Most children will experience normal fears or worries throughout childhood. Children and adolescents with anxiety disorders have significant fears or worries that have a negative impact on their daily functioning. You may become concerned when your child’s worries control your family’s behaviors or activities. You might be concerned because your child is having issues sleeping, attending school or going places, or talking and playing with others due to their fears.

Common symptoms of anxiety in children are:

• Specific fears and phobias

• Excessive shyness or fears with speaking to others

• Fears of parents dying or leaving

• Fears of intruders

• Difficulty sleeping in their own bed or separating from parents

• Intrusive and unwanted thoughts and compulsive behaviors

• Intense fears following a traumatic event

• Significant and unexpected anxiety attacks that seemingly come out of nowhere

Testing for anxiety includes thorough interviews with parents and children/adolescents. Children and adolescents also complete rating scales regarding their own feelings and thoughts. Additionally, parents and teachers complete behavior/emotional rating scales to determine the severity of the symptoms.