Anxiety in children and teenagers in Ireland: what parents can do now
Children and teenagers in Ireland are reporting higher levels of anxiety than ever, including in Limerick, Cork, Dublin and across rural counties like Limerick, Cork and Waterford. Many parents describe the same picture: a child who cannot sleep, a teenager who avoids school, a young person with constant tummy aches and worries that will not switch off. ONLINE appointments now mean that families in Adare, Newcastle West, Abbeyfeale, Charleville, Midleton, Youghal, Cork, Dublin and Dungarven can access specialist help wherever they live.
This article walks you through what anxiety really is in children and teens, common types, warning signs, proven treatments and practical steps you can start today.
Summary
- Anxiety is a normal human response to stress, but for about 10 to 20 per cent of young people it becomes so strong that it starts to affect school, friendships, sleep and physical health. (stpatricks.ie)
- In Ireland, several reports show worrying levels of anxiety and mental health symptoms in adolescents, with rates higher than many other European countries. (Drugs and Alcohol)
- Common anxiety difficulties in children include separation anxiety, generalised anxiety, social anxiety, phobias, obsessive compulsive symptoms, panic attacks and selective mutism. (NCBI)
- Evidence shows that psychological therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), exposure based approaches and skills based therapies can significantly reduce anxiety in children and teenagers, including those with autism and ADHD. (Cochrane Library)
- For some young people, medication such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be considered alongside therapy, under careful specialist supervision. (PMC)
- As a Registered Nutritionist, Clinical Medical Hypnotherapist, Integrative Psychotherapist, Counsellor and Advanced Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) therapist and practitioner, I work ONLINE across Ireland and in person in Adare, Newcastle West, Limerick, Abbeyfeale, Charleville, Kanturk, Fermoy, Midleton, Youghal, Cork, Dublin and Dungarven with children, teenagers and parents around anxiety, OCD, ADHD, neurodivergence, addictions, weight loss, digestive and gut issues, hormonal health issues, fertility, sleep, trauma, PTSD, Grief, loss, separation, fears and phobias and more.
What anxiety really is for children and teenagers
Anxiety is the body’s alarm system. When a child’s brain senses threat, it sends out signals that release stress hormones. Heart rate goes up, breathing changes and muscles tense, getting the body ready to fight, run away or freeze.
In short bursts this system is protective. The problem comes when the alarm is going off too often, too loudly, or in situations that are actually safe, such as going to school, speaking in class or sleeping in their own bed. That is when we start to talk about an anxiety disorder. (Royal Children’s Hospital)
Common types of anxiety in children and teens
Children and teenagers can experience several different anxiety patterns. These can overlap.
- Separation anxiety
Strong distress when away from a parent or caregiver, difficulty settling at school, bedtime battles, physical symptoms like nausea or headaches before separation. When this remains very intense beyond early childhood, or significantly affects life at home or school, it may be separation anxiety disorder. (Royal Children’s Hospital) - Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
Ongoing worry about many areas of life, such as school performance, sport, friendships, health, world events or the future. Children often describe a “busy brain” that will not switch off. They may seek constant reassurance, ask repeated “what if” questions and struggle to relax. (jaacap.org) - Social anxiety
Intense fear of being judged, embarrassed or rejected in social or performance situations. A young person may dread speaking in class, eating in front of others, going to parties or even walking into the school corridor. Social anxiety is recognised in NICE guidelines as a treatable condition in children and teenagers. (NICE) - Phobias
Strong, specific fears of particular things or situations, such as dogs, injections, vomiting, storms or travelling in cars. The fear is much bigger than the actual danger and leads to avoidance. - Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
Intrusive, distressing thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive actions or mental rituals (compulsions) that the child feels driven to perform to reduce anxiety. Examples include repeated checking, counting, handwashing or needing things to feel “just right”. (ScienceDirect) - Panic attacks and panic disorder
Sudden episodes of intense fear with physical symptoms such as racing heart, shaking, sweating, breathlessness, dizziness or feeling unreal. Panic disorder may be diagnosed when these attacks repeat and the child begins to fear having another episode. (jaacap.org) - Selective mutism
A child who talks normally at home but is unable to speak in certain settings, such as school or activities, because of anxiety. Selective mutism is now understood as an anxiety disorder, and early treatment improves long term outcomes. (asha.org)
How anxiety shows up in everyday life
Anxiety in children and teens is not always obvious. It can look like “bold” behaviour, laziness or stubbornness from the outside. Many young people keep their worries private and instead show:
- Frequent tummy aches, nausea or bowel changes, especially in children who already have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), reflux, coeliac disease or other gut and autoimmune conditions
- Headaches, fatigue and sleep problems, including trouble falling asleep, nightmares and very early waking
- Tearfulness, clinginess or difficulty separating at school gates or bedtime
- Irritability, anger, defiance or explosive outbursts, especially in neurodivergent children with ADHD or autism spectrum conditions
- Refusal to attend school or activities, falling behind in work despite being bright
- Overthinking, perfectionism and strong distress about marks or minor mistakes
- Withdrawal from friends, dropping out of sport or clubs, spending long periods alone
- Changes in appetite or weight
Parents often also notice anxiety around food, body image or exercise in teenagers, particularly when there is an underlying history of dieting, weight concerns, or metabolic or hormonal problems such as thyroid issues or PCOS. These can overlap with disordered eating and need careful support from experienced clinicians.
