Source: PsycPort
FEAR AND ANXIETY — the forces behind untold numbers of sleep-deprived nights and before-school stomachaches — pop up occasionally along the journey through childhood and adolescence.
But for some children, the worry won’t stop. It grows into an anxiety disorder that can wreak havoc on their home, school and social lives.
“Parents hear about autism, and they hear about ADHD a lot more. Anxiety disorders are the things that are often overlooked, and they’re actually incredibly common,” said Amy Przeworski, a psychologist and assistant professor at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.
She and psychologist Rebecca Hazen, also an assistant professor at Case Western, will speak to families, caregivers and professionals in Columbus on Oct. 29 during the annual Children’s Mental Health Conference sponsored by Mental Health America of Franklin County. They want to help families learn to distinguish between typical and problem worrying. Researchers say anxiety-spectrum disorders affect about 1 in 8 children at some point in their lives, making them the most-prevalent mental-health disorder in children and teens.
Categories: Psychology