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What the Different Types of Anxiety Look Like in Children
INTRODUCTION
There are 8 anxiety disorders discussed in the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). This post will talk about the different types of anxiety and how they can look in children.
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The Types of Anxiety Disorders
The types of anxiety disorders listed in the DSM are as follows: Separation Anxiety, Selective Mutism, Specific Phobia, Social Anxiety, Panic Disorder, Panic Attack Specifier, Agoraphobia and Generalized Anxiety.
Of these 8, I have come across 4 of them the most in my work as a child therapist.
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Children can experience separation anxiety, selective mutism, social anxiety and generalized anxiety.
How Anxiety Looks in Children
Separation Anxiety
I have worked with a lot of children dealing with separation anxiety. The DSM describes this disorder as an recurring and excessive fear, worry and/or distress over being separated from major attachment figures, losing them, or something harmful happening.
I have seen children who struggle to attend school due to fear of something happening to their caregiver(s) while they are away. This is more than just some tears when being dropped off at school.
Separation anxiety can look like a complete refusal to even leave the home or go anywhere without their caregiver.
There can also be physical symptoms such as stomachaches, headaches, or vomiting.
Check out this book that shows ways of helping kids with anxiety.
Social Anxiety
Social anxiety is another anxiety disorder I commonly see among my anxious clients. Usually in my older clients (7 and up).
Some identify it as “stage-fright” when having to speak or perform in public. An extreme feeling of fear or dread occurs when expected to speak in front of others.
Other kids describe it as worrying about how others (peers and adults) will judge them based on actions or words said.
All of these fears are persistent and can typically last for at least 6 months or more.
Generalized Anxiety
This type of anxiety is described as an excessive worry that lasts at least 6 months or more. This can look like irritability, fatigue, sleep disturbances and more in children.
A child might be diagnosed with this when there is not a specific cause for their anxiety like with separation or social anxiety.
Selective Mutism
Selective mutism is something I have only seen once in my years as a therapist. The DSM describes this anxiety disorder as a “consistent failure to speak in specific social situations.”
This means that the child can speak in other situations but cannot in specific settings and that interferes with daily functioning like school.
Click here if you want to read in more detail about specific anxiety disorders and how to deal with them.
CONCLUSION
Those four anxiety disorders are the ones I have seen the most in the anxious kids I work with. If you wish to know more about the other disorders feel free to read this.
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