General Anxiety Disorders In Children

The manifestation and effects of GAD in children can be very harmful. Therefore, adults need to be alert to catch the problem as early as possible. Five major warning signs are as follows:

1. Children show extra concern about future - you will find that the children are too much worried about the "what ifs" of the future. Often the situation that they conjure would be ridiculously hypothetical, yet they would be worrying about it in all earnest. Do not ignore what they say or how important such things seem to them or they would stop sharing their thoughts with you. Rather, redirect their negative thoughts into positive ones with adequate subtlety.

2. Excessive fear of mistakes - is your child overly worried about making mistakes at school or favorite games? Is that fear interfering with their overall behavior and performance at school? Gently show them that perfection is not always an achievable goal. Do not allow them to indulge is excessive self-criticism, nor negative self-labeling. Help them understand the "you loose some and you win some" concept; it is all part of the game. Show them that as long as they did their best, they should not worry too much about the results.

3. Blaming themselves - some children have a terrible knack of drawing the blame of any type of problem that happens at home, on to them. This is particularly true when parents quarrel loudly in front of the children; or there is talk about divorce and/ or separation. Try to keep arguments out of the hearing range of children. In case you do find them blaming themselves for the animosity between you and your partner, try to explain to them that adults have sometimes adjustment problems, which are solely rooted in their perspective of life and basic values. Assure them that come what may, they would always be loved and cherished by both parents.

4. Anticipating the worst in every situation - watch out for signs of overreaction to problems and obstacles they encounter. If every time they have a problem they tend to anticipate the very worst to happen and become sick with panic, this is an indication of GAD. Ensure that they know what to do in case of the worst possible scenarios; reassure them that whatever happens, there is always a way out.

5. Low self-confidence needs constant reassurance - if the child is constantly appealing to you for reassurance and does not do anything on his or her own without your express approval or advice, he or she is very much likely to be suffering from GAD. Encourage your child to take his or her own decisions and offer effusive praise when the child does so. Enhance the child"s self-esteem through continuous positive reinforcement. Teach the child to respect and appreciate his or her own uniqueness.

by: Ian Spencer