What could your child's 'lazy' behaviour be telling you?

Did you know that anxiety often doesn’t always appear as worry or nervousness. It can present as other emotions or behaviours, making it harder for teachers and parents to recognize. For example, anxiety can show up as anger or irritability. When anxious thoughts  build up, the brain may misinterpret the emotional tension as frustration, leading to big angry outbursts. This is a way anxiety can push the body into a state of hyperarousal, even if the underlying cause remains hidden.

Another lesser-known reaction to anxiety is the “freeze” response. Instead of fighting or fleeing, some people, especially children, may become immobilized, unable to make decisions or take action. For example, a child might be so anxious about going to school that she becomes "frozen." Despite wanting to attend, she feels completely unable to move or even leave the house, physically paralyzed by her anxiety. In her case, the fear of school, social interactions, or performance pressures may have been overwhelming, making avoidance and freezing the brain's chosen response to protect her from perceived threats.

Parents or teachers might mistake this behaviour as stubbornness or laziness, but the child’s body is in a survival mode. Recognizing this freeze state as anxiety is crucial for helping the child.