Childhood Anxiety Disorders

There are primarily six types of anxiety disorders most often diagnosed in children and they are as follows:

1) Separation Anxiety – This involves anxiety to the point of panic when separated from those to whom the child is attached.

2) Avoidance Disorder – Apparent via an extreme and ever growing reluctance towards contact with unknown others. Other possible symptoms include being socially withdrawn, timid, along with a lack of self-confidence.

3) Overanxious Disorder – Characterized by an excessive or unrealistic worry. Children with this challenge often appear nervous, and have difficulty getting to sleep. Due to fears, the child often requires reassurances, and information about discomforts.

4) Social Phobias – These include performance anxiety, as well as a fear of humiliation. A common example would be that of public speaking. I have often read that many people would rather be the corpse, than the one performing a eulogy. Have a look at our page on phobias for more.

5) Simple Phobias - These are fears of objects, or situations. These fears are often very specific in nature and are a learned response due to some experience, or misunderstanding. Examples would be, a fear of heights, needles, etc…For help with these kinds of issues, have a look at our child hypnosis products page, or even our anxiety and phobias page. If what you are looking for isn't listed, please do email an enquiry, I always have more to add.

6) Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – This challenge often develops after an extreme psychological trauma, and leads to the avoidance of similar situations so as to avoid the possibility of a re-occurring trauma, which often ends up interfering with interpersonal relationships.


Below is a six step intervention process for anxiety which can be easily followed: The hypnotic intervention process provided below is not an exhaustive one, yet it is not necessary to follow each step as suggested.

1) Relaxation – Achieved via any form of hypnotic induction suitable to the individual. Anxiety and any other tensions are easily countered with deep slow breaths, combined with other physically relaxing suggestions. Have a look in our children and hypnosis page for suggested hypnotic inductions for children.

2) Hypnoanalysis – Many different techniques can be used to learn about fears, and direct causes; most often regression techniques but also including future progressions of the individual for testing of our work.

3) Improvement of Coping Strategies or “Ego Strengthening” – Via direct suggestion, the child is directed to experience him/her-self as more capable of dealing with the fear.

4) Changing Attributions of Situations – Events are altered via hypnoanalysis, story telling, reframing or other workable techniques.

5) Exposure to Feared Stimuli in a Safe Setting – As suggested by many past therapists, exposure to a phobia is often helpful in resolving the fear. Within hypnoanalysis the child can experience his/her fear in a safe setting with imaginary friends, or toys to help dissolve the fear.

6) Increasing a Feeling of Self-Efficacy and Control – Self-efficacy refers to ones belief of having an ability to control a given situation, and is provided via various learnings, or the teaching of skills a person needs to overcome a challenge.

For more help with children and hypnosis, visit our Child Hypnosis product page.

email: dr_frank@hypnoticadvancements.com

Mailing address:
Dr. Frank Valente Ph.D.(c)
Hypnotic Advancements
3126 McCarthy Court
Mississauga , ON
Canada L4Y-3Z5

© 2004, Dr. Frank Valente Ph.D.(c)

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