Anxiety Disorders In Children

According to the 2015 Child Mind Institute Children’s Mental Health Report , 80 percent of kids with a diagnosable anxiety disorder and 60 percent of kids with diagnosable depression are not getting treatment.

Why is that happening when we know anxiety disorders in children and depression are treatable?

Anxiety is a normal part of childhood, so parents really need to learn more about anxiety disorders in children, so that they can separate them from just the temporary anxiety phase.

For some children, anxiety affects their behaviour and thoughts on a daily basis, interfering with their school, home and social life. This is when you may need professional help to tackle it before it becomes a more serious issue.

Anxiety Disorders in Children

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

With generalized anxiety disorder, children worry excessively about all kind of things such as school grades, family problems, relationship with their friends, bad things happening in the future, etc.

Children with Generalized Anxiety Disorder are very hard on themselves and strive for perfection. They will probably seek constant approval from you. They have physical symptoms like tense muscles, a restless feeling, they become tired easily and have problem concentrating, or trouble sleeping.

Panic Disorder

Panic disorder is characterized by the sudden feeling of intense fear, followed by at least one month of worry about having additional attacks or fear of something bad happening as a result of the panic attack.

Panic attacks come suddenly and without any logic reason. If your child had two or more panic attacks, and he or she is highly concerned over having another attack, you need to ask for help.  Learn more about panic disorder and panic attacks.

Separation Anxiety In Children

Most children experience separation anxiety between 18 months and three years old and that is completely normal. If your child is older and he or she is always frightened of leaving you, they you might be dealing with separation anxiety in children. Separation anxiety in children is most common in kids ages seven to nine and it affects 4 percent of children.

Children with Separation Anxiety Disorder may refuse to go to school, camp or a sleepover. They are unable to go to sleep without a parent being present and they often feel extreme homesickness. Physical symptoms can include stomachaches, or even throwing up out of fear. Learn more about separation anxiety.

Social Anxiety Disorder in children

Social anxiety disorder is characterized by an intense fear of social situations and activities such as being called on in class or starting a conversation with a peer. Learn more about social anxiety disorder.

With right treatment and support, your kid can learn how to successfully manage the symptoms of an anxiety disorder and depression and have a normal childhood.