Child And Adolescent

Anxiety

Anxiety is a very helpful emotion; it’s what can alert us to danger and can activate us to take necessary action to prepare and respond to intense situations. But when a child experiences anxiety that is pervasive and persistent, it can be a sign of an anxiety disorder, especially if that constant state of worry causes the child or family distress, or keeps the child from fully participating in other, age-appropriate activities. In child and adolescent anxiety, children often show intense fear of situations/stimuli in the form of tantrums, verbal protest, and avoidance. They may also show their increased level of physiological arousal through hyperactivity and impulsivity that can often look similar to AD/HD. Sleep disruptions and a loss of bladder control are also not uncommon.

Depression

Just like adults, children can experience prolonged periods of sadness or depression. But unlike adults, children often lack the language to describe their internal experience, and because of their different cognitive and developmental abilities, their presentation offer differs significantly from the typical adult presentation of depression. In children, depression may look like a sad or depressed mood most days of the week, but it can also appear as unusually intense irritability or general “grouchiness” that is not transient. Children are also more likely to experience physiological symptoms, such as sleep disruption, appetite disturbances, and difficulty concentrating. Similar to their adult counterparts, child and adolescent depression can also include social withdrawal, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, and a loss of pleasure from previously enjoyable activities.