Types of Anxiety Disorders in Kids

Anxiety disorders are a group of mental health conditions that involve excessive worry or fear that is out of proportion to the situation or stimuli. Here are some of the most common types of anxiety disorders that can affect children:

1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): This is a chronic condition where children worry excessively about everyday situations, events, and issues, even when there is no real threat. They may feel overwhelmed and have difficulty controlling their worries.

2. Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD): Children with SAD have an excessive fear of being separated from their parents or caregivers. They may refuse to go to school or engage in other activities that require separation.

3. Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD): Children with SAD have an excessive fear of social situations and fear being embarrassed, judged, or humiliated. They may avoid social situations, including school events and parties.

4. Specific Phobia: Children with specific phobia have an intense fear of a particular object, situation, or activity, such as heights, animals, or flying.

5. Panic Disorder: Children with panic disorder experience sudden and unexpected panic attacks. They may have physical symptoms such as sweating, racing heart, or difficulty breathing during an attack.

6. Selective Mutism: Children with selective mutism have an extreme fear of speaking in social situations, such as at school or with strangers. They may become completely silent in certain situations.
It's important to note that children can experience more than one type of anxiety disorder at the same time.

If you suspect that your child may have an anxiety disorder, you can try self help strategies first and it's important to speak with a mental health professional for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.  Our unique online therapy program for kids is a guided self help resource. Erinnah's Treehouse