All children experience anxiety. Anxiety in children is expected and normal at specific times in development. Young children may have short-lived fears, (such as fear of the dark, storms, animals, or strangers). However, when anxieties become severe and begin to interfere with the daily activities of childhood, such as separating from parents, attending school and making friends, parents should consider seeking the evaluation and advice of a child and adolescent psychiatrist.
A child or adolescent with severe separation anxiety may show some of the following:
constant thoughts and fears about safety of self and parents,
refusing to go to school,
frequent stomachaches and other physical complaints,
extreme worries about sleeping away from home,
overly clingy behavior at home,
panic or tantrums at times of separation from parents.
Some anxious children are afraid to meet and talk to new people. Children with difficulty may have few friends outside the family. Other children with severe anxiety may have:
many worries about things before they happen,
constant worries or concerns about school, friends, or sports.
Anxious children are often overly tense or uptight. Some may seek a lot of reassurance, and their worries may interfere with activities. Because anxious children may also be quiet, compliant and eager to please, their difficulties may be missed. Parents should be alert to the signs of severe anxiety so they can intervene early to prevent complications. Early treatment can prevent future difficulties, such as, loss of friendships, failure to reach social and academic potential, and feelings of low self-esteem. Severe anxiety problems in children can be treated. Treatments may include a combination of the following: individual psychotherapy, family therapy, medications, and behavioral treatments.
- The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry