Anxiety Disorders in Children Essay

Submitted By kwilliams917
Words: 2214
Pages: 9
Open Document
Anxiety Disorders in Children
Kelli Williams
Mississippi College

Abstract One of the most misunderstood conditions with children are anxiety disorders. One in 10 children (most common in females) will suffer from some form of anxiety disorder, which is about six percent of children. Anxiety is often times viewed as a mental illness or some sort of handicapping. Socially anxiety is considered a mental disorder that often times discourages the child and it prolongs the parent(s) from seeking help for that child. Certain studies will examine anxiety disorders in children and also how it affects their development into adult hood. Anxiety disorders can have people feeling extremely tired, afraid, and very uneasy in situations where other people would not experience those symptoms. If anxiety disorders are left untreated or unnoticed it could reduce productivity and slowly weaken their life skills.

Anxiety can be a normal reaction to stress. It helps us to deal with tense situations and help us cope. Anxiety disorders cause people to feel excessively frightened, distressed, and uneasy during situations where mostly other people wouldn’t experience those symptoms. Anxiety disorders in children often leads to low self-esteem, low social skills, and it affects school attendance. Being one of the most common mental illnesses in the US, as many as 1 in 10 young people are affected by it. Most of these disorders are hard to recognize and most children suffering from their illness are ashamed to seek help or do not know that there are effective ways to treat their illness. The most common types of anxiety disorders are: Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Separation Anxiety Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Social Phobia Disorder, Panic Disorder, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Generalized anxiety disorders is chronic, exaggerated worry about everyday, routine life events and activities that lasts at least six months is indicative of generalized anxiety disorder. Children and adolescents with this disorder usually anticipate the worst and often complain of fatigue, tension, headaches, and nausea. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder is persistent symptoms of this disorder occur after experiencing a trauma such as abuse, natural disasters, or extreme violence. Symptoms include nightmares; flashbacks; the numbing of emotions; depression; feeling angry, irritable, and distracted; and being easily startled. Social Phobia Disorders is a disabling and irrational fear of something that really poses little or no actual danger. The fear leads to avoidance of objects or situations and can cause extreme feelings of terror, dread, and panic, which can substantially restrict one’s life. Panic disorders are characterized by panic attacks, panic disorder results in sudden feelings of terror that strike repeatedly and without warning. Physical symptoms include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, abdominal discomfort, feelings of unreality, and fear of dying. Children and adolescents with this disorder may experience unrealistic worry, self- consciousness, and tension. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by repeated, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or rituals that seem impossible to control (compulsions). Adolescents may be aware that their symptoms don’t make sense and are excessive, but younger children may be distressed only when they are prevented from carrying out their compulsive habits. Separation Anxiety Disorder is characterized by excessive clinging to adult caretakers and reluctance to separate from them. This particular pattern is typical in 12-18 month old toddlers, and isn’t expected of school-age children. That disorder often indicates a few difficulties in parent-child relationships, or the child being bullied at school.
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is characterized by a debilitating fear of being scrutinized by
Show More

Related Documents: Anxiety Disorders in Children Essay

Parenting Styles And Anxiety Disorders In Children And Adolescents

July 25, 2014 Parenting Styles and Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents It is safe to assume that the methods of child rearing chosen by parents have a great and lasting impact on a child’s life. Unfortunately though, not all parenting styles create strong and resilient children. There are some parenting styles that breed anxiety sensitivity and anxiety disorders in children, and than there are some parenting styles that result in independent children with good coping skills. Not only does…

Words 745 - Pages 3

Separation Anxiety

Social and Separation Anxiety in Preschool Children In addition to developmental disorders, professionals in psychiatry and psychology have noted that many adult mental disorders can be see in children and adolescents. For example, a variety of anxiety disorders have been identified even in very young children. Among the most common are separation anxiety, in which children become distressed when caregivers leave, and social anxiety, when children experience anxiety symptoms around new people or…

Words 909 - Pages 4

Separation Anxiety In Children

Separation Anxiety Disorder may affect both children and adults. However, it is more commonly diagnosed in children. It is considered a developmentally fear of becoming separated from a primary attachment figure which is most likely thr parnets. The term "attachment figure" simply refers to a person to whom we have a very strong emotional attachment. Diagnosis requires a developmental and cultural context in order to differentiate what is normal and age-appropriate versus what is disordered. For…

Words 999 - Pages 4

Essay on Anxiety in Children

Anxiety in Children Anxiety in children can be a major challenge for both the child and the parents. Child anxiety can take many forms and be very strong or weak. It can only appear in certain situations or be a constant factor in the life of the child – and the family. While every child is different, and the anxieties they feel are just as different, anxiety in children is an issue that many families struggle with. It is estimated that around five percent of all kids suffer from child anxiety.…

Words 1531 - Pages 7

Commorbid Anxiety Disorders: A Literature Review

and a comorbid anxiety disorder. Psychiatric Services, 65(11), 1354-1359. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.201300316 The author of this article uses statistical data to suggest anxiety are common among individuals within the Veterans Health Administration, VHA. In 2011, the author states, 23.8% of the 87,006 VHA patients who had already been diagnosed with schizophrenia were to be diagnosed with comorbid anxiety disorder, 15.2% of the patients were diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and another…

Words 769 - Pages 4

What Causes Anxiety In America

Mental disorders are a problematic concern in America. Approximately 61.5 million Americans experience a mental illness within a year (NAMI 1). Anxiety is a broad example of a mental disease. According to the Merriam- Webster Dictionary, anxiety is an “overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physiological signs”, and is experienced by 42 million Americans (NAMI 1). Because anxiety is an extensive condition, it is broken into 3 categories. Due to the different causes, symptoms…

Words 1719 - Pages 7

research paper

disrupts the child's normal daily activities, including activities within the family and at school. Many children and teens with ODD also have other behavioral problems, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, learning disabilities, mood disorders (such as depression), and anxiety disorders. Some children with ODD go on to develop a more serious behavior disorder called conduct disorder. The exact cause of ODD is not known, but it is believed that a combination of biological, genetic, and…

Words 1408 - Pages 6

Autism Vs Anxiety

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States affecting more than 40 million adults ages 18 and older. This is about 18% of the Unites State’s population. Autism, or an Autism Spectrum Disorder, is seen in 1 of 68 children. These statistics are proof that anxiety and autism are growing topics that need to be discussed. Autism and anxiety contain many of the same ideas but they also differ in some ways. Though the behaviors that these conditions bring can be quite similar…

Words 2022 - Pages 9

Separation Anxiety In Children

Separation anxiety is a common occurrence in young children separating from a loved one or valued object. Dr. Brennan of WebMD defines separation anxiety as “a condition in which a child becomes fearful and nervous when away from home or separated from a loved one to whom the child is attached” (Brennan). It is especially apparent in young children just beginning school, children who have never attended school or left their childcare provider. Both parents and children experience emotional pain at…

Words 1529 - Pages 7

Separation Anxiety In Children

Abstract Separation Anxiety Disorder affect both children and adults. However, it is more commonly diagnosed in children. Separation Anxiety Disorder is fear of becoming separated from a primary figure which is most likely the caregiver, which is the person that they have a very strong emotional attachment. In order to diagnosis it requires a progressive and educational situation in order to distinguish what is normal and what is age-appropriate as opposed to what is disordered. For example, it is…

Words 514 - Pages 3