Children's Anxiety

Anxiety in children is more common than you think.

There are thousands of parents like you searching for help with their anxious child.
And it is not always easy to find help. When you have an anxious child, you know what it is like wanting to help your child, but not knowing how.

I have had the same problem and I have searched for help until I found it.
First let's have a look at the most common types of anxiety your child may be experiencing. General anxiety disorder is described by doctors as a repeated unrealistic fear that is much more intense than what is considered normal daily anxiety. Your child may worry about school performance, friendship, family, time keeping etc.

This anxiety can lead to psychosomatic symptoms such as nausea, stomach aches, headaches or breathing difficulties which can lead to panic.
Panic disorder is characterized by recurring panic attacks. Panic attacks in children can look like a serious medical emergency and can be very frightening for the parents to see a panic attack in their child.
Your child may suddenly "out of the blue" become very breathless, shaky, their heart start racing and they may feel like fainting. They may experience tingling in their hands, around the mouth or stomach and may start getting spasms in their muscles due to hyperventilation.
It is very frightening to see your child like this and you strongly feel you want to do something about it and help. Another anxiety disorder you may notice in your child is separation anxiety.

Separation anxiety is diagnosed when your child experiences excessive anxiety when separated from mum or dad or other close family member.

Symptoms can be similar to generalized anxiety disorder, but usually include excessive crying and other ways of demanding presence of the person.
Social Anxiety Disorder or a social phobia is a fear of being embarrassed in social situations, for example in the classroom, when speaking in front of the public or while eating in public places.
The onset of this disorder is usually around the age of 13 and if left untreated can be carried over to adulthood and restrict the person in life choices, because they will instinctively choose jobs, friends or partners that are less demanding and less attractive to avoid competition. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is another form of anxiety in children or adults and is characterized by intrusive anxiety producing thoughts (obsessions) and as a result of that repetitive behaviours (compulsions) such as checking if the door is locked, repetitive hand washing, counting, putting items in a certain order etc.
Child must perform these tasks to avoid significant psychological distress and anxiety. Freeing your child from obsessive thoughts requires an enormous amount of patience and positive thinking and the vicious circle may never be broken without a new approach and professional program for your child.
The Program for majority of above described types of anxiety is called The Anxiety-Free Child Program.