Many parents fear that there is something wrong with their child at the smallest sign of antagonistic behavior. Others write off serious symptoms as kids “just being kids.” It is important to be aware of behavioral changes and how they relate to other events in a child’s life. As one of the first pediatricians in New Jersey to be trained to diagnose and treat mental health disorders and neurological conditions in children, Dr. Allen Menkin can help you make sense of it all.

There are certain ages where certain behaviors are expected. For example, it is natural for a small child up to 3-years-old to become anxious when a parent leaves a room; that does not point to separation anxiety. However, if this persists as the child gets older and he or she refuses to go to school, on play dates, be alone in a room, etc., this could be evidence of a deeper issue.

Often, children worry about things, which is to be expected. When these worries grow and affect their daily lives however, they may need to speak to someone. With general anxiety disorder, children and teens worry excessively about grades, family, death, the future; they put a lot of pressure on themselves to achieve perfection in academics or sports, and they seek reassurance constantly. In some cases, this anxiety can lead to anxiety or panic attacks. If your child has at least two and is constantly fearful of more, they may have panic disorder.

In rarer cases, children and teens have thoughts and anxieties that make them so uncomfortable they feel compelled to do repetitive actions to calm themselves. These rituals could include physical actions, such as tapping or hand washing, or mental routines, such as counting. The rituals are the compulsions they believe will sooth the anxiety-ridden obsessions. This is true obsessive compulsive disorder.

Some kids are just not social. Heck, some adults aren’t social. There is nothing wrong with that. When there is a deep fear of being in social situations, though, there may be a deeper issue. Social anxiety disorder can affect performance in school and social situations. Rare, extreme cases lead to selective mutism where a child simply refuses to speak in social settings.

There are other types of anxiety disorders that children can suffer from (adults can, too). The trouble is, they often don’t understand what is happening or have the knowledge that such conditions exist. They simply feel like outcasts, loners, or “crazy.” It can be quite frightening for anyone in these situations. As Dr. Allen Menkin will assure you, it is important to watch and listen to your children and seek help as needed. For more information on types of childhood anxiety disorders and how to recognize them, visit https://www.anxietybc.com/parenting/childhood-anxiety and https://www.adaa.org/living-with-anxiety/children/childhood-anxiety-disorders.