Why some children and teenagers develop anxiety
There is never one simple cause. Anxiety is usually the result of several factors interacting.
- Genetic and brain factors
Anxiety tends to run in families. Studies suggest that some children are born with more sensitive “alarm systems” in the brain. (jaacap.org) - Temperament and neurodivergence
Children who are naturally cautious, perfectionistic or sensitive, and those with ADHD or autism spectrum conditions, are more likely to experience significant anxiety. (BioMed Central) - Stress, trauma and chronic strain
Bullying, academic pressure, online comparison, conflict at home, chronic illness, repeated moves, poverty or traumatic events can all contribute. Irish research has highlighted rising mental health concerns in adolescents since the pandemic, including anxiety and self harm. (ScienceDirect) - Gut brain and physical health
Ongoing gut problems such as IBS, SIBO, reflux, coeliac disease or inflammatory bowel issues, as well as autoimmune and thyroid conditions, can feed into anxiety through the gut brain axis. Blood sugar highs and lows, nutrient deficits and poor sleep can all make anxious feelings much more intense. (ScienceDirect) - Learning from others
Children may copy anxious thinking styles they observe in adults, such as catastrophising or constant checking. This is not about blame, but about understanding how patterns are passed on and can be changed.
Evidence based treatments for childhood and teenage anxiety
Good news: anxiety disorders in children and teenagers are very treatable. International guidelines and high quality research point consistently to psychological therapies as first line treatment, usually with family involvement. (NICE)
1. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
CBT is the most researched talking therapy for child and adolescent anxiety. Cochrane and other systematic reviews show that CBT significantly reduces anxiety symptoms for many young people, including those who are autistic. (Cochrane Library)
In CBT, children and teenagers learn:
- What anxiety is and how it affects their body and thoughts
- How to spot unhelpful thinking patterns, such as “everyone will laugh at me”
- How to test those thoughts in a gentle, structured way
- Step by step exposure plans to face feared situations so that the brain learns they are manageable
Sessions are practical and skills based. Parents are usually involved so they can support practice at home.
2. Exposure based therapy
Exposure simply means “facing the fear in manageable steps”. For example, a child with dog phobia might first look at pictures, then watch videos, then stand at a distance from a calm dog, slowly progressing. For selective mutism, exposure might involve using a quiet voice with one trusted adult in school and building from there. (Dove Medical Press)
3. Skills based therapies for strong emotions
Other structured therapies such as dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) skills for adolescents and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) approaches can help teenagers who experience very intense feelings or self critical thoughts. These methods focus on emotion regulation, distress tolerance, values and building a life that feels meaningful, rather than anxiety led. (PMC)
4. Counselling, Psychotherapy, Clinical Medical Hypnotherapy and RTT
Alongside these more structured approaches, many children and teenagers also benefit from supportive Counselling and Psychotherapy to talk through stress, family conflict, grief, trauma, bullying, identity questions or relationship issues.
Clinical Hypnotherapy and Clinical Medical Hypnotherapy can help some young people with anxiety, panic, phobias, exam stress, sleep, chronic pain and gut symptoms by working with imagery, focus and the subconscious mind. Evidence is growing for hypnosis as a useful tool within broader treatment plans for conditions such as functional abdominal pain and procedure related anxiety. (Royal Children’s Hospital)
Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) is an intensive form of hypnotherapy that combines elements of cognitive and behavioural work with subconscious insight. It can be a useful option for older teens and adults who feel stuck in long standing patterns, including anxiety linked to earlier experiences, addictions, chronic pain or weight and body image concerns. As with all therapies, it is important to work with a properly trained, ethical practitioner and to integrate nutritional, sleep and lifestyle support.
