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It is not uncommon for children to have fears and
insecurities or for young children to cling to their
parents when in new situations or around new people.
As children grow older and enter school situations,
it is also quite common for them to feel nervous about
exams or giving class presentations. When physical
and/or emotional symptoms become difficult to manage,
or a child’s ability to function in a variety
of situations like school, extra curricular activities,
friendships, etc. becomes compromised, then your child
may be suffering from a childhood anxiety disorder.
Children can suffer from the same six anxiety disorders
from which adults can suffer. In addition to these,
however, they may suffer from Separation Anxiety Disorder.
Separation Anxiety Disorder
Separation Anxiety Disorder is characterized by an
excessive fear of leaving or being left by a primary
caregiver - usually one’s parents. Accompanying
this fear is the concern that something terrible will
happen to the parents or caregiver once they are out
of sight. Although it is very common for toddlers to
feel fearful when being left with a new caregiver or
at preschool, they usually adjust once they have been
distracted and/or after some time has passed. If by
the age of four, your child is still having difficulty
being left at school or with others, then he or she
may have separation anxiety disorder.
Symptoms can include:
- Following a parent or
parents around - not letting them out of their sight
- Being
excessively afraid of sleeping over at a friend’s
home
- Refusing to go to camp or school
- Repeated requests
to have someone with them when they fall asleep or
to get into parents’ bed
in the middle of the night
- Not wanting to or avoiding
going to places by themselves
Social Anxiety Disorder
Many children are considered to be shy and as they
age they seem to “grow out of it”. Social
anxiety disorder, however, is characterized by much
more intense feelings and associated behaviours.
It is an intense fear of scrutiny and evaluation
by peers or authority figures (e.g., teachers), and/or
of performance situations.
Children with Social Anxiety Disorder may avoid situations
where they may have to engage in activities that make
them feel anxious. School performance and attendance,
as well as the child's ability to socialize with peers
and develop relationships, can all be compromised as
a result.
Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder may include:
- Feeling intensely afraid
of and/or avoiding:
- Social performance situations
- Initiating conversations
with peers or teachers
- Speaking in front of the class
- Inviting others to
social activities
- Participating in peer oriented activities
like sports, parties etc.
The following are some of the physical symptoms of
Social anxiety disorder:
- Dizziness
- Stomach aches
- Racing heart
- Sweating
- Crying
Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in children is characterized
by involuntary thoughts or images that arise repeatedly
in the child’s mind which can be unpleasant or
frightening to the child. These are called obsessions. Examples
of obsessive thoughts in children include thoughts
about getting sick or that something bad will happen
to their parents. In order to keep the thoughts at
bay or to lessen the anxiety experienced by the intrusive
thoughts, a child will feel compelled to engage in
specific rituals or behaviours which are called Compulsions.
These can include: dressing in a certain way, counting,
hand washing, checking things like doors and locks,
repeating certain words or numbers over and over again.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive
worry about a number of different everyday things like
social activities, school performance, extra curricular
activities and home life. The worry is very distressing
to the child and is perceived as uncontrollable which
results in a constant need for reassurance from others.
The following are some of the physical symptoms that
a child may exhibit:
- Muscle tension
- Headaches
- Stomach aches
- Restlessness
- Sleep difficulties
- Difficulty concentrating
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Children can experience PTSD after they have experienced
or witnessed a stressful or traumatic event such as
the death of a loved one, a natural disaster like a
hurricane, car accident, physical or sexual abuse,
etc.
Some of the symptoms of PTSD include:
- Difficulty sleeping
- Excessive
clinginess
- Nightmares
- Irritability
- Avoidance of things or people associated
with the traumatic event
- Excessive fear of the event
taking place again
Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is diagnosed in children when a child
experiences at least two panic attacks which occur
suddenly or ‘out of the blue’ followed
by a month of feeling fearful and apprehensive of having
another episode. Children who experience panic attacks
become very frightened of having other attacks and
the physical symptoms they cause. This may lead them
to avoid going to school or to avoid being away from
their parents. Panic Disorder often appears in adolescence.
Symptoms of Panic attacks include:
- Shortness of breath
- Racing
heart
- Choking sensation
- Dizziness
- Fear of dying or losing control
Specific Phobias
Children who experience phobias have excessive and/or
unrealistic fears about specific situations or things.
Often the child will do anything to avoid confronting
the feared object or situation as it causes such intense
anxiety. Often when faced with the object or situation
the child will react with intense clinginess, crying,
tantruming, freezing or will experience physical symptoms
such as stomach aches and headaches.
Situations or objects that can bring on these intense
feelings include: the dark, storms, water, heights,
animals, being in enclosed spaces, going to the doctor
or dentist.
If you are concerned that your child may have an anxiety
disorder, speak to your family physician, psychologist,
or psychiatrist.
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