7 Different Kinds of Anxiety in Youth

Learn how different types of anxiety affect kids and teens

Adolescence is a time of immense growth and change, so it’s not surprising that many children and teens experience some type of anxiety. However, anxiety can be serious, especially if it impedes everyday life or doesn’t go away.

Types of Anxiety in Children

It’s normal to be nervous, but children who have anxiety that doesn’t go away, feel immense worry for someone their age, or start to avoid everyday activities may have an anxiety disorder. These may include:

• Separation anxiety disorder. They’re extremely upset when separated from caregivers.
• Social anxiety disorder. They feel anxious in social settings to the point where they struggle to interact with others.
• Panic disorder. They have sudden panic attacks with no obvious cause.
• Phobia. They have a serious fear of a particular thing or event.
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder. They calm their anxiety with repetitive actions or obsessions.
• Generalized anxiety disorder. They worry about everyday things, particularly doing well in school, making friends, and being perfect. 
• Selective mutism. They struggle to speak in certain places like school, even when they want to.

If you notice signs of any of these anxiety disorders, it might be worthwhile to seek professional help.

Helping Your Overly Anxious Child

Children exhibit and respond to anxiety in different ways, and it’s important to be aware of these differences, as some might be normal while others might require professional help. Hallmark Youthcare specializes in adolescent behavioral health to get to the root cause of anxiety and customize a treatment plan to help them live a better quality of life. Contact us today to learn more.

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