What does anxiety look like in a 6 yr old | ADHD Information

How common is it to have ADHD and an anxiety issue of some sort? My DD6 is DX ADHD for about a year and a half and on meds for just over a year now. The medicins has helped tremendously. Thankgoodness!

I have always wondered though if my DD has an anxiety issue. She is very outgoing but clams up and hides behind me in public situations. She will go if I give her a little "you are fine, off you go"

These are the things I notice:

-pulls at her lip when 'struggling' with something. Mainly at school when she is nervous or when worried about something.

-frequently complains about being itchy, upset tummy, headaches

-reports bad dreams regularly (though never seems actually afriad, I personally think it is a reason to come in my room at night) Wakes in the night very often (3-4x a week) and has forever really.

-worried about fire, dying, losing her stuffies.

-seems to worry more about the everyday things than most do. She was so worried about her doc appt and getting her flu shot they had to call the VP to come down and sit with her during afternoon recess because she just couldn't get it together. Part of me thinks she really does worry but the other part also sees that she likes the attention these "worries" get her. (not by us I might add)

She has a learning support teacher at school - new this year. She told this teacher that she has bad dreams, she gets headaches, all the above. The teacher made her up a comfort kit to help with those bad dreams, stomach upsets, fears, etc. DD thinks it is just the bomb! I can see how this will help her but at the same time I can see how it is hindering her. Since she was given the comfort kit she has be up in the night 3 nights in a row (last night for two hours) with 'bad dreams'

We always try to give her a heads up so she can be prepared or know what lies ahead. No sudden surprises. We try not to feed too much in to any of the complaints because they are often and she thrives on the attention. She has not been DX with anxiety but I sense it may be an issue.

I do recall hearing that ADHD meds can increase anxiety but this does seem to come and go (the anxious moments) Rarely none all summer so I don't think this is so much the case. Truth is though, how do I really know???

Does anyone have any insight they can share with me?

No, she has never taken any anxiety medication. Since starting meds for ADHD she tried Concerta for two weeks which has no effect. Then started Dexedrine and has been on it since. She also takes .5 of Respirdal at 6pm, which the doc says will bring up her appetite and help her sleep - which it does. Resp. also is known to help with aggression right, although with in her case I am not sure.

The last time we saw her Psych. she was doing so well he said see you again in three months. Since then she has gone down hill like mentioned in my first post. I am going to call and see about getting her in sooner and talk about the anxiety and see it the medication is an option for her. I hate to give her even more, but at the same token I hate to see her living like this everyday. I see the inner turmoil within her and it breaks my heart.

I only know what my child has been through and meds he has been on.

He is successful on concerta. So I know this med.

Do you think you dosed your child to their max before switching?

If the dose is NOT correct, you will NOT see any benefit.

And, in addition with his concerta, Tenex is fabulous!!

Call your doctor. Tell that person of what is going on. They need to step in now!!

Many adhd'ers have a co-existing condition. There is more going on than just adhd. My son has anxiety as well. He has other things on top of that but it is very common.

have you tried a med to help relax her? Our doctor prescribed right from the get go guanfacine to help his anxiety. he noticed it when he met my son for the first time. We have had him on this with concerta for over 5 years. And he is doing great!

He had anxiety all along, and it got worse at school. He was 6 and 7 at the time that it really came out. He would bite his nails down to the bottom and chew off all his cuticles until they bled, and kept chewing.

My son has sensory processing problems which give him anxiety problems also. Stimulants aggravate his anxiety so we supplement his Ritalin with Tenex and it calms his anxiety and sensory problems. When he was having the anxiety problems it wasn't constant. It would come and go so your daughter may very well have a similar problem...I'd ask the doc.Okay....makes sense. I definitely feel for her and your whole family. It is very frustrating. I hope you get some relief soon.I know that I posted above, but I just wanted to say
again that therapy was miraculous for my son. The
techniques that he learned will help him for a
lifetime. I myself now apply the same techniques
when I am anxioius (the apple did not fall far!!).

