Anxiety in children
It is a common disorder in children especially from 6-7 years, it is more common in girls than boys characterized by feeling tension ,worry, nervousness , irritability due to fear from what happen or what might happen which can be combined with physical symptoms more than 2-4 times per week for 3_6 month
Examples
- Separation from parents
- closed or dark places
- Bullying
- abuse ( physical or sexual ) animals or insects
- Social phobia
- loss
- death or abandon
Children express their anxiety by
- Avoidance behavior
- withdrawal
- fear
- shyness
- refuse to go to school
- temper tantrums or irritability in certain situations
Physical symptoms
- Headache
- nausea and vomiting
- abdominal pain
- diarrhea
- cold extremities
- sweating palms and feet
- increase heart rate
- nightmares
- dyspnea
Causes of anxiety
Genetic are more than 50% of the causes , neglect , social and family problems, bullying, abuse physical or sexual, overprotection as we share our fears to them making them worry to try something new or having experiences , violence
the child always accused of lie, but they need a huge portion of love and secure
what is the common comorbidits
panic attacks, sleep disorders, depression , low self esteem
treatment of anxiety:
Psycho-education
CBT
Breathing and relaxation techniques
Medical treatment as prescribed by doctors