Children often worry about school, athletic or artistic performance, especially when teacher or parental expectations are high. But when worry turns into obsession, and mild symptoms become paralyzing, performance anxiety may be the root cause. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) lists performance anxiety as a core symptom of a childhood anxiety disorder known as Overanxious Disorder (OAD).
Worry and Forgetfulness
According to an article written by Debra Clough Stokan, M.D., entitled, "Anxiety in Children and Adolescents," anxiety of any kind can cause a decrease in attention, memory, and the ability to concentrate. A child concerned with his performance may fret and worry about an upcoming test, causing his mind to race and losing the ability to focus. As a result, grades may begin to decline even though the student was well-prepared and knowledgeable.
Children with performance anxiety may need more reassurance than other children. They may ask an inordinate amount of questions to help quell their fears. They may repeat the questions and forget the answers, which can initiate a vicious cycle of fear, forgetfulness and anxiety.
Poor Performance
Performance anxiety may be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Because the child is overly concerned about doing well in school, athletics or the arts, anxiety may sabotage her efforts by preventing her from doing her best. Performance anxiety may appear as aggression on the soccer field, distraction or irritability in the classroom, or forgetfulness on stage. A student may experience the "freeze response," where her mind goes blank and she cannot complete the task at hand. This can appear to be distraction, laziness or a lack of preparation and can be confused with symptoms of attention disorders like ADHD.
School Avoidance
After several episodes of the "freeze response," anxiety over the inability to perform can build, which results in avoidance of the situation or trigger. According to Stokan, after several failed attempts, it is natural to want to avoid the stimulus. Stress and anxiety elicit the "fight or flight" response, and when the "fight" response repeatedly fails, the "flight" response kicks in. The student may find ways to avoid a particular class, activity or school in general. He may not want to attend practice any longer or complain of a myriad of illness to keep from having to participate. Attendance drops and performance suffers.
Illnesses
According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, children with anxiety disorders may complain of stomachaches and other ailments. They tend to be more tense and hyperactive than their peers and may cry more easily. In extreme cases, performance anxiety can lead to full-blown panic attacks and children may exhibit racing heartbeat, sweating, nausea and vomiting.