If you can't go the meds route, I recommend seeing
who, if anyone, offers this kind of therapy in your
area. My son was also 6 when he attended the
sessions.I TOTALLY feel like what else can I possibly do!!!! Just my opinion, and I am NOT a doctor BUT tenex / guanfacine has really helped my son since he was 7. It helped him to LEARN to live and adjust with anxiety and not let it control him.

At the age of our children, they are too young to handle it themselves, unlike some adults can.

I have had a son on tenex for over 5 years now and we are not planning on removing it from his daily meds. He will take this forever if he has to!

I am sorry for your appointment. I am not sure if this is the case, but some have posted that they are going to see another doctor due to the appointment results. Not sure if you want to or not.

I only speak from a mother's experience, and our meds have helped soo soo much. It helped even alone when given an extra boost in the late afternoon for a sporting practice!
All it does is relax him and control impulsive and blurting, and nervousness. That is all.

These kids are too young to just "suck it up" I think. With adhd, and anything extra in addition, there is already a lot going on in their life. It can also be quite a battle ground in school for some. All you want for them is to have a successful day and be happy. That is all.

I have to agree...I think it's a little much to ask a 6 yr old ADHDer to just suck it up and learn to deal with the anxiety! Maybe when she's older but I don't see the problem with a little help now! Most adults have problems with anxiety and can't handle it themselves. Good luck!

Did the doctor give you information on who will teach your daughter to learn to handle her anxiety? Is there a cognitive behavioral therapy group for children in your area? I don't think 6 year olds are mature enough to just endure their anxiety. Speaking from my son's experience, when my son is feeling anxious, his whole world stands still. When anxiety consumes children, they're not able to learn, socialize, or develop. And they're certainly not able to work on their self control!! Here's an example. At the town pool this summer, my son was afraid to jump into the water over his head. I'd stand there in the pool, encouranging him to jump to my arms while he stood on land shaking and crying. The time that he spent shaking and crying was time that he wasn't in the pool exercising his body and playing with children. But, he was genuinely anxious and he couldn't figure out how to handle it on his own. I used a reward system, coupled with desensitizing techniques, and by the end of the summer, he wasn't afraid to jump in the deep water; in fact he enjoyed jumping in the deep water. It took a long time and a lot of work - and this was only one small activity that made him anxious. Your daughter's anxiety is more generalized, so it's affecting her ability to learn, develop, grow, and be happy. It's affecting her ability to get through the day, and interrupting your family's dynamics. I think medication is a reasonable option. Can you get a second opinion?

[QUOTE=mamatothestars]

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No, no info to help cope with anxiety for her. I know adults who cannot even cope so how can I expect it from my 6 yr old with IMPULSIVE adhd. I think he thinks hers in partly behavioural but he hasn't spoken it. I can see that he would think that, but when I see the horrified expression on her face sometimes right after she does something without thinking or blurts something out I can tell she cannot help it. In the end how she resonds to the anxiety might be leanred behaviour (crying, asking for Mommy, pulling at her lip, etc) but her initial response to the anxiety and those first moments are critical.

I could try to get a second opinion but I don't know who from. I really trust this Psychiatrist who is very well known in our city, but we just seem to be missing the mark on this one.

On a side note, I have just signed my DD up to work with an art therapist. Maybe there is something in this that can help her.

We currently have for her:

-medication

-learning support teachers at school

-behavioral modification techniques we use

-regular visits to the psychiatrist

-Sylvan Learning Centre to help with math, reading and self confidence

-Classes with an Excellent school her that teaches coping mechanisms, self esteem, peer relations, etc.

-now starting art therapy.

Do you ever feel like what else can you possibly do????

Thank you for the replies so far. We have an appointment for next Friday with my DD psychiatrist. I did speak briefly on the phone with him. I got the impression he is on the fence with trying anxiety medication for her. I appreciate him taking all of this into consideration, versus just handing over a prescription.

