Anxiety Disorders in Children
Most children will experience a typical fear or anxiety during their life time. They might be nervous about taking a test or starting a new school. In most cases, these fears do not turn irrational or develop into a panic attack or a panic disorder. But, there are some children that may show signs of a panic disorder for other reasons.
As much as we would like to protect the innocence of children and prevent anything from interfering with their lives, it is not always possible. Children can be afflicted with certain types of anxiety disorders that are also seen in adults. A generalized panic disorder might be seen in children in a variety of ways. They might excessively worry about everyday events like school or things at home. They tend to be extremely hard on themselves and strive for perfection. They might redo tasks in an effort to get them to come out perfectly. They might also seek constant approval and reassurance from others.
Another disorder found in many children is obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD. OCD introduces unwanted thoughts into a person’s head, causing that person to perform certain ritual-like routines to ease their minds. OCD has been found in two-year-olds, and is most common in children about ten years old. A child with OCD may be terrified of making mistakes, may recount or recheck items again and again, or wash their hands many times a day.
Another anxiety disorder found in children is the panic disorder, which may be diagnosed if a child has two panic attacks and worries about them for at least another month. This panic disorder is more commonly found in adolescents than in pre-pubescent children.
Children can also exhibit an anxiety disorder though specific phobias; irrational fears towards specific objects, places or situations. Although childhood fears like being fearful of animals, storms or the dark can go away on their own, if a fear is persistent within the child for at least six months and interferes with their daily activities, the child is said to have a phobia. Symptoms might include suffering from a stomach ache or headache, a tantrum, becoming clingy, or freezing in place when confronted with the fear.
Extreme stress such as a parent’s death, a severe accident, an assault, or a natural disaster may lead to post-traumatic stress disorder or other anxiety disorders. These children may suffer from many symptoms such as a fear that the event will recur, nightmares, reliving the event, loss of emotional affect, and loss of sleep and appetite.
Although these types of anxiety disorders can be both found in adults as well as in children, the physical and emotional signs might be very different. For one, children do not have an understanding that their fears are irrational plus, they might not be able to verbalize their feelings either. Children might display symptoms such as crying, throwing tantrums or becoming extremely clingy. Children how are suspected of having an anxiety disorder should be referred to their regular pediatrician.
