1. Understand that even young kids can have anxiety. Unlike mood disorders, which usually show up in the early teen years, the median age of onset for anxiety disorders in children is 6 years old.
2. It can be difficult to distinguish Generalized Anxiety Disorder from perfectionism, or simple conscientiousness but, as with most psychiatric disorders, the diagnosis comes down to a question of quality of life. If a child is suffering from the drive to succeed, Generalized Anxiety Disorder is a possibility.
3. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the preferred treatment method for anxiety disorders, because it is not particularly invasive and, in children, has particularly high rates of success. Therapy usually involves identifying and interrogating unhealthy patterns of thinking, and teaching children strategies to conjure more positive thoughts and feelings in their stead. |
