The most common mental conditions among adolescents and children are anxiety disorders. Clinical Studies claim that exactly one in four teenagers and one in five children are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Anxiety treatments for young patents usually start of with therapy and then gradually include medications such as Xanax or Valium. Anxiety disorders are not uncommon and are often mistaken for normal behavior which usually leads to misdiagnosis and treatment. Anxiety Disorders can have a deviating effect on the child’s social life, academic studies and ultimately adversely affect them in later life.

Many of the physical signs and symptoms of anxiety disorders may be overlooked such as headaches, muscle spasms, tight throat ect. As they by themselves are not usually a sign of anything serious. But if your child also starts fretting about trivial things such as going outdoors or having irrational worries and phobias then it might be a sign that they are suffering from an anxiety disorder. Though if your child ever has even one panic attack you it should be seen as a major red flag, they are by definition ‘anxiety attacks’ and are a sure sign that you child is suffering from an anxiety disorder.

If you fear your child may be suffering from an anxiety disorder then you should have a long talk with your child about their problems and worries. If you suspect that something is up you should pay your doctor a visit to get a proper diagnosis. Once a problem is diagnosed you should arrange for your child to see a therapist. Most children and adolescents respond well to therapy, the most common being cognitive behavior therapy. Medication is usually only a last resort as it is not without side effects but it is only used in cases were the patent is suffering from severe anxiety.

The best course of action is to pay heed to your child’s worries, should they seem to be fixated with them to a point were it seems strange you should try talking with him or her to see if you can show them practical ways of coping with their problems. Though if the symptoms remain after a few weeks you should definitely consult a specialist. If your child is prescribed medication you will need to monitor their behavior with even greater care due to the potential side effects and to see if the medication is helping them cope with their anxiety.

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