Children Anxiety Disorder Symptoms

Children and adults alike experience feelings of nervousness, fear, or worry from time to time; these feelings are part of a normal response to a stressful situation, but when they occur to such an extent that they interfere with normal life, children anxiety disorder could be the underlying cause in which it may be manifested by symptoms such as extreme nervousness, inability to concentrate, poor school performance, and physical symptoms like nausea, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, headache, shortness of breath, and sweating. Children anxiety disorder can be the result of a recent traumatic or high-stress event such as a move to a new home and school, divorce of the parents, death of a pet or a loved one, or it can have no obvious environmental or emotional basis at all. Anxiety disorder in adults and children is treated most successfully the earlier treatment begins; treating anxiety may include a combination of talk therapy, positive reinforcement, and in some cases, antidepressant medications. While doctors do not fully understand the cause of children anxiety disorder, there is evidence that it is inherited and that there are some anatomical differences in the brains of patients with anxiety and other emotional disorders.

What are symptoms of children anxiety disorder?

Anxiety disorder can be difficult to recognize, because symptoms are often attributed to other factors (like Social axiety). Signs of extreme nervousness and restlessness, an inability to concentrate, poor school performance, difficulty relating to peers, irritability, and physical complaints such as nausea, upset stomach and frequent headaches may indicate an anxiety disorder.

What are the causes of children anxiety disorder?

Medical researchers have not yet fully uncovered the causes behind anxiety disorder. There is some suggestion of a hereditary link, as anxiety and other mental disorders tend to run in familes, and studies have located small differences in areas of the brain that influence anxiety.

How do pediatricians diagnose children anxiety disorder?

Anxiety diagnosis is based mainly on the observations by the doctor and parents of a child’s behavior. While there are no lab tests that can pinpoint anxiety disorder, certian tests may be conducted to rule out another underlying medical cause for the symptoms.

What are the common categories of children anxiety disorder?

Some of the most common types of childhood anxiety anxiety disorders include obsessive-compulsive disorder, phobias (irrational and overwhelming fears), separation axiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, and panic disorder,. These conditions usually affect children between the ages of 6 and 11.

How is anxiety disorder treated in children?

Treatment of anxiety in both adults and children is more effective the sooner it is addressed after the appearance of symptoms. The most common form of treatment for children anxiety disorder is psychotherapy and teaching positive reinforcement techniques; antidepressants may also be prescribed for children with anxiety.