He did say that you can either learn to deal with anxiety or run from it. Right now my daughter runs, fight or flight, and in her case almost always flight. Maybe fight when she is with us, at home - comfort zone. At school, it is always flight.

My angst is though, that she is 6 yrs old with impulsive ADHD. It is HARD for her to fight off the anxiety when she acts so impulsively. She is making big scenes at school - crying, running out of class. She then immediately feels bad and then the anxiety kicks in b/c she knows we will be sad to hear this, her friends look at her like she is crazy, the VP gets called in etc.

I think anxiety medication would help open the window for her a little bit - maybe let us in to teach her anxiety coping mechanisms. Just like the Dexedrine does for her ADHD. The last think I want to do is put this child on more medication but she is stuggling so badly and watching it is just my undoing! The social cost of her behaviours down the road will be devestating...

Part of me feels that we already made the HUGE leap to put her on ADHD medication. Why wouldn't we try the anxiety medication now? I get all the implications behind it, but what have we got to lose.

I almost feel like I have to go in to this upcoming appointment ready to battle with our psychiatrist to convince him to try the anxiety meds. I feel so conflicted about this. Part of me feels like a pill pusher while the other part of me, which is my gut is telling me this is the right thing to do.

RCmommy40143.4128356481The therapy that DS went to included teaching him:

1. Deep breathing techniques to calm himself. It is
actually hard to stay anxious if you take deep
breaths.

2. Vizualization techniques. He had trouble sleeping,
so he was taught to visualize a calm situation - like
floating on a river of chocolate.

3. Muscle tensing. If you tense and release muscles
in order from top to bottom, this is also relaxing.

He was also taught about how to deal with "sneaky
fears" and about how to minimize rather than
maximize bad situations.

We were also taught about exposure therapy - how
to get used to something fearful slowly, by setting up
a specific plan.

We worked through the local children's hospital that
offered the therapy.

Sorry to repeat this again, but this was the best thing
we ever did.

we had to use Zoloft with my sons Concerta to help the anxiety and it was pretty bad. No wanting to go to bed alone

headaches

stomachaches

seperation anxiety

the Zoloft helped all that and worked with the concerta well. I think we need a bump on that one now too(Concerta)

First, please do not feel like a pill pusher! The fact that you are thinking this through so thoroghly is proof that you're not! Also, if your daughter needs this medication then it's as simple as that...she needs this medication. What is the harm in trying it? If it doesn't work then fine, stop taking them. But if it does work think of the change it could make in her life!

I am a big believer in (the right) meds. I don't know
what we would do without Concerta and Clonidine.

But...we treated DS for anxiety before we had the
ADHD diagnosis without using meds.

We did a twelve week intensive group therapy at the
local children's hospital. The parents met with
doctors while the kids met with other doctors.

They taught all kinds of strategies for dealing with
anxiety.

We have tried a number of therapies for DS's various
issues, and the anxiety treatment was by far the
most successful.

So - if you don't go the meds route there are
alternatives.

Everything you have described sounds like what anxiety looks like in a 6 year old! It's heartbreaking to watch our children struggle. I don't think you're a pill pusher; I think you're a parent who wants to see her child succeed, like all of us.

Sure, kids love a little extra attention, but children don't use fight or flight responses to get a little extra something - they do it in response to genuine feelings of fear and anxiety.

People who experience pathological anxiety will tell you, it's not just a matter of pulling themselves up by the boot straps; their anxiety is truly disabling.

I'm sure the prescribing physician will see that you've thoroughly thought this issue through. Hope this helps. Good luck!

