We all feel nervous confronting a new challenge, especially as kids when we’re experiencing lots of things for the first time. Anxiety is a normal response to events such as welcoming a new sibling, meeting a teacher, or moving into a new home. Some amount of worry is actually good — it can prevent kids from engaging in dangerous behaviors. But too much anxiety can interrupt daily life and harm a child’s emotional development. So how can you tell the difference between a normal level of nervousness and an anxiety disorder?
Anxiety becomes a problem when a child’s worrying is constant, exaggerated, and takes over his thoughts. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), anxiety disorders are actually much more common than you might think: Studies have shown that they affect up to 10 percent of kindergarten-aged children — a rate that jumps to 15 percent by high school.
Little kids often experience increased anxiety as they grow more aware of their surroundings and as their imaginations expand as well. For example, between the ages of two and seven, it’s not uncommon for children to develop sudden (but temporary) fears of irrational things like monsters under the bed. And lots of kids experience separation anxiety the first time they’re left with a sitter, and again when they start school. But if your child seems much more anxious than his peers and his worries persist, it could be an anxiety disorder.
If you suspect this might be the case, it’s important to talk to a doctor sooner rather than later. Without treatment, an anxiety disorder may disrupt learning and lead to an increased risk of substance abuse, depression, and other mental-health problems down the road. The good news? Anxiety is also one of the most treatable psychiatric conditions.
Read on to learn more about some of the most commonly diagnosed anxiety disorders in kids.