Anxiety

When a child does not outgrow the fears and worries that are typical in young children, or when there are so many fears and worries that they interfere with school, home, or play activities, the child may be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Anxiety is not one disorder but rather a category of conditions.

• Separation anxiety disorder: Being very afraid when away from parents, sometimes with extreme fear of the potential for being separated.
• Phobia: Having extreme fear about a specific thing or situation, such as dogs, insects, or going to the doctor.
• Social anxiety disorder: Being very afraid of going to places where there are people, such as school.
• Generalized anxiety disorder: Experiencing excessive, ongoing anxiety and worry that is difficult to control and interferes with day-to-day activities, but not necessarily specific to a particular situation or context.
• Panic disorder: Having repeated episodes of sudden, unexpected, intense fear that come with symptoms like heart pounding, having trouble breathing, or feeling dizzy, shaky, or sweaty.

Anxiety may present as fear or worry but can also make children irritable and angry. Anxiety symptoms can also include trouble sleeping, as well as physical symptoms like fatigue, headaches, or stomach-aches. Some anxious children keep their worries to themselves and, thus, the symptoms can be missed.