Anxiety
Disorders in Children and Adolescents
Generalized
Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalized anxiety disorder usually affects children between
the ages of six and eleven. It is characterized by excessive
worry and anxiety over a variety of things, including, but not
limited to:
- Grades
- Performance
in sports
- Punctuality
- Family
issues
- Earthquakes
- Health
The
affected child cannot control his/her worry and it interferes
with normal activities. Physical symptoms of GAD include:
- Restlessness
- Fatigue/Inability
to sleep
- Difficulty
concentrating
- Irritability
- Muscle
tension
Children
with GAD tend to be very hard on themselves, striving for perfection,
sometimes redoing tasks repeatedly. They may also seek constant
approval or reassurance from others.
