| Medical experts estimate that thirteen out of every | | | | Estimates show that approximately one to three |
| one hundred children between the ages of nine and | | | | percent of young children or adolescents have "OCD" |
| seventeen will develop some type of anxiety | | | | or "obsessive compulsive disorder". Children with OCD |
| disorder and that girls are more likely to be affected | | | | have obsessive thoughts which cause them to act |
| than boys. Approximately fifty percent of children | | | | with compulsions or rituals which are repetitive |
| and adolescents with an anxiety disorder will also | | | | actions that they feel they must complete which can |
| have another form of mental illness such as another | | | | include checking something over and over again, |
| type of anxiety disorder, depression, or behavioral | | | | hoarding, and mentally counting or repeating words. |
| disorder. | | | | Children who witness or experience a traumatic |
| Anxiety disorders can be very disruptive to a child's | | | | event such as a car accident, abuse, or other type |
| life as they feel intense emotions of fear and worry | | | | of violence may develop "PTSD" or "post traumatic |
| which are not always brought on just by the typical | | | | stress disorder". This can be a very serious condition |
| stresses of life. Anxiety disorders can not be | | | | that affects their ability to function in normally in their |
| controlled just by will power alone and can affect | | | | every day life in home or when at school. In younger |
| their sleeping patterns as well as having the | | | | children some of the symptoms PTSD may involve |
| symptoms of nausea and headaches. | | | | bedwetting, fear of darkness, nightmares, and |
| Separation Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder in | | | | extreme fear of being left alone or away from their |
| Children | | | | parents. |
| It is estimated that about four percent of children | | | | Phobias and General Anxiety Disorder |
| and adolescents will experience some form of | | | | Phobias are another type of anxiety disorder that |
| separation anxiety. This type of anxiety occurs when | | | | can develop in children and are an overwhelming fear |
| a child feels extreme worry or distress when having | | | | of situations or objects that can interfere with their |
| to be separated from the people they have become | | | | everyday life and cause them to withdraw or avoid |
| attached too. | | | | normal social and leisure activities. There are two |
| This occurs most often when a child has to go to | | | | types of phobias which can occur in children which |
| school or another similar place where they can not | | | | are "specific phobias" or "social phobias". |
| easily return home as opposed to when they just go | | | | Specific phobias are an abnormal or intense fear of a |
| to a friend's house or out shopping where they have | | | | particular thing or situation such as heights, animals, |
| the choice to leave and return home at anytime. This | | | | darkness, or of injections they may have to receive |
| type of anxiety is normal to some degree for | | | | when going to the doctor's office. Social phobias are |
| younger children who typically grow out of it as they | | | | a fear of being in certain situations particularly around |
| get older. | | | | unfamiliar people or crowds where they feel they |
| A panic disorder is very rare in younger children and | | | | may be criticized, embarrassed, or humiliated. |
| more common among adolescents. The panic attacks | | | | Children who are diagnosed with "Generalized Anxiety |
| that occur with a panic disorder are often very | | | | Disorder" or "GAD" have a persistent fear or worry |
| confusing to a child and the symptoms of a rapid | | | | over numerous things which can cause many physical |
| heartbeat, sweating, chest pain, and dizziness, can | | | | symptoms including nausea and headaches. Anxiety |
| make them feel as if they are going to die. A child | | | | disorders in adolescents and children are treatable and |
| who experiences a panic attack will typically have | | | | most effective when the disorder is detected early. |
| extreme anxiety or worry about when the next one | | | | Parents of children who show persistent signs or |
| might occur. | | | | symptoms of anxiety, should consult with their Childs' |
| OCD and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder | | | | doctor or pediatrician for a proper diagnosis. |