In children and adolescents, differentiating between, on one hand, typical and developmentally appropriate anxiety and, on the other hand, clinical anxiety disorders can be tricky. During the developmental periods of childhood and adolescence, a variety of naturally occurring periods of anxiety can be beneficial (e.g., a healthy amount of anxiety about a test encourages studying) or developmentally appropriate (e.g., being afraid of the dark). However, how can parents, teachers, or therapists recognize when someone is experiencing too much anxiety? The National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) provides some helpful information regarding the various types of anxiety present in children and adolescents that warrant a diagnosis and intervention.
After reading the information page, “Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents,” consider the questions below. Then submit your responses.
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