Child & Adolescent Anxiety Disorders Specialist
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Washington Center for Women's and Children's Wellness (WCWCW)
Child, Adolescent, Women’s & Reproductive Psychiatry located in Bethesda, MD and offering Telehealth appointments in Maryland, Virginia, DC, Florida and Michigan
Children and adolescents are dealing with more anxiety and mental health problems than ever before; family, school, and social pressures are common. While nervousness, fears, worry, and sadness are normal experiences for everyone, sometimes these experiences can be overwhelming and significantly impact a young person’s life.
Our experts at WCWCW in Bethesda, Maryland, specialize in a multipronged team treatment approach for all types of child & adolescent anxiety. Your child’s plan may include medication, psychotherapy, and behavioral strategies that help them overcome the many challenges associated with this serious and common disorder.
Call our office or submit an online appointment request today.
Child & Adolescent Anxiety Disorders Q & A
All Services > Our Specialties > Child & Adolescent Psychiatry > Child & Adolescent Anxiety Disorders
How common are child and adolescent anxiety disorders?
Up to 12% of children are affected by anxiety disorders, with symptoms often appearing in children as young as pre-school age.
What are child and adolescent anxiety disorders?
There are several types of anxiety disorders, and children and adolescents often have more than one at a time.
If your child is experiencing symptoms of anxiety—such as worrying excessively, having trouble concentrating, or becoming easily distressed or agitated—the specialists at WCWCW diagnose the condition and recommend treatment to ease his or her symptoms.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Children and adolescents with generalized anxiety disorder have persistent, excessive, and unrealistic worries that are not focused on a specific object or situation. A child may worry excessively about his or her performance at school or in activities such as sports, about personal safety and that of family members, or about natural disasters.
Panic Disorder
Some children or adolescents may experience extreme discomfort or fear when in certain situations or places, resulting in a panic attack. Symptoms may include shortness of breath, a pounding heart, or tingling sensations throughout the body.
Specific Phobias
Fears are common in childhood and are usually outgrown as a child matures. For some children and teens, however, fears can become severe. If a fear is excessive and persistent it may be a phobia, or an intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation.
Social Phobia
Social phobia, also known as social anxiety disorder, is an excessive fear of being rejected, humiliated, or embarrassed in front of others. Children and adolescents with social phobia worry about a wide range of situations, such as speaking in front of a group, participating in class, talking to adults or peers, starting or joining in conversations, or eating in public.
They may fear unfamiliar people and have difficulty making friends. Social phobia can also be limited to specific situations. Some adolescents may fear dating and recreational events, for instance, but they may be confident in academic and work settings.
Separation Anxiety Disorder
Children with separation anxiety disorder experience significant fear and distress about being away from home or their caregivers. This fear affects a child’s ability to function socially and academically. For example, a child may have a hard time making friends or maintaining relationships because he or she refuses to go on playdates without a parent, or sleep without being near a parent or caregiver.
What treatments are available for anxiety disorders?
Early treatment and intervention can improve a child's long-term mental health prospects.
For our children to reach their fullest potential, we know that emotional health is as important as physical health.
Your child does not need to live with excessive worry, fear, or stress. Using proven treatment techniques, we can help your child feel better and overcome anxiety.
Anxiety is highly responsive to treatment.
We’ll choose the right mix of treatment so your child can overcome fear and worry and get back to living the life they deserve.
To find out more about child and adolescent psychiatry, call WCWCW or submit an online appointment request today.