Anxiety Disorder in Children – Causes, Symptoms, And Treatment
Anxiety disorders are described as having exaggerated fear, worry, or dread over situations at hand that can gravely impair a person's normal functioning. In more severe cases, anxiety may result in physical symptoms, even in children. Although children react differently to this disorder, the symptoms they feel are generally the same as adults do.
Even at a young age, kids do experience anxiety in their lives. Life events considered stressful are starting school, moving from one residence to another, loss of parents or siblings, and separation of parents. These life changes are the most common triggers for the onset of the anxiety disorder children experience.
However, stressors need not necessarily be the cause of this disorder in children. It could be anything. A substantial amount of research has shown that one out of eight children is affected by some form of this disorder. If left untreated, the affected children are at higher risk for substance abuse when they grow up, may perform poorly in academics, and have less developed social skills.
Anxiety disorders children develop may be difficult to diagnose because of the way they display their reactions towards the disorder. Determining whether the behavior shown is just a phase in their lives or whether it represents a form of disorder can be quite a complicated task. It is therefore important to have the child evaluated properly to rule out any disorder and prevent the resulting consequences of these untreated disorders in children.
Often, children with anxiety disorder fall victim to a rash of other disorders like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, and eating disorders. If such is the case, medical treatment his highly advised because these disorders need to be taken seriuosly. If medical interventions are not given, children with these disorders can develop a strong link to suicide.
The psychiatrist may give psychotherapies and medications for the anxiety and the accompanying disorder. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the most common drug classification prescribed for the disorders that children develop. Treatment is highly patient-specific, especially since they are children. Aside from medical attention, sufficient support, reassurance, love, and caring from the parents are also required to help the child overcome the disorder. And with the right treatment, success of recovery is very high.
Even at a young age, kids do experience anxiety in their lives. Life events considered stressful are starting school, moving from one residence to another, loss of parents or siblings, and separation of parents. These life changes are the most common triggers for the onset of the anxiety disorder children experience.
However, stressors need not necessarily be the cause of this disorder in children. It could be anything. A substantial amount of research has shown that one out of eight children is affected by some form of this disorder. If left untreated, the affected children are at higher risk for substance abuse when they grow up, may perform poorly in academics, and have less developed social skills.
Anxiety disorders children develop may be difficult to diagnose because of the way they display their reactions towards the disorder. Determining whether the behavior shown is just a phase in their lives or whether it represents a form of disorder can be quite a complicated task. It is therefore important to have the child evaluated properly to rule out any disorder and prevent the resulting consequences of these untreated disorders in children.
Often, children with anxiety disorder fall victim to a rash of other disorders like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, and eating disorders. If such is the case, medical treatment his highly advised because these disorders need to be taken seriuosly. If medical interventions are not given, children with these disorders can develop a strong link to suicide.
The psychiatrist may give psychotherapies and medications for the anxiety and the accompanying disorder. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the most common drug classification prescribed for the disorders that children develop. Treatment is highly patient-specific, especially since they are children. Aside from medical attention, sufficient support, reassurance, love, and caring from the parents are also required to help the child overcome the disorder. And with the right treatment, success of recovery is very high.
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