I always look forward to the first day of the new school year. As a teacher, I am always eager to begin the year and meet all of my new students.
Usually, I would have a few timid students hiding behind their parents not wanting to engage their peers or explore their new classroom.
Sometimes I have that one or two with social or separation anxiety.
Anxiety manifests in various forms. Parents often tell me they do not realize that children can have persistent anxiety and diminish it as a more adult diagnosis.
In my experience, children do get short bursts of anxiety which may be due to stress at home or school. It can be from, say, watching a scary movie or the death of a loved one.
Below are four types of chronic anxiety evident in early childhood:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a constant, excessive and uncontrollable fear throughout the day that includes worrying about grades, extracurricular activities (such as sports and music lessons) or the weather. As a teacher and parent, you may see GAD manifest in a child in the form of a perfectionist.
Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety is common with children of all ages. It manifests when the child’s caregiver is separated from the child for a length of time. As the child gets older, they may develop fear that something catastrophic will happen to their caregivers. Typically, separation anxiety will dissipate as the child becomes more comfortable with their environment and their secondary caregiver.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
We often hear PTSD being associated with our men and women in service. But children also experience PTSD, especially after observing or suffering a traumatic event, like a house fire or natural disaster. They can experience flashbacks, insomnia, anxiety, or re-enact the event while playing with their peers.
Phobias
Many children experience phobias or the fear of something. Children may fear insects, sleeping alone in the dark, flying, heights, social settings, etc. But a phobia is intense, causes significant anxiety and interrupts their ability to function properly in school and home.