Identifying Anxiety Disorder in Children and Teens

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental illnesses in the United States among children and teens, affecting approximately one in eight people, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The good news is that there are effective treatments for various anxiety disorders that can help your child feel better, but only if you know the signs to look for and when to seek a psychiatrist’s help. While there are different types of anxiety disorders, there are common signs people can watch out for and effective treatment methods a psychiatrist can provide.

Understanding anxiety disorder

Anxiety is a normal emotion for anyone to feel from time to time, especially children. They can feel anxious when starting a new school, going to the doctor, or trying to make new friends. However, it becomes a mental disorder when instead of anxiety being a fleeting feeling, it lingers and begins to cause intense feelings of worry and fear. This can make it hard for children to participate in normal activities and affect their ability to function at home, school, or in their community.

There are several types of anxiety disorders: general anxiety disorder (GAD), phobias, social anxiety, separation anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and panic disorder.

Signs of anxiety disorder in children

Anxiety disorders can manifest differently, especially once children are exposed to more situations and activities. For example, a toddler with a separation anxiety disorder may lash out when going to daycare. In contrast, teenagers with social anxiety may avoid making plans with their peers. However, no matter the age, here are some common signs parents can look out for in their children:

• Avoidance of normal situations (asking questions in class, sports games, etc.)
• Physical symptoms like headaches, nausea, muscle tension
• Loss or increase in appetite
• Trouble concentrating or focusing on tasks at school or home
• Panic attacks
• Insomnia (troubling sleep patterns)
• Easily irritable or erratic emotions
• Trouble regulating their body’s response to stress
• Being clingy

While some of these symptoms can be seen as growing pains, parents are encouraged to seek guidance from a psychiatrist when these symptoms are prolonged, as their child may be battling a disorder beyond their control and comprehension.

Treatments for anxiety disorder

There are several treatment options for anxiety disorder in children and teens. However, what works for one child may not work for another; therefore, a psychiatrist will introduce various forms of therapy, such as psychotherapy and medication-based therapies, to see which will prove most effective for each specific patient.

A popular medication-based therapy is antidepressants. Antidepressants can help reduce symptoms of anxiety disorders in children with mild to moderate symptoms. A psychiatrist may also use them if other treatments are ineffective independently. It is worth noting, like with any medication, there will be an adjustment period during the first couple of weeks of introducing the drug into the child’s system.

A common form of psychotherapy the psychiatrist will use is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is an effective therapy for treating anxiety in patients of all ages and best of all, there are no side effects. It teaches children and teens new ways of thinking about situations that cause fear or stress, which helps them change behaviors related to these negative feelings over time.