Anxiety disorders in children is an umbrella term, including psychological disorders that include a sense of fear, concern, and agitation. Childhood anxiety disorder may mess with a child’s activity, relationships with others, and academic performance. The chance of acquiring at least one mental health situation by the age of 16 is much greater than the study suggests. Anxiety disorders possess an increased point prevalence than depression, substance use, or disruptive behavior disorders but a lesser lifetime incidence than depressive disorders.
Childhood is the most important phase of an individual life as it is important for not only their physical development but also for their mental development. Anxiety disorders in children lead to failure in their academics due to improper attention and phobia. They may build a perception of staying away from social relations due to continuous failure due to childhood anxiety disorder.
Why is there always a need for early awareness of childhood anxiety?
Early diagnosis and treatment in this regard are necessary as they reduce the chance of further complications, reduce the financial cost due to late treatment, and increase the recovery chances by 99%. The children become aware of their weaknesses and mentally ready themselves for coping strategies.
Types of anxiety disorder in childhood:
GENERALISED ANXIETY DISORDER:
This type is marked by hyperstress on certain life experiences. This includes particular educational deficit sufferings in childhood period.
Separation anxiety disorder:
This may occur during children’s milestone achievement stages until adulthood. Children also experience headaches and stomachaches due to this type of disorder. Excessive worry if preparing for or going through a separation from home or essential relationships. Continuous and overly concerned about losing loved ones or being harmed by them. Phobia of separation causes an inability or rejection to get out of the house, attend school, or depart anywhere. Nightmares revolved around the idea of separation.
Panic disorder:
Panic disorder this type is classified by classic panic attacks, which induce increased heart rate, palpitations, breathlessness, choking, or feeling like you are going to be dead. Physical therapy is super effective in this condition.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
An individual thinks their actions are insufficient to achieve perfection in a disorder. Individuals perform repetitive hygienic activity, such as multiple counting of certain things and rechecking of academics and professional documents. The symptoms include obsessions, unwanted desires, images, etc., and compulsions like repetitive behaviors.
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) in Children:
Selection of suitable foods, avoiding some materials, or refusing to try unfamiliar foods, leading to a lack of nutrition. Food choices are restricted, and particular materials or smells cannot be tolerated.
Dietary restrictions lead to significant anxiety or limit daily activities. Nutritional deficiencies or reliance on dietary supplements. If not addressed, ARFID may start in childhood and go on into adulthood as well. ARFID may interact with other mental health problems.
Causes of childhood disorder of anxiety:
GENETIC CAUSES:
Genetic causes may relate to anxiety disorder in children, but the causes are more based on personal experiences, etc. There may be several alterations in neurotransmitter functions or productions. Genetics plays an important role, so genetic history is always taken when diagnosing this disorder.
ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES:
Environmental causes constitute these anxiety disorders. Children who experience certain stressful family events, like fighting with their parents. They may also experience abuse like bullying or gender harassment. In Europe, children with black skin are targeted for bullying, highlighting the prevalence of racial discrimination among young individuals. Academic pressure nowadays is the most important cause behind the behavior of these children. Therefore, our education systems must be free from grade greed as it has many psychological consequences for children.
CERTAIN LIFE ALTERATIONS:
Many life scenarios children experience are normal, but stereotypes of our societies, like the divorce of parents. Specific arguments between their loved ones are another cause for this disorder. Children become jealous of their newborns due to extra care for them as neonates neonates. This may be due to the certain birth gaps between them as a society makes fun of these situations.
IMPERSONATE BEHAVIOR:
Due to brain neuroplasticity, children mimic certain actions of their teachers, caregivers, parents, and favorite media personalities. If their caregivers and parents are suffering from anxiety disorder, ultimately, they impersonate them. This behavior destroys their social and academic life as well.
How to prevent childhood disorder of anxiety?
This could mean developing an honest and encouraging family environment where kids can feel at ease expressing their ideas. Help children understand and manage their emotions. Allow a healthy lifestyle through regular physical activity, eating a nutritious diet, and obtaining sufficient rest. Due to children learning by observation, modeling effective stress management is worthwhile. If you notice ongoing anxiety symptoms, look for assistance from professionals immediately to get proper treatments.
How can we treat this disorder of Childhood anxiety?
The following are the methods to treat this anxiety disorder:
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT):
Several healthcare professionals have given this therapy to treat anxiety symptoms. This helps affected children develop strategies against any trauma or negative thoughts. This treatment also gives exposure therapy, as we have seen in movies. Such individuals are introduced to traumatic life scenarios under expert view.
FAMILY EDUCATION:
People suffering from this disorder need their families to support them. Their family needs special education to understand their children’s behavior. They must be given a special plan for conditions or worsening symptoms.
SCHOOL EDUCATION:
These individuals should introduced to unique education plans, including 504. These plans make teacher efficient in conveying better knowledge to their student under such disorders. A child stands still in their school’s competitive environment.
MEDICATIONS:
The medication involves:
- Paroxetine
- Citalopram