Symptoms of Child Anxiety Disorder
Adult and child anxiety is not uncommon. We all feel nervous and apprehensive once in a while, especially when we are faced with a tense or stressful situation. Anxiousness is part of our natural fight-or-flight response to stress and conflict. However, when child anxiety becomes overwhelming and interferes with daily life, causing emotional distress to the child and caregivers, this is not normal and further investigation into the underlying cause is necessary. If child anxiety exhibits as restless and nervous behavior that occurs more days than not, or the child seems excessively irritable, performs poorly in school, and has difficulty forming friendships with peers, he or she may be suffering from an anxiety disorder. Child anxiety symptoms may also include physical complaints such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, sweating, high blood pressure, flushing, and elevated heart rate. The causes of childhood and adult anxiety disorders have not been clearly identified, but researchers believe that there is a genetic predisposition to anxiety and other mental health issues. This may be caused by differences in brain chemistry and the physical structure of the brain. Anxiety treatment is largely successful, and the long-term outlook is good if early intervention takes place.
What does a child anxiety disorder look like? Children anxiety disorder tend to be edgy and restless more often than not. They may have trouble concentrating, and therefore may perform poorly in school. They may shy away from normal social interactions and have trouble making friends, and they may exhibit physical signs of anxiety.
What are the primary causes of a child anxiety disorder? We do not yet know exactly what causes anxiety disorder in children and adults. Studies have isolated small differences in the hippcampus, a part of the brain which controls anxiety and an individual's ability to calm him- or herself. These differences appear to be hereditary in nature.
How is a child anxiety disorder diagnosed? Childhood anxiety disorders are diagnosed mainly based on the behavior observed in the child. There are no medical tests for anxiety, but often a doctor will order some lab tests in order to rule out any medical issues that may be contributing to the behavior.
What are some common types of child anxiety? There are a number of different types of child and adult anxiety. Some of these include generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive/compulsive disorder, separation anxiety disorder (normal in infants, but not in older children), panic disorder, phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
What is involved in the treatment of anxiety in children? Treatment for anxiety in children is only necessary if the symptoms are interfering with normal activities. Most psychologists will recommend talk therapy for treatment of child anxiety disorder, and in some cases, a mild anti-depressant drug may be prescribed.
