Dealing With Anxiety Disorders In Children
Anxiety disorders can be difficult for adults to deal with, and the problem is that much worse when it affects children. Children are often even less able to deal with the effects than adults and these disorders can affect their development.
Because of the potential for lifelong problems, it is critical that anxiety disorders in children are identified and treated as early as possible. The sooner they are dealt with, the less likely they are to develop into more serious problems down the road.
It’s often difficult to pinpoint anxiety disorders in children because they’re often combined with other problems as well. Anxiety often occurs along with ADHD, depression and obsessive compulsive disorder, making it harder to isolate.
There are a number of methods for treating anxiety problems in children. The best choice will often depend upon the child’s emotional and mental situation.
One treatment method that was traditionally considered ineffective is proper diet and nutrition. Over the past several years, however, this has gained considerable attention and research. Proper exercise and nutrition can have a positive effect on children suffering from anxiety – it will not solve the problem entirely but it can improve it.
Therapy and/or medication is one of the most thoroughly researched approaches. It has proven to be effective in many cases, as it allows the child to get his or her anxiety under control. Once it is controlled, the underlying causes can be addressed more effectively.
If a child is suffering from anxiety problems – or you even suspect they could be – a doctor should be consulted. They can do a thorough diagnosis and prescribe the most effective treatment if an anxiety problem is evident.
Treatments are generally different from those that would be prescribed for adults, so don’t assume that the same things will be effective with children.
Shane Baxter
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/dealing-with-anxiety-disorders-in-children-95268.html
Anti-anxiety Medication For Children – 2 Facts Caregivers Must Know
Unfortunately, children also suffer from anxiety disorders. Unlike adults, the treatment options available for children suffering from anxiety disorders are very limited. This is especially true in case of anti-anxiety medication.
Somehow, anti-anxiety medication is not compatible with children. The same medication that is successfully used to treat anxiety disorders in adults is not precribed for children suffering from the same problems.
1. Prescribed Only if Necessary
The National Institue of Mental Health has cautioned physicians to exercise great care in prescribing anti-anxiety medication for children. As far as possible, other types of therapy should be tried, and usually, doctors prescribe such safer theraphies instead of anti-anxiety medication for children. If medication is absolutely necessary, the doctor is required to carefully weigh the pros and cons of the treatment.
It should be borne in mind that children don’t respond to anti-anxiety medication as well as adults. This is because the bodies of young children are contantly growing and developing and, therefore, react in different ways to medication.
Even in cases where medication is prescribed for children, the dosage will be different. If addictive drugs are prescribed, doctors usually monitor the young patient carefully for as long as he or she is under medication. Usually, doctors urge younger patients to take other types of therapy, such as psychotherapy, which is much more safer.
Although most doctors prefer to treat young children suffering from anxiety disorders without medication, intense cases might require medication. In such cases, medication that has been successful used to treat anxiety disorders in children is available.
In case a child is not compatible with any of the medication commonly prescribed for adults, doctors could prescribe drugs such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs.
2. Commonly Prescribed Drugs
In cases where drugs have to prescribed for a child, the National Institute of Mental Health has recommended the use of the following drugs that have proved to be very effective as anti-anxiety medication for children.
Anafranil is used in cases of children aged ten and above to treat obsessive compulsive disorder.
Luvox, an SSRI, is used in treating obsessive compulsive disorder in cases of children aged eight and above.
Tofranil is used for six-year-olds, usually for the problem of bed wetting.
Zoloft, an SSRI, has been successfully used in cases of children aged six and above to treat obsessive compulsive disorder.
If a child does not respond favorably to anti-anxiety medication, doctors will have to design the best blend of medication that will be of help to the child. In many cases, medication is used only to provide relief from symptoms and to help the child tackle his or her problems by taking some other form of therapy.
By: Abhishek Agarwal (Anxiety Treatment eBook – FREE)
About the Author:
Abhishek has got some great Anger Management Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 97 Pages Ebook, “How To Effectively Control Your Anger” from his website http://www.Positive-You.com/553/index.htm . Only limited Free Copies available.
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