Anxiety Disorder Treatment from a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

Should your child visit a child and adolescent psychiatrist for anxiety? If your child is struggling to manage fears, repetitive thoughts and behaviors, or physical symptoms such as stomachaches and headaches, he or she may have an anxiety disorder.

These conditions are not rare in kids or adults: According to the CDC, almost 6 million American children have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Learn more about how to help your child thrive with this advice from a psychiatrist.

What are common childhood anxiety disorders?

Are you aware of these common childhood anxiety disorders? See if your child's symptoms match up with any of the conditions on this list:

• General Anxiety Disorder: According to the Mayo Clinic, children with GAD will worry or “fret” endlessly about everyday topics such as friendships, grades, and even their physical features. Their worry may also manifest as physical symptoms, including stomachaches or insomnia. You might not understand why they are so stressed, or you may ask why they are concerned about something that is not a big deal, but they cannot turn off their worry. This disorder can impact a child’s life in a very real way.
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: According to Cedars-Sinai Hospital, kids with OCD may confess to having obsessive thoughts such as worrying over germs, doing the “wrong thing”, or harming another person if they do not complete a specific ritual. You might see your child engage in compulsive behaviors to manage this anxiety — or not. OCD traits can manifest differently in different kids. One child may wash hands repeatedly, while another may obsess over having “perfect” handwriting.
• Panic Disorder: According to the Child Mind Institute, children with PD may have random panic attacks or experience specific phobias such as reading in front of the class. They may tell you they feel extremely scared, or they might experience scary physical symptoms such as a pounding heart and a “suffocating” feeling.

3 research-based treatments to try for childhood anxiety disorders

If your child is struggling with anxiety or a related disorder, it may help him or her to know that there are evidence-based treatments for both kids and adults. Consider the list below to start.

1. Cognitive-behavioral therapy

CBT focuses on the child's anxious behaviors and the thinking that produces them. In a CBT session with a child and adolescent psychiatrist, your child will spend time talking and developing an action plan to deal with fears and worries as they pop up.

2. Medication

Some kids cannot manage their anxiety disorders on their own. Your child psychiatrist can prescribe an appropriate anti-anxiety medication or antidepressant at a safe dose.

3. Natural treatments

If you or your child do not want to take medication, but therapy itself is not working as well as you like, consider other treatments such as yoga, meditation, and exercise to manage symptoms. Talk to your psychiatrist about how to integrate these practices within your child's overall health plan.