Anxiety Disorders and Kids

DID YOU KNOW? 1 in 8 children has an anxiety disorder, the most common mental disorder in children Children or adolescents are more likely to have an anxiety disorder if their parents have anxiety disorders Left untreated, children with an anxiety disorder are at higher risk to perform poorly in school, to have less developed social skills and to be more vulnerable to substance abuse and cigarette smoking

Does your child have a distinct and ongoing fear of social situations involving unfamiliar people? Does he or she worry excessively about a number of events or activities? Does your child experience shortness of breath or racing heart for no apparent reason?

TIPS Notice the warning signs (i.e., anger, poor concentration, withdrawn, lack of friends, anxious, worried). These usually occur more than once. Talk to your child. Ask how he or she is. Let your child know they are not alone, that anxiety disorders are real, serious, and treatable. Get help. Talk to your doctor or a health professional. If you need help finding a therapist, the ADAA provides a list on its website of members who have identified themselves as mental health providers. RESOURCES Anxiety Disorders Association of America, National Institute of Mental Health, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Suicide Awareness Voices of Education, Mental Health Matters, Harvard Health Letter,

These are just a few questions you may want to ask yourself if you suspect your child has an anxiety disorder.

"If your child appears withdrawn, anxious, afraid, or worried on more than one occasion, or, if he or she exhibits poor concentration or lacks friends or is struggling in school, these may be signs your child has an anxiety disorder," said ADAA member Thomas H. Ollendick, PhD, a cognitive-behavioral specialist in the assessment and treatment of childhood andadolescent phobias and anxiety disorders at the Virginia Tech Child Study Center. "It is so important to identify the warning signs early and to find treatment. If treatment is begun early, many of the lingering symptoms can be circumvented."

Research has shown that if left untreated, children with an anxiety disorder are at higher risk to perform poorly in school, to have less developed social skills and to be more vulnerable to substance abuse and cigarette smoking.

Children and teens have anxiety in their lives, just as adults do, and they can suffer from anxiety disorders in much the same way. Stressful life events, such as starting school, moving, or the loss of a parent, can trigger the onset of an anxiety disorder, but not in all cases. An anxiety disorder also may develop from a complex set of risk factors such as genetics, brain chemistry, or personality.

While children can develop any of the recognized anxiety disorders, some are more common in childhood than others. Some disorders tend to be specific to age development. Separation Anxiety Disorder and Specific Phobias are more common in younger children, about ages 6-9 years old. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) are more common in middle childhood and adolescence. Panic Disorder can occur in adolescence as well. As with adults, depression has a high rate of comorbidity in children, especially among teenagers.

Although children experience the symptoms of anxiety in much the same way as adults do, children display and react to those symptoms differently. This can lead to difficulties in diagnosis. It can also be difficult to determine whether a child's behavior is "just a phase," or whether it constitutes a disorder.

If you are concerned your child may have an anxiety disorder, the ADAA has a self-test for parents on our website. Parents can also find other useful information on our website on medications, overviews of anxiety disorders, treatment options, finding help for your child, what you should know about clinical drug trials, and more.