Seeing your child struggle with anxiety can be hard, but there is hope. With the right support, most children can feel better and learn ways to manage their worries. Understanding your child’s anxiety prognosis can help you know what to expect and see that getting better usually takes time.
Treatment for childhood anxiety, such as therapy, coping strategies, and medication, helps children be better able to enjoy daily life. While each child’s path is different, you can expect them to learn new ways to manage their fears and challenges.
In this guide, we’ll explain what parents can expect from their child’s anxiety prognosis and some factors that can affect progress.
Can Children Outgrow Anxiety?
Many people believe that children will simply grow out of anxiety as they mature, but research shows that this isn’t always true. When anxiety is left untreated, it can continue into the teen or adult years and may even lead to other mental health challenges. These may include depression, substance use disorders, and even suicide [*].
Experts sometimes describe anxiety as a “gateway problem” because when it isn’t treated early, it can lead to other mental health struggles over time. Keep in mind that detection and treatment play an important role in breaking this cycle.
Short-Term Outlook
Children with anxiety often have a favorable prognosis, and many show noticeable improvement when they receive appropriate treatment.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a recommended first-line therapy due to its proven effectiveness in kids and teens. It helps them recognize when they feel anxious and learn new ways to think and behave, so they can cope [*].
Medication may be used as a supplement to therapy if the child’s anxiety is severe, persistent, or not improving with therapy alone. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can help reduce anxiety in young people, and they are generally well-tolerated [*].
Early intervention is key. Those who get support soon after symptoms appear are more likely to show faster progress and better outcomes.
It’s important to remember, however, that improvement may not always be linear. Some days may feel easier than others, and setbacks can occur. A child who’s been doing well may suddenly feel more anxious when starting a new school year or facing a big test.
These ups and downs are a normal part of getting better. Understanding from those around them helps them regain balance.
Long-Term Outlook
The long-term outlook for children with anxiety may vary, but with early and effective treatment, many children experience significant improvement or even remission of symptoms. Remission means that the child no longer meets the criteria for an anxiety disorder.
Research over many years has shown that most young people experience improvement after completing CBT, and many maintain this improvement for months or even years afterward. Relapse rates (when symptoms return) are quite low, with only about 8% of children experiencing anxiety again later [*].
Moreover, meta-analyses have found that children are more likely to reach remission when they receive combination treatment — CBT plus medication — compared with those who receive only CBT or only medication.
Even after treatment, children may feel anxious again during stressful times, or they may develop new forms of anxiety as they grow. Staying involved and checking in regularly can help them manage these challenges and protect their mental health as they get older.
Factors Influence the Outlook
Several factors can affect how children with anxiety respond to treatment and their long-term outlook.
Timely intervention is important to prevent anxiety from becoming a lifelong condition. The quality of intervention is just as important as timing, and evidence-based treatments, particularly CBT, are the most effective.
The type of anxiety disorder also plays a role. Some disorders, such as specific phobias, typically respond more quickly to treatment. This may be because specific phobias are concrete (e.g., fear of dogs, spiders, or the dark). Success can be achieved by gradually confronting the specific feared object or situation [*].
On the other hand, more complex forms of anxiety, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or social anxiety disorder, can be more challenging for a child. These children may experience multiple worries, pervasive fears, and patterns of avoidance that are harder to change.
Family involvement is another factor that can affect a child’s response. When families provide support through understanding and being someone children can talk to, it makes kids feel emotionally secure [*].
Finally, the effectiveness of treatment depends on how well it matches the child’s needs. Treatment can work best when sessions happen regularly and medication is added if needed.
Resources
If you’re seeking additional support and information on managing your child’s anxiety, here are some reliable resources:
