Children and adults alike experience occasional feelings of nervousness, anxiousness, or fear; these feelings are a part of our natural response to stressful situations, but when anxiety in child seems to dominate his or her thoughts and behavior, it is not normal and could indicate an anxiety disorder. A disorder of anxiety in child has symptoms that are overt but may be difficult to recognize, as many of them can be attributed to other causes or to normal childhood fears.  Anxiety in child manifests as excessive irritability, restlessness, or nervousness, difiiculty focusing on schoolwork or another activity, poor academic performance, difficulty forming friendhips, and insistence on believing illogical conclusions which they have manufactured.  Causes of anxiety in child and adults are not fully understood do date, but mental health professionals believe there is a genetic factor.  Mental health issues appear to run in families and may be due to small differences in brain anatomy in th areas which affect anxiety and the body’s ability to calm itself.  Childhood anxiety disorders can be successfully treated.  Long-term chances of recurrence are reduced the earlier the symptoms are addressed; treatment of anxiety may include medications, therapy, and teaching the child to recognize the physiological symptoms.

What are some of the common symptoms of a disorder of anxiety in child? The most obvious symptoms of anxiety disorder  include unreasonable fears that something bad will happen, excessive nervousness , extreme irritability, difficulty focusing in school, difficulty forming peer relationships, and many physical symptoms including shortness of breath, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, headache, and elevated heart rate.

What causes disorders of anxiety in child? The medical community has not yet uncovered the exact cause of anxiety, but it is clear that it has a tendency to run in families, suggesting a genetic factor.  While some people are predisposed to anxiety disorders, there are certain triggers which can set it off, such as a traumatic event.

How is children’s anxiety disorder diagnosed? There are no laboratory tests for diagnosing anxiety in child.  Anxiety disorders are typically diagnosed by the doctor’s and parents’ observation of the symptoms, although certain lab tests may be ordered to rule out a medical issue that may cause similar types of symptoms.

What are the most common categories of disorders for anxiety in child? Some of the most common childhood anxiety disorders are separation anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, simple phobias (overwhelming irrational fears), panic disorder, and post traumatic stress disorder.  These disorders may appear between 6 and 11 years of age, and in some cases earlier.

How do doctors treat children anxiety disorders? Treating an anxiety disorder is largely successful, the more so the sooner the problem is addressed.  Anxiety in child may be treated with medications, but many pediatricians prefer psychotherapy (talk therapy) and behavioral modifications to antidepressants and other prescription drugs.