
Physical symptoms/ psychosomatic
Frequently talks about the event or repetitive play
Feels guilty or blames themselves.

13 to 17 years (teens)

Intense grief
Shows excessive concern for others
Feelings of guilt and shame
Increasingly defiant of authority
Increased risk taking
Aggression
Self-destructive
Feeling hopeless

Physical reactions across all age groups.

These may also be signs of physical illness, so please take your child to a doctor to rule out any physical condition.

Tiredness
Tight chest
Shortness of breath
Dry mouth
Muscle weakness
Stomachache
Dizziness
Shaking
Headaches
General aches

Severe distress reactions in children if they occur most of the time

Children who demonstrate these signs over a prolonged period will need specialist support.

Withdrawn or very quiet with little or no movement
Hides or shies away from other people
Does not respond to others, does not speak
Extreme and constant worry
Physical symptoms of not feeling well; shaking, headaches, loss of appetite, aches, and pain
Aggressive, trying to hurt others
Confused or disoriented

To check children emotionally, is to ask children “how they are” directly or indirectly.

One check method is to ask your child to draw or paint a picture.

Ask them to tell you more about the picture, what they have drawn, or why they used a specific colour, for example.

This may help some children talk about how they feel, whereas other children may be happy to show the picture without discussion and let the child decide.

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