| While a childhood anxiety disorder can be the same as | | | | As the name suggests, this disorder is when the child |
| those occurring in adults, some of these disorders are | | | | worries excessively over any number of different |
| more common in children and appear at specific | | | | things and it usually occurs during the ages from six to |
| stages in their growth. Children, from ages 6 through 9, | | | | eleven. Someone with this childhood anxiety disorder is |
| are more likely to have separation anxiety disorder as | | | | usually very hard on themselves because they want |
| well as specific phobias. From middle childhood through | | | | to be perfect and will often do things over and over |
| adolescence, social anxiety disorder and generalized | | | | again until they are happy with it. |
| anxiety disorder are more prevalent. Panic disorder | | | | Social Anxiety Disorder |
| may also occur during adolescence. | | | | Social anxiety disorder is an intense fear of being in |
| Separation Anxiety Disorder | | | | social situations. This includes starting conversations, |
| This childhood anxiety disorder is experienced by 4% | | | | peer activities, performing for others, speaking in front |
| of all children. Prior to four years of age, a lot of | | | | of the class, sitting by themselves in the cafeteria or |
| children have separation anxiety and it is perfectly | | | | library, keeping in the background, etc. Often, this |
| normal for them to feel anxious or frightened when a | | | | behavior is mistaken for shyness and as a result no |
| parent is no longer in the same room as them and is | | | | professional attention is ever considered. |
| out of view. Once they reach the age of four, they | | | | This childhood anxiety disorder usually peaks during |
| should be capable of leaving their parents without too | | | | adolescence as that is when making friends and |
| much concern. | | | | maintaining friendships becomes an important part of |
| Children with this disorder become very nervous when | | | | their development. If not treated, this disorder can |
| they are separated from their parents, or primary | | | | continue into adulthood increasing the possibility of |
| caregivers, or when they are away from their home. | | | | depression and alcohol abuse. |
| They have an excessive desire to be with the person | | | | Panic Disorder |
| they miss and feel miserable when they are not with | | | | If a child suffers more than one panic attack and then |
| them. | | | | spends the next month worrying about having another |
| Some symptoms are: | | | | one, they may have a panic disorder. A panic attack is |
| - Not wanting to go to school or camp | | | | when your child has an episode where they get this |
| - Avoiding sleepovers | | | | sudden surge of extreme fear, often occurring for no |
| - Following a parent around | | | | apparent reason. |
| - Not wanting to go somewhere by themselves | | | | The symptoms they feel are frightening and include |
| - At bedtime, they want someone to stay with them | | | | heart palpitations, unable to catch ones breath, |
| or they go into their parent's bedroom | | | | sweating, trembling, chest pains, nausea, dizziness, |
| Specific Phobias | | | | fears of dying or going crazy, chills, hot flashes, feelings |
| A specific phobia is an illogical fear of an object, like a | | | | of extreme danger and a sense that things are unreal. |
| dog, or of a situation, like a fear of heights. Childhood | | | | Most of the time panic disorders do not appear until |
| fears of animals and certain situations are common | | | | sometime in the twenties but they can appear during |
| and typically go away. A child may have a phobia if | | | | adolescence. This is not a common disorder amongst |
| their fear lasts longer than 6 months and gets in the | | | | younger children. |
| way of their daily routine. For example, a child may be | | | | Even though children have the same anxiety |
| afraid to go outside because he may see a dog. | | | | symptoms as adults, the way they react and display |
| Some common phobias children experience are | | | | their symptoms can be entirely different. This often |
| animals, thunder and lightning, being in the dark, going to | | | | makes a childhood anxiety disorder difficult to diagnose |
| the doctor, water, blood and heights. | | | | as it may be construed as just a phase that the child is |
| Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) | | | | going through. |