What does anxiety look like in children?

Most children will experience normal fears or worries throughout childhood. Children and adolescents with anxiety disorders have significant fears or worries that have a negative impact on their daily functioning. You may notice that your child is having issues sleeping, attending school or going places, or talking and playing with others due to their fears. Common symptoms of anxiety in children are:

• Specific fears and phobias

• Excessive shyness or fears of speaking to others

• Fears of parents dying or leaving

• Fears of intruders

• Difficulty sleeping in their own bed or separating from parents

• Intrusive and unwanted thoughts and compulsive behaviors

• Intense fears following a traumatic event

• Significant and unexpected anxiety attacks that seemingly come out of nowhere

What does depression look like in children?

Depression in children and adolescents often occurs along with excessive worries and fears. You may associate depression with excessive crying and sadness, which can occur in some children. Common symptoms of depression in children are:

• Irritability

• Anger

• Mood swings

• Feeling tired

• Difficulty sleeping

• Eating too little or too much

• Withdrawing from social activities and preferring to be alone

• Thoughts of death or suicide

• Low self-esteem

• Hopeless thoughts about the future or no vision for the future

How do you test for anxiety or depression?

Testing for anxiety and depression includes thorough interviews with parents and children/adolescents. We also have children and adolescents complete rating scales regarding their own feelings and attitudes. Additionally, we have parents and teachers complete behavioral/emotional rating scales to determine the severity of the symptoms.

What do I do if I think my child has anxiety or depression?

Please Contact us to determine if an evaluation is needed.