When should you be concerned?

Anxiety is considered a disorder not based on what a child is worrying about, but rather how that worry is impacting a child’s functioning.

The content may be “normal” but help is needed when a child is experiencing too much worry or suffering immensely over what may appear to be insignificant situations, when worry and avoidance become a child’s automatic response in many situations, when they feel constantly keyed up, or when coaxing or reassurance are ineffective in moving them through.

For these children anxiety is not protecting them, but rather preventing them from fully participating in typical activities of daily life such as school, friendships and academic performance.