At a young age, children can also experience anxiety. Even with everyday fun activities and learning they have, anxiety can also be developed. Most are tasked to learn new skills, meet challenges, explore the world and overcome their fears in a world they can’t fully comprehend yet. Some of these challenges are too great for them to handle, especially when they are too stressed or pressured about it. Parents often feel helpless when they see their child experiencing extreme fear or concern. In these cases, the child may have developed a diagnosable anxiety disorder.

Children left untended suffering from anxiety disorders at a young age can develop issues that are harder to deal with when they grow older. This can also lead to poor school performance, less social interaction, and even harmful substance abuse. Get help for your child from professionals, such as Colleen Hurll Counselling, to help deal with their anxiety issues and prevent more problems from arising. Read down below to give you an overview of the types of anxiety disorders that can affect children.

• Separation Anxiety Disorder

For children three years old and below, it is normal for them to experience fear from being separated from their parents or caregiver. At an age older than that, children should be trained to be more independent. Their separation anxiety disorder can start at four years old. These children often experience nightmares and have headaches and nausea.

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder is persistent and excessive worry about several things. Even children can experience this and cause them to be irritable, weary, unable to sleep properly, and unable to concentrate on tasks. Like most anxiety disorders, it worries them which can lead to poor school performance and less social interaction during their everyday activities. Having a reliable professional to help you, such as Colleen Hurll’s anxiety counseling services, can make your child’s disorder diminish and eventually disappear.

• Social Anxiety Disorder

Children with this disorder will attempt to avoid social situations at all costs. Some may exhibit fear by throwing tantrums, clinging to adults, crying, and refusing to speak. They might have a hard time participating in class and interacting with their peers.

• Specific Phobia

A phobia is a fear of something that lasts for a long time and is out of proportion to the actual danger posed. Some children may have extreme anxiety or fear of an object, situation, or place that can be classified as a phobia. They will tend to cry, cling to an adult or freeze up when that fear is near them.

• Selective Mutism 

Selective mutism is a childhood anxiety disorder that causes a child to be unable to speak or communicate in any way during social interactions in school, events, etc. They can only speak when they are comfortable in their environment and companions. It is common among children that are at least five years old. Some of the symptoms include refusal to speak at school and withdrawing from other people to avoid eye contact or socializing.

Final Word

It is always best to consult experts about your child’s anxiety so they can give you proper guidance towards what steps to take and conduct an assessment of the situation. Anxiety disorders may be treated using various techniques such as talk therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, play therapy, and medication.

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