The term "anxiety disorder" can refer to one or more of a number of conditions. These include:
- generalized anxiety disorder
- panic disorder
- separation anxiety disorder
- specific phobia
- social anxiety disorder
- selective mutism.
Generalized anxiety disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a common anxiety disorder in children and teens. Its main feature is that a person experiences many different fears and worries.
Younger children may have worries about their future, their grades at school, natural disasters or events in the news. Older children and teens have similar worries but might also worry about the family's finances, their parents' relationships and their own relationships, among other things.
Because of their fears and worries, children and teens with GAD might experience other symptoms such as headaches, stomach aches, difficulties sleeping and muscle tension.
Duration of symptoms before GAD is diagnosed
For a child or teen to meet the criteria for GAD, they must have a number of excessive fears and worries for at least six months.
Panic disorder
Panic disorder is rare in young children but becomes more common in older children and teens. The main symptoms of panic disorder are repeated panic attacks.
A panic attack is an event that lasts about 10 to 15 minutes and involves a number of physical and psychological sensations. Physical sensations may include:
- a feeling of choking
- difficulty breathing
- a racing heartbeat
- sweating
- dizziness
- nausea
- shakiness.
Psychological sensations are less common in children but can include feeling that everything is 'not real' or having an 'out of body' experience.
Older children and teens with panic attacks fear that the attacks may make them very sick or even cause death. As a result, they fear that panic attacks will happen again and start avoiding situations where the panic attacks have occurred. Eventually they might stop leaving their home, a condition known as agoraphobia.
Duration of symptoms before panic disorder is diagnosed
For children or teens to meet the criteria for a panic disorder, they must have the above signs and symptoms for at least one month.
Separation anxiety disorder
Separation anxiety disorder occurs more commonly in children under 12 years of age, though it can also occur during the teen years.
Children with this disorder usually experience significant distress when separating from a parent or caregiver. They will frequently express worries that something bad will happen to them or their caregiver when they are not together.
Children and teens with separation anxiety disorder might also experience physical symptoms such as stomach aches and headaches around the time of separation. They may also have difficulties with sleeping and might not want to sleep away from home or even in a separate room from their parent or caregiver.
Duration of symptoms before separation anxiety disorder is diagnosed
For a child or teen to meet the criteria for separation anxiety disorder, they must have excessive difficulties with separation for their developmental age for at least four weeks.
Specific phobia
A specific phobia is the most common anxiety disorder in children and teens. As the name suggests, a specific phobia involves a fear of particular things or situations. The most common sources of fear include animals, needles or blood, heights and natural disasters.
Duration of symptoms before a specific phobia is diagnosed
For a child or teen to have a specific phobia, their fear must exist for at least six months and interfere with their everyday routine.
Social anxiety disorder
Social anxiety disorder symptoms include an intense fear of being judged by others or a fear of embarrassment. Children and teens with social anxiety disorder might have great difficulties in group or public situations, such as:
- meeting new people
- giving presentations at school
- attending school in general, especially if they recently joined a new school or class
- engaging in group activities
- eating in public
- using public bathrooms
- having their picture taken.
Duration of symptoms before social anxiety disorder is diagnosed
For a child or teen to be diagnosed with social anxiety disorder, their signs and symptoms must exist for at least six months and interfere with their everyday routine.
Selective mutism
Selective mutism occurs when anxiety prevents a child from speaking to others. This disorder is more common in younger children.
Children and teens with selective mutism usually do not speak in specific situations where they would normally be expected to speak, such as at school. They might whisper or not speak at all outside of the home but speak freely and in a regular voice in other situations, for instance at home with their parents or closest family members.
Duration of symptoms before selective mutism is diagnosed
For a child or teen to meet the criteria for selective mutism, they must have ongoing difficulties speaking outside the home while, in general, having average language abilities.
Treatment for anxiety disorders
Depending on the type of anxiety disorder that is diagnosed, a child may be prescribed medications and/or recommended to have therapy or make some lifestyle changes.
Other disorders
In the past, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were regarded as other types of anxiety disorders. However, they are now classified as separate mental health disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 (DSM-5).
Further information
For more information on anxiety disorders, please see the following pages:
Anxiety: Treatment with medications
Anxiety: Treatment with psychotherapy and lifestyle changes
Resources
The following books offer useful advice and information about anxiety.
Foa, E.B., & Wasmer Andrews, L. (2006). If Your Adolescent Has an Anxiety Disorder: An Essential Resource for Parents. New York, NY: Oxford University Press
Huebner, D. (2005). What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety. Magination Press.
Manassis, K. (2015). Keys to Parenting Your Anxious Child. Third edition. New York, NY: Barron’s Educational Series, Inc.
Rapee, R., et al (2008). Helping Your Anxious Child: A Step-by-Step Guide for Parents. Second edition. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
Sheedy Kurcinka, M. (2015). Raising Your Spirited Child: A Guide for Parents Whose Child is More Intense, Sensitive, Perceptive, Persistent, and Energetic. Third edition. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers.