Question

When does normal worry and fear become an anxiety disorder in children? How does a child’s age play a role in determining what may be “normal” behavior versus an anxiety disorder? Provide examples in your answers.

Answer 1

Normal anxiety:

Every child experiences normal anxiety in one or the other situation such speaking in front of audience, switching between schools. Children in this are thinking about what if... what is I mess up, what is he/she doesn't likes me. BUt if this anxiety becomes too strong that it starts interfering regularly just not intially then it can be anxiety disrder. In many cases this anxiety disoder starts taking over good and enjoyable parts of children's lives.

When a child has general anxiety disorder (GAD) the child will worry excesseievly about various things such as family, peers, grades, performance in sports. Children with GAD always tend to achieve perfection. Whereas a normal child may get stressed but leave the point about grades ets shortly

Selective mutism Children who refuse to speak in schools where it is expected to speak - it goes to the extent that it hampers in making friends in schools, avoid eye contact, avoid talking with others. A normal child may start thinking about his weakness and may start to overcome weakness by making friends etc. A normal child may feel jealous of the other child who can talk openely in school

In seperation anxiety disorder the children excesseively get panic when the older person tries to leave the house or home. They all time want to be in company of their loved ones, family members, hence always refuse to go to schools, camps, sleepovers etc. This can be common between in a 3 year old child but can be easily distracted

Specific phobias - These children have unreasonable fear fordogs, insects, swimming, heights . Panic attacks - In this child sudden and physical symptoms which include panic attacks, shortness of breath, dizziness, numbness.

Obsessive compulsive disorder: OCD is characterized by unwanted thoughts - OCD child may excessievely worry about symmetric arrangements such as tying shoe laces, keeping school books, clothes tidy etc