In-Depth Information on Anxiety Disorders
For more detailed information on Anxiety, including symptoms, treatment, real-life stories, and questions and answers, see About Anxiety Disorders.
Overview of Anxiety
Anxiety is a normal, natural emotion faced by most human beings. However, a youngster with an Anxiety Disorder experiences anxiety more strongly and more readily than others and has excessive worry to a degree that interferes with his or her life. An anxiety disorder may appear seemingly without warning or be present for sometime. Anxiety disorders in children include: Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD), an extreme fear of being away from home or from the primary caretaker; Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), an excessive and uncontrollable worry; Social Phobia (SOC), an excessive fear of being negatively evaluated, rejected, humiliated or embarrassed in front of others; and Panic Disorder with or without Agoraphobia, bouts of panic attack, when symptoms such as shortness of breath, pounding heart, tingling and numbing sensations, hot or cold flashes, or terror -occur when in certain situations or places. Left untreated, anxiety disorders can cause difficulties in other areas, for example, peer relationships are hindered as a child with Social Phobia avoids social situations.
Cause: Anxiety Disorders are thought to be caused by a combination of biological and situational factors.
Treatment: Anxiety disorders are among the most readily and effectively treated mental disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which teaches a child how to understand and control the problematic thoughts, feelings and behaviors, is often successful in treating the disorder. Medication either alone or in combination with CBT may also be helpful.
Related Articles
The following articles are arranged chronologically, according to the date of publication or last update.
Organizations
Browse through a list of staff-selected organizations and online resources to learn more about Anxiety
