How to Recognize if Your Child Suffers From Anxiety

Mental health issues are often stigmatized. This is especially true in young people. In many instances, youths may be stricken with maladies like anxiety and depression.

However, they might not always receive the help they need because the adults around them chalk their behavior up to growing pains, surging hormones or experiencing phases that will soon pass.

At our mental health clinic, Answers LLC, we help children and adolescence who may be struggling with a variety of mental health issues find proper counseling or other forms of the help they need (such as family support or case management).

In doing so we understand that educating parents is the first step, so below you will find a comprehensive list of the most common anxiety disorders in children and young adults as well as causes, symptoms and potential treatment options.

Types Of Anxiety Disorders Often Seen In Children

There are several specific anxiety-driven disorders that youths might experience. These include:

1- Separation Fears

– The youth in question may not only be afraid to leave home but be alone for any duration of time.

2- Generalized Disorder

– Stricken children typically express concerns over everything and express significant fear or reluctance to partake in events precipitating these worries.

3- Social Phobias

– Affected youths become terrified of social situations in fear of perceived opinions and attitudes their peers might have about them.

Causes

There are several causes for the development of anxiety-based disorders. Mental illnesses can be triggered by an imbalance of brain chemistry, genetics, as well as stressful life events like abuse, experiencing the death of a loved one or witnessing or being involved in some type of traumatic event.

Symptoms

Physical and mental manifestations can vary from child to child. In many instances, specific symptoms will be dictated by the specific disorder present and said condition’s severity. However, anxious children might display certain common manifestations such as extreme nervousness, wild mood fluctuations, crying, sadness, fear, sleeplessness as well as a host of physical symptoms like digestive problems, headaches, unexplained behavioral problems, decreased academic performance, muscle tension and discomfort and even an increased pulse rate and rapid breathing.

Potential Treatment Options

Specific treatment protocols are often dictated by the particular condition in play and said malady’s severity. Treatment protocols can include:

Therapy

In many instances, anxiety-based disorders in youths are first treated with a process known as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). During this process, counseling professionals work with the youths in question to help them identify tension triggers and create productive solutions for how to address such issues.

Medications

Should the specific disorder be severe or related to an issue like altered brain chemistry, a variety of medications may be prescribed. We try to use medications as a last resort or unless they are absolutely required.

Contact Us Today

The staff at Answers LLC is committed to helping youths and their families overcome anxiety-laden disorders amongst many others. Parents with children who have received a diagnosis or fear that their child might have such a mental ailment are strongly encouraged to contact us. Click here to contact us today or give us a call at (208) 552-0855.

Ready to take the first step?