Anxiety disorders in children (1670)

Key points below


What are Anxiety Disorders?

Children with anxiety disorders have too much fear and worry that lasts a long time. Children with anxiety often have problems at school or home because of it. A small amount of anxiety is normal in childhood. At different ages, some fears are common like fear of being away from parents and fear of the dark. Children can also have anxiety when they are in new or stressful situations.

Children can have so much anxiety it causes problems.
Some children:

What Causes Anxiety Disorders?

There are many reasons why a child may have anxiety. It can run in families and start at birth. It can also start after exposure to stressful events and problems meeting developmental milestones.

What are the Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders?

Children with anxiety may:

How are Anxiety Disorders treated?

Anxiety will not get better without help. Treatment for mild anxiety starts with psychotherapy. In psychotherapy, a health care provider helps your child by understanding how they think and feel about things. Children will learn to:

Your child will need to practice what they learn outside of sessions. This is an important part of therapy. Parents are often part of therapy sessions so they can help their child practice the skills. Psychotherapy is usually done by psychologists, mental health counselors, and clinical social workers.

Please contact one of the following therapists to enroll your child in outpatient psychotherapy:

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How can I help my child’s anxiety?

Websites for more information on anxiety:

ALERT:

Call your child’s doctor, nurse, or clinic if you have any concerns or if your child:

  • Shows an increase in feelings of hopelessness and helplessness or talks about death and shows increasingly reckless behavior.
  • Has special health care needs that were not covered by this information