Most anxiety disorders start in childhood or adolescence. And the best time to treat anxiety is before anxious kids become anxious adults, much more set in their ways. But it can be hard to know when ordinary, age-appropriate worries have become a serious problem because there are so many different forms of anxiety.

This week at childmind.org we explore the most common types of anxiety, and what they look like in kids. They range from specific phobias — fears focused on particular things like dogs or spiders, blood or bridges — to generalized anxiety disorder, which triggers worry about more or less everything. Other anxiety disorders focus on being separated from parents or caregivers (separation anxiety), embarrassment (social anxiety), sickness (illness anxiety disorder), or being trapped in a situation where there’s no escape (agoraphobia). In all these cases, a child’s behavior might range from avoidance to tantrums and outbursts. But kids with all types of anxiety respond well to treatment that can liberate them from extreme fears.

– Caroline Miller, Editorial Director | ✉