Josh was always a lot more sensitive than his sisters. When he was a toddler he was more affected by things like loud noises, meeting new people and our going out at night and leaving him with a sitter. Now he’s in his second year at preschool and he’s started trying to avoid going. It’s become a terrible problem each morning with screaming, tantrums, and fighting until we give in and let him stay home.
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders in young people. It is estimated that 10 to 20 percent of youngsters under eighteen years of age have some sort of anxiety disorder. This is a remarkably large number and more startling is the fact that only a small fraction of these children will be treated. Without proper treatment, the effects of these disorders can be devastating. It has been reported that the incidence of many mental disorders occurring later in life increases if earlier childhood and adolescent anxiety disorders are left untreated. These include serious adult depressive and anxiety disorders, suicidal tendencies, mental breakdowns, school failure, academic and work failure, and substance abuse.
In my next few blogs, I will address the different types of disorders (including PTSD – Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), how they appear in young people and how they are treated.
DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical or psychiatric advice for individual conditions or treatment and does not substitute for a medical or psychiatric examination. A psychiatrist must make a determination about any treatment or prescription. Dr. Paul does not assume any responsibility or risk for the use of any information contained within this blog.