My 8 yr old daughter had similiar issues. A lot of crying would happen at
night at bedtime. She would say she was weird, had no friends at school
(even though teacher said she did). Big family gatherings with lots of
cousins always caused anxiety and then meltdowns. She was withdrawn
and full of anxiety at bday parties. At school, she would get upset and cry,
then tell me how embarrassed she was by doing so but could not hold it in.
Lots of sensory issues with clothes. Dressing in the mornings for school,
especially the sneakers, was a nightmare. At 7 I started her on 2 pills a day
of MorEpa mini's (fish oil). After a few months of fish oil she improved. She
still has anxiety/sensory but it is greatly improved. From all my research,
fish oil is very safe and even good for you. Perhaps it is worth a try, though
it does take a few months to work if it is going to.

What you have described is exactly the same symptoms as my son and he was diagnosed with anxiety. His anxiety also brings on obsessive compulsive tendencies, but the Prozac he takes has helped tremendously.

It does take a month or more to see full benefits. He took Attarax in the beginning to help with immediate anxiety issues until the Prozac was fully in his system.

It is very common for the sytems to come and go because it depends upon what their "safe zone" is. If they are in their ''safe zone" (which is probably with you at home) then the anxiety subsides. If they are in situations which they cannot control then the anxiety kicks in. Then they are anxious about what might happen and it is a vicious circle.

If it is effecting her then you should push for meds. It may take trying more than one to find the right mix so hang in there.

My DD also has anxiety issues along with her ADHD. She takes risperdal to help with that, as well as the agression she can experience. I will admit, I was not sure if the risperdal was helping until we forgot to give on Christmas morning. We went for a hike in the woods and alls he could tlak about was spiders and whether or not it was going to flood (it was raining pretty hard).

The therapist that she goes to recommends doing what you say you are doing with your child. We just talk to her calmly and rationally to let her know that we understand she feels out of control, but that everything will be ok.

I have to agree with what you're saying about the therapy. Without medication NO therapy would work for my son! I believe very strongly that if a child is severe like mine absolutely nothing works until the meds are right (at least not for long anyway!) Once my child is medicated properly then all the other tools have room to work like the occupational therapy, behavior modification techniques, etc. I hear about some people doing behavioral therapy which sounds like a great idea but (sorry to sound like broken record) it wouldn't work unless my son was medicated.

I try to use the 1 2 3 Magic approach too. It's a great system! It's the one technique that is the most effective with my son. Even before he was medicated it worked once in a while when nothing else did!

Hang in there! I know exactly how you feel! I've cried in more than one bathroom myself. This is a medication issue right now and that needs to be firgured out first. Keep at it with the doc until you get there and if you don't, then switch doctors until you do! It WILL get better!

Hello again, just wanted to give a little update on my DD. The school break over Christmas holidays was pretty brutual. The lack of structure, and as she says boredom only contributed to what was already her worsening behaviour. We had company over and she has a complete meltdown - screaming, kicking/pounding on her bedroom door, etc. I just hid in the bathroom after and cried because I was so mortified and sad at the same time. Moments like these I find myself questioning "Why?"

We had suspected from the get-go that the bump up in Dex was partially responsible for her shift in behaviour and increase in anxiety and aggitation. Before even seeing her Doc again we decided to decrease back to 15mg a day. She improved by the 3rd day, though not back to how decent were the months before. We also noticed that normally after an Dex increase a few days would pass and her appetite would come back to normal. But not this time - it has since returned after we went down.

She went back to school yesterday and I feel actually sick to my stomach with worry. Will she cope, will she lose it again, will I get a phone call...... I kow the majority of you can relate.

I see so many talking about THERAPY for their ADHD child. What type of therapy exactly??? I have listed above everything we have going for her right now, but noone has actually suggested any type of therapy - other than art therapy which we start on the 18th of this month.

We are going to start the 1,2,3, Magic approach to discipline as well. It is similar to what we do, (warnings and then sent to her room if she does not cooperate) but we need to master then 'no emotion and no talking' for sure. She knows how to press my buttons and it becomes obvious she keeps pushing until she gets a reaction.

I would love to know what types of therapy your child is getting.

