Anxiety Disorders in Children Revised 2020
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Information about: Anxiety Disorders in Children Revised 2020 Vermont Family Network 600 Blair Park Road, Ste 240 Williston, VT 05495 1-800-800-4005 www.VermontFamilyNetwork.org Introduction According to The Child Mind Institute, “Children with anxiety disorders are overwhelmed by feelings of intense fear or worry that they are out of proportion to the situation or thing that triggers them. These emotional fears can be focused on separating from parents, physical illness, performing poorly, or embarrassing themselves. Or they can be attached to specific things, like dogs or insects or bridges.” We hope that this will give you a greater understanding of anxiety disorders and the ways that parents and professionals can support children at home, in school, and in the community. We have selected information from various sources and provided internet links when possible. The information we have presented was used by permission from various sources. We have provided links for you to find more, in-depth information at their sites. Contents Title Page Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents 2 Additional Treatments and Guidance 2 The Anxious Child 3 Anxiety Quick Fact Sheet for School Personnel & 4 Parents/Guardians Children Who Won’t Go to School (Separation Anxiety) 6 Managing Anxiety with Siblings 6 Panic Disorder in Children and Adolescents 7 Parenting Tips for Anxious Kids 8 Getting Linked (local resources) 9 Advocating for Your Child: 25 Tips for Parents 10-12 Resources 13 Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents What Are Anxiety Disorders? According to The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)*, “Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health concern in the United States. Over 40 million adults in the U.S. (19.1%) have an anxiety disorder. Meanwhile, approximately 7% of children aged 3- 17 experience issues with anxiety each year. Most people develop symptoms before age 21.… “Unfortunately, these disorders are often difficult to recognize, and many who suffer from them are either too ashamed to seek help or they fail to realize that these disorders can be treated effectively.” At the NAMI site you’ll find descriptions of common anxiety disorders. For example: • Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): GAD produces chronic, exaggerated worrying about everyday life. This worrying can consume hours each day, making it hard to concentrate or finish daily tasks.… • Social Anxiety Disorder: More than shyness, this disorder causes intense fear about social interaction, often driven by irrational worries about humiliation (e.g. saying something stupid or not knowing what to say).… Panic attacks are a common reaction to anticipated or forced social interaction. • Panic Disorder: This disorder is characterized by panic attacks and sudden feelings of terror sometimes striking repeatedly and without warning. Often mistaken for a heart attack, a panic attack causes powerful physical symptoms including chest pain, heart palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath and stomach upset.… • Phobias: … [F]or someone with a phobia, certain places, events or objects create powerful reactions of strong, irrational fear. Most people with specific phobias have several things that can trigger those reactions; to avoid panic, they will work hard to avoid their triggers.… Other anxiety disorders include: • Agoraphobia • Selective mutism • Separation anxiety disorder • Substance/medication-induced anxiety disorder, involving intoxication or withdrawal or medication treatment Causes: Scientists believe that many factors combine to cause anxiety disorders: • Genetics. Studies support the evidence that anxiety disorders “run in families,” as some families have a higher-than-average amount of anxiety disorders among relatives. • Environment. A stressful or traumatic event such as abuse, death of a loved one, violence or prolonged illness is often linked to the development of an anxiety disorder. *National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nami.org/About- Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Anxiety-Disorders 1 Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents (continued) Diagnosis Physical symptoms of an anxiety disorder can be easily confused with other medical conditions, like heart disease or hyperthyroidism. Therefore, a doctor will likely perform an evaluation involving a physical examination, an interview and lab tests. After ruling out an underlying physical illness, a doctor may refer a person to a mental health professional for evaluation. Using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) a mental health professional is able to identify the specific type of anxiety disorder causing symptoms as well as any other possible disorders that may be involved. Tackling all disorders through comprehensive treatment is the best recovery strategy. Treatment Different anxiety disorders have their own distinct sets of symptoms. This means that each type of anxiety disorder also has its own treatment plan. But there are common types of treatment that are used. • Psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy • Medications, including antianxiety medications and antidepressants • Complementary health approaches, including stress and relaxation techniques Other recognized anxiety disorders include: agoraphobia, acute stress disorder, anxiety disorder due to medical conditions (such as thyroid abnormalities), and substance-induced anxiety disorder (such as from too much caffeine). Additional Treatments and Guidance The following links to the Child Mind Institute site have more information you might find valuable. Guide to Behavioral Treatments If your child has an emotional or behavioral problem, you might be told that behavioral therapy would be a good treatment for [them]. This guide offers an overview of behavioral treatments, how they work and how they can help. https://childmind.org/guide/guide-to-behavioral-treatments/ When childhood anxiety goes undetected and the consequences https://childmind.org/article/detecting-childhood-anxiety/ Social Anxiety https://childmind.org/article/what-is-social-anxiety/ Parents’ Guide to Getting Good Care: When a child is struggling, or [their] behavior worries you, it can be hard to know whether you need to reach out to a professional. And if you do seek help, what kind of professional, and what kind of treatment, are right for your child? In this guide we take you through the steps to finding the best professional (or team) for your child, and the most appropriate treatment for the disorder or disability. Along the way, we offer things to look for and questions to ask to ensure that you're getting quality care your child deserves. https://childmind.org/guide/guide-to-behavioral-treatments/ 2 The Anxious Child What to Do (and Not Do) When Children Are Anxious When children are chronically anxious, even the most well-meaning parents can fall into a negative cycle and, not wanting a child to suffer, actually exacerbate the youngster’s anxiety. It happens when parents, anticipating a child’s fears, try to protect [them] from [their fears]. Here are pointers for helping children escape the cycle of anxiety. https://childmind.org/article/what-to-do-and-not-do-when-children-are-anxious/ According to The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry*, all children experience anxiety. Anxiety in children is expected and normal at specific times in development. For example, from approximately age 8 months through the preschool years, healthy youngsters may show intense distress (anxiety) at times of separation from their parents or other persons with whom they are close. Young children may have short- lived fears, (such as fear of the dark, storms, animals, or strangers). Anxious children are often overly tense or uptight. Some may seek a lot of reassurance, and their worries may interfere with activities. Parents should not discount a child’s fears. Because anxious children may also be quiet, compliant and eager to please, their difficulties may be missed. Parents should be alert to the signs of severe anxiety so they can intervene early to prevent complications. There are different types of anxiety in children. Symptoms of separation anxiety include: • constant thoughts and intense fears about the safety of parents and caretakers • refusing to go to school • frequent stomachaches and other physical complaints • extreme worries about sleeping away from home • being overly clingy • panic or tantrums at times of separation from parents • trouble sleeping or nightmares Symptoms of phobia include: • extreme fear about a specific thing or situation (ex. dogs, insects, or needles) • the fears cause significant distress and interfere with usual activities Symptoms of social anxiety include: • fears of meeting or talking to people • avoidance of social situations • few friends outside the family Other symptoms of anxious children include: • many worries about things before they happen • constant worries or concerns about family, school, friends, or activities • repetitive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) or actions (compulsions) • fears of embarrassment or making mistakes • low self-esteem and lack of self-confidence *The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. (November 2017). Facts for Families: The Anxious Child (No. 47). Retrieved from https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/ Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/The-Anxious-Child-047.aspx 3 Anxiety Quick Fact Sheet for School Personnel & Parents/Guardians This fact sheet is from a study by