Signs Your Child is Stressed

This post is done in partnership with Stress Health, an initiative of the Center for Youth Wellness, but features my own thoughts and opinions.

Stress is usually something associated with adults, but did you know that kids can get stressed out too? Yes, kids can experience stress, and it has been discovered that a certain kind of stress can affect kids’ long-term health. Those exposed to very high doses of adversity without the support of loving and caring adults can have more than double the lifetime risk of heart disease and cancer. They are also at a great risk for depression, obesity, substance abuse problems, lung problems, teen pregnancy, chronic illnesses and have nearly a 20-year difference in life expectancy. Kids should be able to lead longer, healthier lives while learning to manage their stress.

Here are some signs your child is stressed:

• Not sleeping well
• Feeling “off,” with headaches or tummy aches
• More emotional –crying jags, being extra clingy, having mood swings
• Regressing to bed-wetting or baby talk
• Developing new fears suddenly
• Behavior and learning difficulties
• Compulsive behaviors, including overeating

Some reasons for stress are more evident than others…

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) are stressful events in a child’s life. They are very common – most Americans have at least one – and they can have lasting effects on health.

Ways stress can affect your child’s body:

• Frequent illnesses due to struggle to fight off infections
• Higher risk of chronic illnesses, such as asthma
• Sitting still, paying attention, and focusing on learning can be harder
• Higher risk of high blood pressure and inflammation, which can lead to heart disease
• Hormones and puberty may be delayed

These are not the only signs and outcomes associated with stress, but they are a good starting point. Parents know their kids best, so if something is off, it’s worth paying attention to. It may seem insignificant at the time, and maybe is, but it is important to be vigilant.

Take the ACE quiz

Medical providers use ACEs screening tools to identify children at risk for a toxic stress response. Take the ACE Quiz to better understand your child’s risk for the effect of a toxic stress response.

Please remember this is not a medical diagnosis. Although each ACE raises the risk of health problems, not everyone with ACEs develops them. Plus, there are things you can do right now to lower your and your children’s risk of health problems.

The truth is, nearly all of us have been affected by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), whether our own or someone else’s. Share your story today. https://www.stresshealth.org/join-the-movement/your-stories/