Children and Anxiety Since COVID: A Hidden Crisis

By Dr. Douglas Cowan, Psy.D.
Marriage and Family Therapist

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, a silent crisis has been unfolding among children: the sharp and sustained rise of anxiety. As schools closed, routines collapsed, and the world shifted overnight, many children—especially those under 14—were left feeling fearful, isolated, and overwhelmed.

While childhood anxiety was already rising before the pandemic, the past few years have intensified stress in ways that researchers and clinicians are only beginning to fully understand. In this article, we examine why anxiety among children has surged, explore contributing factors like digital overstimulation and climate fears, and provide evidence-based solutions that empower families to restore calm and confidence in their children.

Childhood Anxiety by the Numbers

Recent data paints a concerning picture. From 1990 to 2021, anxiety diagnoses in children aged 10–14 increased globally by over 50%. The surge became especially pronounced after 2019, with post-COVID data showing even steeper spikes.

Key findings include:

• – 1 in 5 children in the U.S. now meet criteria for an anxiety disorder
• – Girls report significantly higher rates than boys
• – Rural children and those from low-income households are disproportionately affected
• – Anxiety is now one of the most common reasons for therapy referrals in children aged 6–12

How COVID-19 Disrupted the Foundations of Childhood

Children thrive on consistency, safety, and relational connection. During the pandemic, all three were disrupted:

– Schools closed or moved online
– Parents faced job loss, illness, or emotional burnout
– Kids lost access to play, structure, and predictable routines

For many children, these changes created the perfect storm for emotional dysregulation. Without daily school rhythms or access to peers, many kids internalized worry, sadness, and fear.

When iPads Replace Playgrounds: Screens and Stress

While screens were a lifeline during lockdowns, the long-term effects have been sobering. Studies show that children exposed to excessive screen time struggle more with sleep, attention, mood regulation, and socialization—all of which feed into chronic anxiety.

– The average child now spends 5–7 hours per day on recreational screen time
– Higher screen use is correlated with poor sleep, irritability, and loneliness
– Fast-paced media overstimulates the amygdala—the brain’s fear center

In short, the digital world may be rewiring young brains to expect constant input and leaving them less equipped to handle uncertainty or boredom.

Fear of the Future: Climate and Global Anxiety in Children

More than 60% of children today report feeling worried or afraid about climate change. The rise of ‘eco-anxiety’ is deeply felt by kids exposed to daily news headlines about wildfires, rising seas, and collapsing ecosystems. One in four say these fears influence how they think about their future family plans.

For children still learning how the world works, such fears can feel overwhelming and existential.

How Anxiety Shows Up in Kids

Children don’t always say ‘I feel anxious.’ Instead, anxiety shows up through behaviors or physical complaints, including:

• – Trouble sleeping or nightmares
• – Stomachaches, headaches, or body tension
• – Clinginess, irritability, or meltdowns
• – School refusal or perfectionism
• – Fear of separation or catastrophic thinking

When these behaviors become frequent, it’s important to explore what the child is experiencing internally—and provide healthy coping tools.

Helping Children Calm Their Brains and Bodies

Treatment strategies for childhood anxiety should be gentle, consistent, and body-based. Here are several clinically validated, integrative approaches:

1. CES CalmBox

Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES) helps reset the nervous system by delivering gentle microcurrents to the brain. The CES CalmBox is FDA-cleared, safe for children, and shown to reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and support emotional regulation.

2. LifeWave Phototherapy Patches

LifeWave patches like X39 and Aeon help reduce inflammation and stress signaling in the body. X39 supports cellular repair and emotional resilience, while Aeon calms the nervous system. Alavida promotes restful sleep and skin-brain balance, and Carnosine aids cognitive protection.

3. Breathing Exercises and EFT Tapping

Breathing patterns (like the 4-4-6 method) and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) tapping help children reset their bodies when overwhelmed. These tools activate the vagus nerve and calm the brain’s fear response quickly.

4. Play and Talk Therapy

Play therapy allows kids to process emotion through toys, storytelling, and creative expression. Talk therapy offers older children tools to reframe anxious thoughts and build problem-solving skills.

5. Daily Movement and Outdoor Time

Exercise regulates mood and lowers cortisol. Even 20 minutes of walking, jumping, or swinging can dramatically improve focus and emotional balance. Nature exposure also reduces stress and anxiety in children.

Final Thoughts: Restoring Calm to Childhood

Childhood should be a time of joy, play, and discovery—not paralyzing worry. While anxiety has become more common, it is highly treatable. By combining science-backed interventions like CES and phototherapy patches with relational support and movement-based tools, families can help children feel safe again.

It’s not about eliminating all anxiety—it’s about helping children build confidence, flexibility, and self-soothing skills they’ll use for life.

*This article is for educational purposes only. Please consult your child’s pediatrician or mental health provider before starting any therapeutic intervention.*