As a Registered Nutritionist and Psychotherapist, I frequently combine:
- Anxiety focused Counselling and Psychotherapy
- RTT and Clinical Medical Hypnotherapy
- Mind coaching and anxiety therapy for performance, exams and sport
- Nutritional and gut focused strategies to support the nervous system
This whole person approach can be particularly helpful where anxiety overlaps with ADHD, autism, gut issues, autoimmune symptoms, hormonal shifts, addictions, eating difficulties or chronic fatigue.
5. Medication
Medication is not the first step for most children with anxiety, but it can be helpful for some young people when symptoms are severe or when psychological therapy alone has not been enough.
Research shows that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine, can reduce anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents, especially when combined with therapy. (PMC)
Any decision about medication should be made with a child and adolescent psychiatrist or suitably experienced doctor, with careful monitoring for benefits and side effects, including changes in mood or behaviour.
Everyday strategies for parents and carers
Avoiding everything that makes a child anxious usually feels kind in the moment, but over time it can keep anxiety “in charge”. The goal is not to remove all anxiety, but to help your child build confidence that they can cope with some discomfort and still do important things.
Practical ideas include:
- Listen and name
Let your child describe what they feel in their body and what they are afraid of. Repeat back and name the feeling: “It sounds like your chest is tight and your mind is racing. That is anxiety.” This helps their brain feel understood rather than dismissed. - Normalise, without minimising
Avoid “There is nothing to worry about”. Try “Lots of children feel this in new situations, and we can work on it together.” - Break tasks into small steps
If school is overwhelming, agree the smallest doable step, such as attending for part of the day, or going in and sitting in a quiet space first. - Preview and debrief
Talk through what will happen before new experiences and debrief afterwards. For example, “First we will arrive at the party, then you can stand with me for a few minutes, then we will decide together what to do next.” - Use the body to calm the brain
Simple techniques such as slow belly breathing, counting the breath, gentle muscle tensing and relaxing, or using a grounding sense exercise (for example noticing five things they can see, four they can touch, three they can hear, two they can smell and one they can taste) can help the nervous system settle. - Encourage expression
Some children find it easier to draw, write or use stories to describe their anxiety. This can be especially useful for autistic children or those with ADHD who struggle to find words in the moment. - Protect sleep, movement and food basics
Regular bedtimes, reduced late night screens, daily movement, balanced meals and stable blood sugar levels can significantly reduce anxiety spikes. Nutritional support can be particularly important where there are gut issues, coeliac disease, hormonal problems or autoimmune symptoms. - Model healthy coping
Children notice how adults respond to stress. You do not need to be perfect. Naming your own strategies such as “I feel stressed, so I am going to take three slow breaths and write a quick plan” can be powerful.
When anxiety overlaps with ADHD, autism, gut issues and addictions
In real life, anxiety rarely arrives on its own. Many of the children and teenagers I see in Adare, Newcastle West, Limerick, Abbeyfeale, Charleville, Midleton, Youghal, Cork, Dublin and Dungarven, or ONLINE across Ireland, also live with:
- ADHD and executive function difficulties
- Autism spectrum conditions
- Gut and digestive issues such as IBS, SIBO, reflux, coeliac or chronic bloating
- Autoimmune conditions such as coeliac disease or thyroid problems
- Sleep difficulties and chronic fatigue
- Early signs of problematic coping strategies, including vaping, alcohol use, gaming, pornography, drug use, food addiction or self harm
Anxiety may be a direct result of these conditions, or it may be increased by sensory overload, social exhaustion, stomach discomfort, blood sugar swings or fears about health and the future. A combined approach that looks at brain, body, food, relationships and coping patterns is usually most effective. (ScienceDirect)
When to seek professional help
You may want to seek specialist support if:
- Anxiety has lasted for several months and is getting worse
- Your child is avoiding school, sport or normal activities
- There are big changes in sleep, appetite, weight or mood
- You notice panic attacks, obsessive rituals or self harm
- There is use of substances, vaping, alcohol, drugs or other addictions to “numb out”
- Anxiety is present alongside significant gut symptoms, autoimmune conditions or chronic pain
You can speak to your GP, school, or local CAMHS service, and you can also book directly for private Counselling, Psychotherapy, Clinical Hypnotherapy, RTT or Registered Nutritionist services.
Frequently asked questions
1. Is my child’s anxiety “normal” or an anxiety disorder?
Some anxiety is a normal part of development. It becomes a disorder when it is intense, long lasting and interferes with everyday life at home, school or with friends. If you are unsure, it is reasonable to seek a professional opinion rather than waiting and worrying. (nhs.uk)
2. Will my child grow out of anxiety?
Some children do grow more confident as they mature, but research shows that untreated anxiety in young people can increase the risk of later depression, self harm, substance use and ongoing mental health difficulties. Getting support early usually leads to better outcomes. (PMC)
3. Does my child have to take medication?
No. International and national guidelines recommend psychological therapies such as CBT as first line treatment for child and adolescent anxiety. Medication is one option, usually reserved for moderate to severe cases, and should always be discussed carefully with an experienced doctor. (NICE)
4. Can therapy help if my child is autistic or has ADHD?
Yes. CBT and related therapies can be adapted for autistic children and teenagers and for those with ADHD, using more visual supports, structure and parent involvement. Research shows promising results when these adaptations are made. (BioMed Central)
5. What role does nutrition play in anxiety?
Food is not a magic cure, but it can significantly influence mood, energy and the stress response. Stable blood sugar, adequate protein, essential fats, and key micronutrients, together with support for gut health, can all help. This is particularly important in children with IBS, coeliac disease, reflux, autoimmune conditions, hormonal issues or disordered eating.
6. How long does therapy for anxiety usually take?
It varies. Many CBT based programmes for child anxiety run for around 10 to 16 weekly sessions, sometimes with top up sessions later. More complex situations, such as anxiety combined with trauma, neurodivergence, eating difficulties or addictions, often benefit from longer term Psychotherapy or layered work that includes RTT, Clinical Hypnotherapy and nutritional support. (PMC)
7. Can parents have support too?
Absolutely. Many parents feel frightened, guilty or burnt out when their child is struggling. Individual Counselling or Psychotherapy, or Couples and Marriage Counselling where parenting stress is affecting the relationship, can help you feel steadier and more equipped to support your child.
Image ideas for this article
- Calm parent and child walking along an Irish coastal path
- Alt text: “Parent and child walking along a quiet Irish coastal path talking about anxiety.”
- Teenager studying at a kitchen table with a supportive parent nearby
- Alt text: “Irish teenager with anxiety doing homework at the kitchen table while a parent offers gentle support.”
- Illustration of the gut brain axis in a child
- Alt text: “Simple diagram showing connection between gut and brain in child anxiety.”
Educational disclaimer
This article is for general education only. It does not replace medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always speak with your GP, paediatrician, psychiatrist, psychologist or other qualified healthcare professional before making changes to medication, diet or treatment plans for your child. If you are worried about immediate risk to your child’s safety, contact emergency services or your local out of hours service without delay.
Working together: anxiety support ONLINE and in person
If your child or teenager is struggling with anxiety, panic, OCD, school refusal, gut problems, ADHD, autism, addictions, disordered eating, trauma, chronic pain or fatigue, you do not have to handle it alone.
I offer:
- Counselling and Psychotherapy for children, teenagers and parents
- Couples Counselling and Marriage Counselling where anxiety is affecting the relationship or parenting
- Clinical Medical Hypnotherapy and Clinical Hypnotherapy
- Hypnosis for anxiety, trauma, gut issues, addictions, sleep and chronic pain
- Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) for longer standing anxiety patterns, trauma, addictions and weight or body image struggles
- Registered Nutritionist support for gut health, metabolic health, autoimmune and hormonal issues that link with anxiety
Sessions are available ONLINE throughout Ireland and in person in Adare, Newcastle West, Limerick, Abbeyfeale, Charleville, Midleton, Youghal, Cork, Dublin and Dungarven.
Book a Consultation Now
Ready to take the next step for your child or teenager?
- ONLINE appointments available across Ireland
- In person in Adare, Newcastle West, Limerick, Abbeyfeale, Charleville, Midleton, Youghal, Cork, Dublin and Dungarven
- Support for anxiety, ADHD, autism, gut and digestive issues, autoimmune symptoms, sleep, addictions, eating difficulties, trauma, chronic pain and relationship stress
Contact Claire Russell Therapy today to arrange a confidential appointment and begin steady, evidence based support for your child and your family.
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Key references
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