Anxiety in Children and Teens

Phobia

Your child could have an irrational fear about something specific (eg, thunder or heights). This is called a phobia. Phobic Disorders are characterized by the following:

Unreasonable or excessive fear
The fear instantly appears in the presence of the feared object or situation
Attempts to avoid the fear source or is extremely distressed when having to experience it
The phobia seriously impacts your child's family or social life or school or sports performance

If you are not sure if your child has an anxiety disorder, call our office and discuss it with one of our experienced child therapists. We'd be happy to consult with you and help you out. It is important to seek help for your child if you suspect they have an Anxiety Disorder. Our therapists for teen & childrens can assess your child's distress to determine the nature of the disorder and develop a treatment plan to help your child. That could include building coping skills, talking through irrational beliefs, working through the fears through play therapy, and/or family therapy.

Child anxiety is a natural reaction to stressful situations and is is a normal part of childhood. But there are times when your child's reactions to stress are more long term, pervasive, or out of proportion to a situation. In these cases, you may consider whether your child is suffering with an Anxiety Disorder.

Anxiety disorders are not uncommon in children and teens. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 30% of all teens struggle with an anxiety disorder. And between 60-80% of all these cases go untreated. Here are some signs that your child may have an anxiety disorder and may need to seek treatment.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Children's & Teens

Your child may be suffering with a Generalized Anxiety Disorder if they experience some of the following symptoms:

Excessive worry about future events
Excessive worry about friends, school, or activities
Excessive worry about or refusal to sleep away from home
Obsessive thinking and fears about the child’s (or the parents' or other significant people's) safety
Refusing to go to school
Clinging to family
Feeling as though there is a lump in the throat
Extreme fatigue
Frequently complains about stomachaches, headaches, or other physical symptoms
Muscle aches or tension
Difficulty sleeping/poor sleep habits
Lack of concentration
Startles easily
Irritability
Inability to relax

Panic Disorder

Panic attacks are periods of intense fear or discomfort accompanied by physical symptoms such as a racing heartbeat or shortness of breath. These attacks often appear seemingly out of the blue. If your child experiences a recurrence of a panic attack or continues to obsess and worry over having another panic attack, he or she may be diagnosed with Panic Disorder.

Symptoms of a panic attack include: