Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or GAD, is a chronic anxiety or fear that doesn’t seem to have any real reason or cause. Children with generalized anxiety will worry over just about anything, from their families and friends, to school, sports, the future, and the past.
Unlike adults, children with Generalized Anxiety Disorder often don’t realize that they worry more than is necessary. They have probably felt as if they’ve worried like this their entire lives, and they will seek constant reassurance from adults. Other important signs and symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder in children are:
– Anxiety about events before or after they happen
– Worry about friends and social life
– Obsessive worries about safety, both of themselves and their loved ones
– Avoidance of school and other activities
– Stomach aches, head aches, or muscle aches
– Insomnia
– Anxiety about sleeping away from home
– Clinginess
– Inability to relax
– Being easily startled
– Lack of concentration
The signs and symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder are the same as or overlap with other psychiatric disorders and medical conditions. Always consult with a physician for a proper diagnosis.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder can be a scary thing for both the parent and the child, but it’s a disorder that is treatable with medication, therapy, and support from the child’s family.
ParentSavvy – Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Children
