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- Young children are commonly afraid of things like the dark or imaginary things like monsters. This is a normal part of growing up, but has the potential to become a phobia (a type of anxiety disorder) when the fear becomes overwhelming and affects your child’s day-to-day life.
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Anxiety in children is considered a disorder if worries or fears interfere with their life for more than six months. It might be hard to tell if your child is anxious. They might be irritable or complain of feeling sick. Early intervention and treatment can help.
If your child is having problems with anxiety, there's plenty you can do to help. Above all, it's important to talk to your child about their anxiety or worries. Read more about anxiety in children , including self-help tips for parents of anxious children.
It’s normal for children to frequently have fears and worries. Some anxious children may develop a condition called generalised anxiety disorder when they get older. Generalised anxiety disorder causes you to feel anxious about a wide range of situations and issues, rather than one specific event.
- What Causes Anxiety in Children?
- Types of Anxiety
- How Common Is Anxiety in Children?
- What Are The Signs of Anxiety in Children?
- How to Help Anxiety in Children
- When to See A Doctor
- Treatments For Anxiety in Children
Children can feel anxious about various things at different stages of their lives. Many of these worries are a normal part of growing up. For example, from the age of around 6 months to 3 years it's very common for young children to have separation anxiety - to worry when they are not with their parent or caregiver. It's also common for preschool-a...
Generalised anxiety disorder
Generalised anxiety disorder(GAD) makes children and young people feel worried and nervous most of the time. The condition can persist long-term. Some of the physical symptoms of anxiety may come and go. The anxiety tends to be about various stresses at home or school. It is often about quite minor things, or they might seem minor to others. Sometimes the child does not know why they are anxious. The symptoms of GAD cause distress and affect the child's day-to-day activities. You might notice...
Separation anxiety
This is a normal stage in a child's development and can happen between the age of 6 months and 3 years. It is shown when a young child becomes clingy or cries when they are separated from their parent or caregiver. Viewed positively it demonstrates that the child has bonded well to those adults. It may also be accompanied by a fear of strangers. It should stop at around age 2 to 3.
Social anxiety disorder
With this condition you become very anxious about what other people may think of you, or how they may judge you. As a result you have great difficulty in social situations, which can greatly affect your life. The child may not do as well at school as they might have done, as they tend to avoid any group work, discussions, etc. The child may become socially isolated and find it difficult to make friends.
Anxiety in children and young people is quite common. Anxiety is one of the common mental health problems in people generally. It is thought that nearly 300,000 young people in the UK have a problem with anxiety. The number might be higher because lots of people who are anxious do not come forward with their problem. It is important to recognise ch...
Signs and symptoms of anxiety in younger children might include: 1. Change to bedwetting when previously dry. 2. Food refusal. 3. Behaviour changes - becoming irritable or clingy, fidgeting. 4. Peeing a lot, or tummy aches. 5. Waking at night when they were previously sleeping through. 6. Bad dreams. Older children and young people might: 1. Lack c...
If a child is feeling anxious, there are things that parents or caregivers can do to help. It is very important to talk to your child about their fears or worries. Encourage your child to tell you about their worries, rather than keeping them to themselves. Reassure them that others also have these fears and show them you understand how they feel. ...
If your child's anxiety is severe, persists and interferes with their everyday life, it's a good idea to ask for some help. A visit to a GP is a good place to start. If your child's anxiety is affecting their school life, it's a good idea to talk to their school as well. Parents and carers can get help and advice about children's mental health from...
If their anxiety is affecting their day-to-day life there are a number of options for treating anxiety in children and young people. The treatment offered will depend on a number of factors such as their age and what has already been tried. Some treatments are offered by local child mental health services and some might be offered by support organi...
Jan 1, 2005 · Fear of being away from home or one's parents, normal in the very young, is called separation anxiety disorder when it persists in older children. It may develop spontaneously or under stress, such as a death in the family, and can also result from social phobia or panic attacks.
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Separation anxiety between ages 18 months and 3 years is a normal developmental stage. Separation anxiety becomes problematic if it persists into the school years and causes children to fear...
Josephine Elia. , MD, Nemours/A.I. duPont Hospital for Children. Full review/revision Apr 2021 | Modified Sep 2022. VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION. GET THE QUICK FACTS. Symptoms. Diagnosis. Treatment. Anxiety disorders are characterized by fear, worry, or dread that greatly impairs the ability to function and is out of proportion to the circumstances.
