As a child learns more about the world, the list of things they fear tends to grow. Some fears are real and some are imaginary. Common fears for children above 6years of age include fear of the dark, burglary, war, death, separation or divorce of their parents, and supernatural beings (such as ghosts and monsters).
The sources of fear may change as the child matures. For example, a fear of the dark or of monsters under the bed may give way to fears of burglary or violence.
Sometimes a child is so fearful/ stressed /anxious that it interferes with their daily life and play. Some anxious children keep their worries to themselves, so the symptoms can be missed by their family/parents/teachers/siblings/friends.
Our team of expert child psychiatrists and psychologists are at your call if you wish to seek professional help for anxiety issues in a child/teen. Mental health doctors can be helpful, if you consider that your child is particularly burdened with anxiety disorders , fears or phobias.
Our doctors can help the children/adolescent on how to manage their own anxiety, and their parents can learn helping strategies too.
Understanding Fear/ Stress/ Anxiety disorders in Children
Fear/ Stress/ Anxiety disorders in Children or teenagers can present in a variety of ways, including the following:
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Children /adolescents with Generalized anxiety disorder or GAD experience constant and extreme worry that interferes with their ability to concentrate, relax, and enjoy activities. Other symptoms include irritability, fatigue, and difficulty sleeping.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Children /adolescents with Obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD have unwanted thoughts that cause anxiety. To relieve this anxiety, they perform repetitive actions, rituals, or routines, such as counting, washing, or organizing objects.
- Panic disorder
Children /adolescents with panic disorder experience frequent, unpredictable panic attacks that can cause feelings of great fear or discomfort. Symptoms can last for hours, but often peak after 10 minutes.
- Social anxiety disorder
Children /adolescents with social anxiety disorder fear being judged or embarrassed in social situations, such as at school, in extracurriculars, or when interacting with adults.
- Specific phobias
Children /adolescents with specific phobias experience anxiety and worry about very specific triggers, such as thunderstorms, spiders, or being left alone.
- School refusal
School refusal is a behavioral disorder that occurs when a child has difficulty attending school or staying in class for the day. It’s a type of situational anxiety that can happen in children between the ages of 5 and 17.
Other signs of anxiety issues in children/adolescents include:
- Difficulty concentrating and memorizing
- Trouble sleeping
- Eating more or less than usual
- Getting angry or irritable quickly
- Feeling tense and fidgety
- Getting frequent and severe headaches/stomach aches/vomiting/urinating
- Using the toilet often for washing or cleaning
- Always crying
- Being clingy
- Complaining of fainting, body aches and feeling unwell
- Poor school work
- Poor social interactions
- Fear during exams
- Refusing to go outside home
- Refusal to go to school
- Disturbed play activities
Causes of the anxious/ The fearful child
Some children/adolescents are more fearful than others. Contributing factors may include:
- Genetic susceptibility – some children are generally more sensitive and emotional in their temperament.
- At least one anxious and untreated parent – children learn how to behave from watching their parents.
- Overprotective parenting or family issues– a dependent child is more likely to feel helpless and this can lead to generalised anxiety.
- Stressful events – such as trauma, parental separation, an injury or hospital stay.
What causes anxiety disorders in teenagers and young people
Having a close family member with anxiety may increase your child’s chance of having it too.
Teenagers just like children, can also pick up anxious behaviour from being around anxious people.
Some children develop anxiety after stressful events, such as:
- frequently moving house or school
- parents fighting or arguing
- the death of a close relative or friend
- becoming seriously ill or getting injured in an accident
- school-related issues like exams or bullying
- being abused or neglected
Children with Learning disability, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autistic spectrum disorders are more likely to have problems with anxiety.
When to see a doctor for Anxiety disorders in children/Adolescents
It’s normal for children and young people to feel worried or anxious from time to time – such as when they’re starting school or nursery, or moving to a new area.
But for some children and young people, anxiety affects their behaviour and thoughts every day, interfering with their school, home and social life.
This is when you may need professional help from child psychiatrist or psychologist to tackle it.
Treatments for Anxiety disorders in children/Adolescents
The type of treatment offered for anxiety disorders /fear /stress issues by child mental health doctor will depend on your child’s age and the cause of their anxiety.
- Counselling can help your child understand what’s making them anxious and allow them to work through the situation.
- Behavior Therapy (BT)/ Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) / Mindfulness therapy (MBI) / Group Therapy/ Family Therapy is a talk based therapy that can help your child manage their anxiety by changing the way they think and behave. This could be in person or as self-help online.
- In BT/CBT/MBI teaches kids that what they think and do affects how they feel. In psychotherapy, kids learn that when they avoid what they fear, the fear stays strong. They learn that when they face a fear, the fear gets weak and goes away. Kids learn coping skills so they can face fear and worry less.
- In BT/CBT/MBI: Parents learn how to best respond when a child is anxious. They learn how to help kids face fears.
- Anxiety medicines may be offered to your child if their anxiety is severe or does not get better with talking therapies. They’re usually only prescribed by doctors who specialise in children and young people’s mental health.
In management of fear/anxiety/stress/phobias related disorders at child guidance and counselling clinic (CGC) Udaipur, the psychotherapist helps kids practice, and gives support and praise as they try. Over time, with us at CGC, kids learn to face fears and feel better. They learn to get used to situations they’re afraid of. They feel proud of what they’ve learned. And without so many worries, they can focus on other things — like school, activities, and fun. Sometimes, at CGC medicines are also used to help treat anxiety/stress issues in children and teenagers.
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