[QUOTE=RCmommy]

She went back to school yesterday and I feel actually sick to my stomach with worry. Will she cope, will she lose it again, will I get a phone call...... I kow the majority of you can relate.

I would love to know what types of therapy your child is getting.

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I just wanted to add that the art therapy my DD starts this month is by a registered art therapist which is not covered by our insurance company (of course) and costs for 50 minutes. She likes to see the child for a minimum of 6 sesssions. Don't get me wrong, I am willing to try and pay for anything that would help my child. I just don't know much about art therapy but feel we should shell out the money and try it because a few have suggested it. (teachers mainly, and learning support teacher) I feel we are at a point that if we don't try what people suggest we "won't be doing everything we could" if you know what I mean!

Hi Everyone, a quick update. We had the appt with my DD psychiatrist and although he also sees the anxiety to a degree he does NOT want to medicate her for it. I hate to admit I was disappointed, but I was. He thinks Aanxiety meds are too harsh for a child the size and age she is. He says you can either learn to deal with anxiety or run from it. I see his point but at the same time, she is impulsive +++ ADHD. That makes coping hard when she has a quick trigger and lacking coping mechanisms. We go on....what else can we do.

We have increased her Dexedrine to 20mg a day. To put it nicely she is a basket case. Very short fuse lately, shorter than normal. And repeating things constantly. She is not appeased unless everyone has heard her say what she has to say, "Mom I washed my hands, Dad I washed my hands, Brother I washed my hands" For everything! She blurts things out and then says "I'm sorry Mommy" I am not kidding, I must hear I am sorry over 75 times a day. When she says I am sorry we must say "That is okay" or she doesn't feel like it is 'over with'

I totally feel like I have lost my daughter again.....

To me this means the medication is too high. Am I right? Do I give it a bit longer? We are going on about two weeks now. She went to 20mg from 15mg, long acting. She had two major blow ups this week. Actually hit me twice and that hasn't happened in quite a while.

Where do we go from here?

If the increased dose made her worse then it's definitely possible that the dose it too high. Have you (or your doctor) considered Tenex with the Dexadrine? It is technically not an anxiety medication but it does wonders for my son and it allows him to take the stimulants. Without the Tenex he wouldn't tolerate them. Logan'sMom40169.6696759259What you explained in your original post sounded like anxiety, but what you posted about the washing hands and repeating sentences and not be satisfied until you forgive her is OCD (Obessive Compulisive Disorder). It is in the anxiety category. My son still has some OCD tendencies even on a high dosage of Prozac, but it is soooo much better than without meds. He would drive himself and us crazy if he didn't have the meds. I agree with the dr. about learning to live with anxiety, but if it is causing OCD tendencies I would push the issue and/or get a second opinion. It is not something one can just learn to deal with.the above post is mine.....I accidentally logged in under my old user. Oooops

[QUOTE=tcchmoore]What you explained in your original post sounded like anxiety, but what you posted about the washing hands and repeating sentences and not be satisfied until you forgive her is OCD (Obessive Compulisive Disorder). It is in the anxiety category. My son still has some OCD tendencies even on a high dosage of Prozac, but it is soooo much better than without meds. He would drive himself and us crazy if he didn't have the meds. I agree with the dr. about learning to live with anxiety, but if it is causing OCD tendencies I would push the issue and/or get a second opinion. It is not something one can just learn to deal with.[/QUOTE]

Hi, sorry I might have wrote it the wrong way. My DD isn't constantly washing her hands. I just used that for an example. Whatever it is she does, she then wants to tell me, then her Dad whereever in the house he may be and sometimes her brother too. It could be "I finished my lunch" or "i washed my hands" etc. She wants constant reassurance she did the right thing and/or for people to know she is doing what she should be.....

She is not repeating the same thing over and over. It would go more like this. "Mommy, I washed my hands, I have to go tell Daddy, Daddy I washed my hands" But often times, over and over throughout the day over various things. This is not something she has typically ever done.