Anxiety Disorders in Children & Teens

Anxiety is a feeling of nervousness, worry, or unease that is a normal human experience. Anxiety is a normal response to a threat or to psychologic stress. Normal anxiety has its root in fear and serves an important survival function. When someone is faced with a dangerous situation, anxiety triggers the fight-or-flight response. With this response, a variety of physical changes, such as increased blood flow to the heart and muscles, provide the body with the necessary energy and strength to deal with life-threatening situations, such as running from an aggressive animal or fighting off an attacker.

However, anxiety is considered a disorder when it

• Occurs at inappropriate times
• Occurs frequently again and again
• Is so intense and long-lasting that it interferes with your normal activities

Anxiety disorders are characterized by fear, worry, or dread that greatly impairs the ability to function and is out of proportion to the circumstances.

There are many types of anxiety disorders, distinguished by the main focus of the fear or worry.

Most commonly, children refuse to go to school, often using physical symptoms, such as a stomach ache, as the reason.

Doctors usually base the diagnosis on symptoms but sometimes do tests to rule out disorders that could cause the physical symptoms often caused by anxiety. (See also Overview of Anxiety Disorders in adults.)

All children feel some anxiety sometimes. For example, 3- and 4-year-olds are often afraid of the dark or monsters. Older children and adolescents often become anxious when giving a book report in front of their classmates. Such fears and anxieties are not signs of a disorder. However, if children become so anxious that they cannot function or become greatly distressed, they may have an anxiety disorder. Studies show that about 3% of 6-year-olds, 5% of adolescent boys, and 10% of adolescent girls have anxiety disorders. 

People can inherit a tendency to be anxious. Anxious parents tend to have anxious children.

Anxiety disorders include

• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Agoraphobia
• Panic disorder
• Separation anxiety disorder
• Social anxiety disorder

Our individuality or uniqueness as a person, which is influenced by our genetic make-up, upbringing and life situations, is the reason why some children experience anxiety more than others.

Do you know …

Children with an anxiety disorder are at increased risk of depression, suicidal behaviour, alcohol and substance use disorders, and academic difficulties later in life.

Homeopathy here can remove anxiety and reduce risk for children, helping them achieve their full potential and live life to the fullest.

It affects about 301, 000, 000 people worldwide.

People with an anxiety disorder are twice more likely to have depression than others.

Common Symptoms of anxiety disorders in children

Many children with an anxiety disorder refuse to go to school. They may have separation anxiety, social anxiety, or panic disorder or a combination.

Some children talk specifically about their anxiety. For example, they may say “I am worried that I will never see you again” (separation anxiety) or “I am worried the kids will laugh at me” (social anxiety disorder). However, most children complain of physical symptoms, such as a stomach ache. These children are often telling the truth because anxiety often causes an upset stomach, nausea, headaches, and sleep problems in children.

Many children who have an anxiety disorder struggle with anxiety into adulthood. However, with early treatment, many children outgrow their anxiety.

Children with anxiety disorders often feel tired, have problems sleeping, lose their appetite and/or taste for food, and lose weight. The learning ability may decrease. These problems develop gradually.

People with anxiety disorders often

• breathe rapidly (hyperventilation)
• sweat more
• shortness of breath
• trembling or tremor
• dizziness or black outs
• feel nervous, restless or tense
• continuous sense of impending danger, panic or doom
• increased heart rate
• trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry

Constant anxiety can prevent people from doing what they usually enjoy and starts to affect the body as well. They may develop various physical symptoms as well as unexplained pain. They may stop their activities, withdraw socially, and become preoccupied with health. The mind-body complex is now fully affected and becomes a vicious circle which keeps an individual in suffering mode.

Your worries may not go away on their own, and they may get worse over time if you don’t seek help. See your Homeopathic doctor before your anxiety gets worse. It’s quicker to treat if you get help early.