Zach Selnes

SpEd 400
Anxiety Disorders
Presentation

Children and Anxiety

 Topics to Discuss
 What is an Anxiety Disorder?
 Are there different types?
 What are the symptoms of an Anxiety Disorder?
 What are the causes of an Anxiety Disorder?
 Can they be treated?
 Educational Approaches with a child who has an
Anxiety Disorder.
 Anxiety Disorders Over-view
 Intense feelings of anxiety, dread, fear, tension or worry
› Some may be normal

 Anxiety Disorders affect up to 1 in to 10 young people

 Although quite common, Anxiety Disorders in children often are overlooked or

misjudged. (keep kids healthy)

 “Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental disorders affecting
children and adolescents. Untreated anxiety can undermine a child’s success in
school, jeopardize his or her relationships with family, and inhibit social
functioning,” (NIMH Director Thomas R. Insel, M.D)
 Types and Symptoms

 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

 Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
› 1/25 children
 Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
 Phobias
 Obsessive / Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
 Anorexia Nervosa
 Bulimia Nervosa
 Depression
› As many as one in ten children between ages six and twelve experience persistent feelings of sadness
 Selective mutism (also called elective mutism, speech phobia)

High levels of anxiety or excessive shyness in children aged six to eight may be indicators of a
developing anxiety disorder. (Nami.org)

 Have you seen these or worked with children diagnosed with any of these disorders?
 Causes

 Stress
› You name it, it could trigger it.

 Family????
› Some think so

 Environmental
 Treatment
 Therapy

 Medication

 Diet? (mayoclinic.com)

 Others ways
› Cd’s
 relaxation
› Books
 Teach how to deal

 NIHM Study

 What can Parents do? (mentalhealth.com)

 Teachers role
 Questions

 Comments

Seperation Anxiety
 References
 Keep Kids Healthy Com a Pediatricians Guide to your children’s health and safety. 2001.
http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/welcome/conditions/anxiety_disorders.html
 National Alliance on Mental Illness. 1996-2009.
http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Anxiety_Disorders_in_Children_and_Adolescents.htm
 Bilmes, Jenna and Welker, Tara PhD. Common Psychological Disorders in Young Children. Redleaf Press St.
Paul, MN. 2006. pgs. 87-102
 Kaiser, Barbara and Rasminsky, Judy Sklar. Challenging Behaviors in Young Children. Pearson Education, Inc.
2007. pgs. 160-165.
 Heward, William L. Exceptional Children. Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ. 2009. pgs. 217-
218.
 Anxiety Disorders Association of America. 2009.
http://www.adaa.org/GettingHelp/FocusOn/Children&Adolescents.asp
 United States Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, National Mental Health Information Center. Apr 2003.
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/CA-0007/default.asp#11.
 Mayoclinic.com. Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D. May 2009. http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/coping-with-
anxiety/AN01589/METHOD=print
 National Institute of Mental Health. Oct 2008. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/study-identifies-
three-effective-treatments-for-childhood-anxiety-disorders.shtml
 The Child Anxiety Network. 2001. http://www.childanxiety.net/