Someone with separation anxiety, also called abandonment anxiety, is extremely afraid of being separated from the person they are attached to. Often these are the parents or caregivers. When they are separated, they often experience homesickness and are extremely worried about the safety and health of their parents or themselves. Separation anxiety in children between the ages of 8 and 18 months is a normal step in emotional development. Separation anxiety disorder only occurs when the behavior is no longer age-appropriate.

Children with social anxiety disorder have a persistent fear of failing or being criticized in social situations, such as when giving a speech or interacting with others, especially peers. In such situations, these children may experience palpitations, tremors, sweating, blushing, diarrhea, and sometimes a panic attack. Children with social anxiety disorder therefore avoid social situations with peers, which can lead to school refusal. 

A specific phobia is a clear and unrealistic fear of a specific object or situation, which significantly disrupts normal functioning. Someone with a phobia has a strong tendency to avoid the stimulus that causes the fear. In a child with such a phobia, it is not always clear to those around him that the child is afraid. Especially in young children, symptoms of a specific phobia can be masked by crying fits, tantrums or clinging behaviour. Exposure to the feared object or situation can lead to a panic attack. The different types of specific phobias can be roughly divided into specific fear of animals, natural phenomena such as storms and floods, fear of blood, injections or injuries, fear of specific situations, for example unknown company, and other types of fear.

Someone with generalized anxiety disorder is excessively anxious and worried about everyday issues. Without any direct cause, they worry a lot about things that could happen. For example, they worry about what is happening in the world, money, their own health and that of their loved ones, school or work performance, friends or a possible divorce of their parents.

Children and adolescents with a panic disorder regularly have panic attacks without a clear cause. These attacks come unexpectedly. A panic attack consists of, for example, an increased heart rate, sweating, dizziness, fainting and nausea. Often these panic attacks are so unpleasant that a fear of having a panic attack also develops. This can cause you to avoid busy situations from which you cannot easily escape. For example, you no longer dare to use public transport, go shopping or go to a busy square. Some people even do not dare to go outside at all. This is also called agoraphobia (fear of open spaces).

Someone with selective mutism can talk, but does not talk in certain situations because they are afraid. It is also called speech anxiety. Someone with selective mutism often talks at home, but in other situations such as at school or in the store they do not. So they are selective with whom they do and do not talk. Selective mutism is not a hearing, speech, language, or mental disorder such as autism, but an anxiety disorder.

You can call the advice line with all your questions regarding anxiety and stress in children. We are happy to think along with you.

If anxiety or stress interferes with daily functioning, for example, if someone is no longer sleeping well, working, or avoiding social contact then it is important to seek help. Start with your family doctor, for example. Early intervention helps prevent things from getting worse.

KAS is a Knowledge Center and not a treatment institution. We do not offer treatment ourselves, but work closely with recognised treatment institutions. Through them, we offer access to training and interventions.