Most children will experience a typical fear or anxiety during their life time.
They might be nervous about taking a test or starting a new school.
In most cases, these fears do not turn irrational or develop into a panic attack or a panic disorder.
But, there are some children that may show signs of a panic disorder for other reasons.
As much as we would like to protect the innocence of children and prevent anything from interfering with their lives, it is not always possible.
Children can be afflicted with certain types of anxiety disorders that are also seen in adults.
A generalized panic disorder might be seen in children in a variety of ways.
They might excessively worry about everyday events like school or things at home.
They tend to be extremely hard on themselves and strive for perfection.
They might redo tasks in an effort to get them to come out perfectly.
They might also seek constant approval and reassurance from others.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is another type of anxiety disorder that might be seen in children.
OCD is intrusive or unwanted thoughts or obsessions that can't seem to be removed from a person's head.
They also might display strong urges to repeatedly perform ritualistic behaviors and routines to try to ease their anxieties.
Although the peak age at which a child might be diagnosed with OCD is ten, it can be seen in children as young as two or three.
This anxiety disorder might be seen in children through excessive hand washing, the feeling of terror that they will accidentally do something wrong, rechecking or counting items excessively to ward off unwelcome thoughts, etc.
A panic disorder is another anxiety disorder that might be seen in children.
A panic disorder can be diagnosed in children who suffer from at least two unexpected panic attacks followed by at least one month of concern over having another attack.
Typically it is not seen in young children but it can be diagnosed in adolescents.
Children can also exhibit an anxiety disorder though specific phobias; irrational fears towards specific objects, places or situations.
Although childhood fears like being fearful of animals, storms or the dark can go away on their own, if a fear is persistent within the child for at least six months and interferes with their daily activities, the child is said to have a phobia.
Symptoms might include suffering from a stomach ache or headache, a tantrum, becoming clingy, or freezing in place when confronted with the fear.
Children who are exposed to an extreme stressor like a sudden death of a parent, a natural disaster, an accident or a physical assault, or children who witness a traumatic event can suffer from post traumatic stress disorder which is another type of anxiety disorder.
These children might display symptoms of not eating or sleeping, emotional numbing, reliving the event through nightmares or through playing, or fear that the event might happen again.
Although these types of anxiety disorders can be both found in adults as well as in children, the physical and emotional signs might be very different.
For one, children do not have an understanding that their fears are irrational plus, they might not be able to verbalize their feelings either.
Children might display symptoms such as crying, throwing tantrums or becoming extremely clingy.
Children how are suspected of having an anxiety disorder should be referred to their regular pediatrician.