identifying COMMON YOUTH problemS & DISORDERS
Signs/symptoms of common disorders and problems identified with children and teens may overlap or be confused with one another, and may also be some
of the normal developmental changes that adolescent’s experience. Therefore, you should identify your concerns and consult a professional (psychiatrist,
therapist) to assess the child and make recommendations.
Anxiety Disorders
Children have fears that adults often do not understand. At certain ages, children seem to have more fears than at others. Nearly all children develop fears of
the dark, monsters, witches, or other fantasy images. Over time, these normal fears fade, but when they persist or when they begin to interfere with a child’s
normal daily routine, he/she may need the attention of a mental health professional.
Simple/Special Phobias: As in adults, simple phobias in children are overwhelming fears of specific objects or situations for which there is no logical
explanation. These are very common among young children.
Separation Anxiety Disorder: As its name implies, Separation Anxiety Disorder is diagnosed when children develop intense anxiety, even to the point of
panic, as a result of being separated from a parent or other loved one. It often appears suddenly in a child who has shown no previous signs of a problem.
This anxiety may be so intense that it interferes with a child’s normal activities. Some symptoms of this disorder include:
• they re