What is an anxiety disorder?
Anxiety disorders cause extreme fear and worry and change your child's behavior, sleep, diet, or mood.
01.
What are the types of anxiety disorders
Different anxiety disorders affect children and teens.
They include:
Generalized anxiety disorder
Separation anxiety disorder
Social anxiety disorder
Panic disorder
Selective mutism
Specific phobias
1.1 Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalized anxiety disorder causes children to worry about a lot of things almost every day. Children with generalized anxiety disorder worry about things that most children worry about, such as homework, exams, or making mistakes.
But children with generalized anxiety disorder worry about these things more often. Children with generalized anxiety disorder also worry about something their parents didn't expect. For example, they might worry about recess, lunchtime, birthday parties, playing with friends, or riding the school bus. Children with generalized anxiety disorder can also worry about war, weather, or the future. Or about a loved one, safety, illness or injury.
Generalized anxiety disorder can make it difficult for children to concentrate at school. Because children with generalized anxiety disorder always have a worry in their hearts. Generalized anxiety disorder makes it difficult for children to relax and play, eat well, or fall asleep at night. They may (not go) to school for many days because fear makes them feel sick, scared, or tired.
Some children with generalized anxiety disorder hide their troubles in their hearts. Others confide their concerns to parents or teachers. They may ask over and over again if something they are worried about will happen. But no matter what their parents say, it's hard for them to feel good.
1.2 Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
It is normal for babies and very young children to feel anxious when they leave their parents for the first time. But soon they got used to being with grandparents, nannies or teachers. They start to feel at home at daycare or school.
But when a child grows up and still can't get rid of the fear of being separated from their parents, this is called separation anxiety disorder. Even as they age, children with separation anxiety disorder feel anxious about leaving their parents or home. They may miss many days of school. They may say they are feeling too uncomfortable or upset to go. They may cling to their parents, cry, or refuse to go to school, spend the night, play, or other activities without parents.
At home, they may have difficulty falling asleep or falling asleep alone. If the parents are not around, they may avoid staying in the room at home.
1.3 Social anxiety disorder
Children with social phobia can feel too scared of other people's thoughts or words. They are always afraid that they might do or say something embarrassing. They worry that they may sound strange or look strange. They don't like to be at the center of attention. They don't want others to notice them, so they may avoid raising their hands in class. If they are asked in class, they may freeze or panic and not be able to answer. For social phobia, class speaking or attending group activities with classmates can cause extreme fear.
Social phobia can cause children and teens to avoid school or friends. They may feel nauseous or tired before or during school. They may complain about other physical sensations associated with anxiety. For example, they may feel a rapid heartbeat or shortness of breath. They may feel uneasy and feel that they cannot sit still. They may feel their face get hot or blush. They may feel trembling or dizzy.
1.4 Panic disorder
These sudden episodes of anxiety can lead to severe physical symptoms such as feeling trembling or nervous, trembling, rapid heartbeat, and shortness of breath. Panic disorder can flare up at any time. It is more common in adolescents than in children.
1.5 Selective mutism
This extreme form of social phobia can make children too scared to speak. Children and teens with this disease can speak. They are at home or talking to the people closest to them. But they refuse to speak at school, with friends, or in other places where they have that fear.
1.6 Specific phobias
For small children, it is normal to be afraid of noise such as darkness, monsters, large animals, or thunder, fireworks, etc. Most of the time, when children feel scared, adults can help them feel safe and calm. But phobia is a more intense, more extreme, and more persistent fear of a particular thing. Children with phobias are afraid of what they are afraid of and try to avoid it.
If they approach something they are afraid of, they will feel frightened and it will be difficult to comfort. Children with specific phobias may have an extreme fear of things like animals, spiders, needles or needles, blood, vomiting, thunderstorms, people in costumes, or darkness. Phobias cause children to avoid going to places where they think they might see what they're afraid of. For example, a child who is afraid of dogs may not go to a friend's house, park, or party because there may be dogs there.
02.
What are the signs and symptoms of anxiety?
Parents or teachers may see signs of anxiety in their child or teen. For example, a child may stick together, skip school, or cry. They may show fear or uneasiness, or refuse to speak or do things. Children and teens with anxiety disorders can also feel symptoms that others don't see. It can make them feel scared, worried, or nervous.
It also affects their bodies. They may feel trembling, nervous, or shortness of breath. They may feel "seven up and eight down" in their stomach, hot face, wet hands, dry mouth, or a rapid heartbeat.
These anxiety symptoms are the result of a "fight or flight" response. This is the body's normal response to danger. It triggers the release of natural chemicals in the body. These chemicals allow us to deal with real dangers. They affect heart rate, breathing, muscles, nerves, and digestion. This reaction is to protect us from danger. But people with anxiety disorders are overactive in their "fight or flight" response. It happens even when there is no real danger.
03.
What causes anxiety disorders?
1. Genetics
Children who have family members with anxiety disorders are also more likely to have anxiety disorders. Children may inherit genes that make them prone to anxiety.
2. Brain chemicals
Genes help guide how brain chemicals called neurotransmitters work. If a particular brain chemical is in short supply, or doesn't work well, it can cause anxiety.
3. Living conditions
What happens in a child's life can make them feel stressed and difficult to cope with. Loss of a loved one, serious illness, death of a loved one, violence or abuse can all cause some children to become anxious.
4. Learning behavior
Growing up in a family where others are afraid or anxious can also "teach" children to be afraid.
04.
How are anxiety disorders diagnosed?
Anxiety disorders can be diagnosed by trained therapists. They will talk to you and your child, ask questions, and listen carefully. They will ask how and when the child's anxiety and fear occur. This helps them diagnose a specific anxiety disorder that their child has.
Children or adolescents with anxiety symptoms should also have regular health checkups. This helps ensure that no other health problems are causing symptoms.
05.
How is anxiety treated?
Most often, anxiety disorders are treated with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). It is a type of talk therapy that helps families, children, and teens learn to manage worries, fears, and anxieties.
CBT tells children that their thoughts and actions affect how they feel. In cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), children learn that fear remains intense when they avoid what they are afraid of. They know that when they face fear, the fear weakens and disappears.
In CBT:
When children are anxious, parents learn how best to cope. They learn how to help children face fear.
Children learn coping skills so they can face fears and worries less.
The therapist will help the child practice and give support and praise as they try. Over time, children learn to face fear and feel better. They learn to adapt to the environment they fear. They are proud of what they have learned. Without as much worry, they can focus on other things – like school, activities, and recreation.
Sometimes, medications are also used to help treat anxiety.
06.
How can I help my child?
If your child has an anxiety disorder, here are some ways you can help:
Find a trained therapist and take your child to see all (potentially helpful) treatment appointments. Talk to a therapist often and ask how you can best help your child.
Help your child face fear. Ask how the therapist can help your child practice at home. Praise your child for their efforts to cope with fears and worries.
Help your child talk about feelings. Listen and let them know that you understand, love, and accept them. Building a caring relationship with you helps your child build inner strength.
Encourage your child to take a small step forward. Don't let your child give up or avoid things they're afraid of. Help them take a small positive step.
Be patient. The treatment takes a while to work and the children will feel better.