Anxiety disorders in children
An anxiety disorder is a mental health problem that can affect people of all ages, including children. In fact anxiety disorders are the most common type of mental health disorder in children, affecting nearly four in every hundred children. Anxiety is a sense of worry, apprehension, fear and distress. All children experience anxiety from time to time but if the anxiety is severe and continually interfering in their ordinary activities they may require treatment.
Generalised anxiety disorder
Children with generalised anxiety disorder have recurring fears and worries that they find difficult to control. They worry about almost everything - school, sports, being on time, even natural disasters. They may be restless, irritable, tense or easily tired, and they may have trouble concentrating or sleeping.
Separation anxiety disorder
Children with separation anxiety disorder have intense anxiety about being away from home or caregivers that affects their ability to function socially and in school. These children have a great need to stay at home or be close to their parents. Repeated nightmares about separation and physical symptoms such as stomach aches & headaches are also common in children with this disorder.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Children with OCD have frequent and uncontrollable thoughts (called obsessions) and may perform routines or rituals (called compulsions) in an attempt to eliminate the thoughts.
Panic disorder
Children with panic disorder have unexpected and repeated periods of intense fear or discomfort along with other symptoms such as racing heartbeat or feeling short of breath. Children with panic disorder may begin to feel anxious most of the time, even when they are not having a panic attack.
All children experience some anxiety; this is normal and expected. For example, when left alone at school for the first time, many children with show distress; a young child in his or her own room may develop a fear of the dark. Such anxiety becomes a problem when it interrupts a child's normal activities like attending school and making friends or sleeping.
Treatment for children
Anxiety disorders are treatable. Children who show persistent symptoms of an anxiety disorder should be referred for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. For more information on accessing treatment for your child please see our factsheet Childhood mental illness (663 kb) ![[pdf]](http://www.rethink.org/display_images/document_icons/pdf.gif){kind=icon}
For more information about the symptoms and treatment for anxiety disorder in general please see our Anxiety disorders factsheet (668 kb)
