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Children’s Health: Types of Childhood Anxiety to Know About

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One of the most common mental issues found in children today is anxiety. How it comes to be can arise from various factors such as own unique characteristics, environment, trauma and more. And if untreated this can cause so many challenges for your child may it be daily activities, socialising, studies, getting sleep, behaviour and so many more!

So if you feel like your child starts to exhibit strange behavioural patterns, it’s always a good idea to get them checked out. Common signs that indicate a child has anxiety are excessive worrying, avoidance of certain situations, frequent stomach or headache, irritability, a hard time concentrating or even a hard time sleeping.

But anxiety isn’t only one root that can be fixed with one solution. There are various types of anxiety you should be aware of–around 7 main ones. So to help you out, here is a rundown of the main types of anxiety:

1 – Generalized Anxiety Disorder, A.K.A (GAD)

Anxiety and excessive concern over a variety of ordinary activities and events affect children with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD). They could have excessive anxiety about their social relationships, academic achievement, family problems, or personal safety. Frequently, these concerns are unfounded or out of proportion to the genuine danger.

2 – Specific Phobias

Extreme fear or anxiety caused by certain things or circumstances, such as insects, animals, heights, or medical procedures, is known as a specific phobia. Children who have certain phobias may take extreme measures to avoid the thing or circumstance they are afraid of, and their anxiety may make it difficult for them to go about their everyday lives.

3 – Social Anxiety Disorder, A.K.A (Social Phobia)

The hallmark of social anxiety disorder is a child’s ongoing fear of social or performance circumstances when they may be with strangers or come under public attention. Youngsters suffering from social anxiety may shy away from social situations or performance-related activities out of fear of humiliation, rejection, or unfavourable assessment by their peers.

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4 – Separation Anxiety Disorder

The most common sign of separation anxiety disorder is an overwhelming dread or worry of being cut off from attachment figures, including parents or other primary carers. Even for brief intervals, children suffering from separation anxiety may get distressed when they are away from their loved ones. They may also become clingy, refuse to go to school or have physical symptoms like headaches or stomach aches.

5 – Panic Disorder

Frequent panic attacks, which are abrupt bursts of extreme stress or discomfort that include physical symptoms such as sweating, shaking, shortness of breath, or thoughts of impending doom, are the hallmarks of panic disorder. Kids with panic disorder can grow afraid of having panic episodes and turn away from things or people they think would set them off. 

6 – Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, A.K.A (OCD)

OCD is characterised by the existence of compulsions, which are repetitive actions or mental acts carried out in reaction to obsessions, as well as obsessions, which are intrusive and unpleasant thoughts, visions, or desires. Children often have compulsions related to routines like counting, checking, or washing, while their obsessions tend to be related to contamination, injury, or neatness.

7 – Selective Mutism

The main feature of selective mutism is a child’s consistent inability to communicate in certain social contexts, even when they can converse in more relaxed settings. Selective mutism occurs when a child who is capable of speaking decides not to speak because they are extremely timid, anxious, or afraid of being judged negatively.  

Are there benefits of spotting anxiety in children earlier?

Yes! Being able to spot early signs of anxiety in children carries an array of benefits. Being able to spot anxiety in children early on can allow timely intervention that can lead to preventing severe anxiety symptoms.

Early intervention offers children the chance to learn coping mechanisms and effective anxiety management techniques. Early intervention for anxiety can also enhance a child’s general well-being, scholastic achievement, and social functioning, supporting resilient growth and future well-being.

Additionally, when the kid and carer collaborate to navigate and conquer anxiety difficulties, it can deepen the bond between the two. 

Take away

These are but a few instances of the various anxiety problems that may afflict kids. It’s crucial to understand that anxiety disorders can differ in intensity and appearance and that many kids may have symptoms that are similar to those of other anxiety disorders. To successfully manage childhood anxiety and support healthy development, early detection and intervention are essential.  

So to be able to spot early signs, you might want to take a child anxiety course online or at a local university. Educating yourself about this can greatly help you better understand your kid(s) with anxiety even more. Plus this will also help you spot signs among other children in the family such as your niece, nephew, younger sibling and so on.

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