Anxiety Disorders in Children

For most children, fear and anxiety is a part of the natural process of growing up, but if these conditions develop into patterns, they can lead to anxiety disorders in children that can be debilitating and can also cause a fair amount of other emotional problems that inhibit their ability to enjoy life. Some anxiety disorders in children begin as small anxieties such as starting school or having to take a test. In most cases, these small fears or concerns pass as quickly as they arrive and don't develop into anxiety disorders in children, but for some, they become a form of panic disorder.

As adults, we tend to want to protect our children and help preserve their innocence, but this isn't always possible. Anxiety disorders in children can often be very similar to those experienced by adults and can be as debilitating. Children may obsess over certain everyday occurrences at school or at home, and one common characteristic is that they tend to be perfectionists and very hard on themselves. They may actually continue to work on something until they deem it is perfect and if they can't achieve their envisioned level of perfection, become irrationally upset and frustrated by their efforts.

Anxiety disorders in children can manifest as obsessive-compulsive disorders or panic disorders. A panic disorder in children is usually indicated by two panic attacks that were not expected followed by constant fear of having another one that lasts for at least one month. In most cases, young children don't exhibit this panic disorder but adolescents are more likely to develop symptoms.

OCD, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, is an anxiety disorder that entails intrusive thoughts or obsessions about certain behaviors or events that can't seem to be eliminated from the person's mind. They may develop repetitive behaviors, such as repeated washing of their hands or opening and closing a door they walk through several times. There are numerous behaviors that develop from OCD and should not be limited to these examples. Usually, children younger than ten are not diagnosed with OCD, but it has been known to be diagnosed in children as young as two or three. OCD can also manifest itself as a sense of terror a child feels if they do something wrong.

Anxiety disorders in children can also come across through phobias, which are irrational fears about certain situations, locations or objects. Most children will have fears throughout their youth, but it is the persistent fear, even when the situation is not present, that can lead to anxiety disorders in children.

Children sometimes must endure the loss of a parent, a natural disaster, an assault, an abuse, or other traumatic event and this can lead to post traumatic stress disorders, which is another kind of anxiety disorder. Children who suffer from PTSD may not eat well, have trouble sleeping, suffer nightmares that persist, or worry about the same thing happening again.

Anxiety disorders experienced most commonly in children can also be seen in adults, but the physical and emotional symptoms can be quite different. Children often do not understand or realize that their fears are irrational and they may not have the ability to express their emotions effectively. Children with anxiety disorders may exhibit tantrums, clinginess, or cry excessively and should be seen by professional medical personnel.