Childhood Disabilities & Disorders

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety Disorders is a general term used to describe a variety of forms of abnormal and pathological fear and anxiety. Anxiety disorders most evident in childhood are described below:
 

Separation anxiety disorder is a childhood anxiety disorder characterised by a child displaying a significantly higher levels of anxiety than expected when not in the presence of attachment figures.
 

Panic attacks are experienced as brief and sudden episodes of intense apprehension. Symptoms such as shortness of breath, palpitation, chest pain, and nausea are often present.
 

Agoraphobia is anxiety related to being in a certain situation where escape might be challenging. Individual who suffer from agoraphobia often engage in much avoidance behaviour which have a significant impact on their ability to functioning socially and otherwise.
 

Specific phobia is an excessive fear to a specific object or situation such as a place or animal.
 

Social phobia is a condition in which anxiety is experienced regarding social or performance situations.
 

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterised by reoccurring obsessions or compulsions that interfere with the individual’s functioning.
 

© 2010, Collage Pediatric Therapy Center Inc.