Typical childhood fears include fear of strangers, heights, darkness, animals, blood, insects, and being left alone. Children often learn to fear a specific object or situation after having an unpleasant experience, such as a dog bite or an accident. Separation anxiety is common when young children are starting school, whereas adolescents may experience anxiety related to social acceptance and academic achievement.

If anxious feelings persist, they can take a toll on the child's sense of well-being. The anxiety associated with social avoidance, for example, can have long-term effects. "A child who is unable to make friends because she won't dare approach anyone for fear of being rejected can fail to learn important social skills, causing her to become even more isolated," counsels Dr. Manassis.

Many adults are tormented by fears that stem from childhood experiences. An adult's fear of public speaking may be the result of embarrassment in front of his peers many years before. A parent who was bitten by a dog as a child may unconsciously instill a fear of animals in a child by reacting negatively. This is why it is important for parents to recognize and identify the signs and symptoms of their children's anxieties so that fears don't become excessive.

When a child is anxious about something, he may become impulsive or distracted. Nervous movements, such as temporary twitches or problems in getting to sleep and/or staying asleep longer than usual are telltale signs of anxiety. Sweaty hands; accelerated heart rate and breathing; and nausea, headaches, and stomachaches are common. Apart from these signs, parents can usually tell when their child is feeling excessively uneasy about something. Lending a sympathetic ear is always helpful, and sometimes just talking about the fear can help the child move beyond it.

When anxieties and fears persist, problems can arise. As much as a parent hopes the child will grow out of it, the opposite occurs, and the cause of the anxiety looms larger and becomes more prevalent. The anxiety becomes a phobia, or a fear that is extreme, severe, and persistent. A phobia can be very difficult to tolerate, both for the child and those around him, especially if the anxiety-producing stimulus is hard to avoid. But the good news is that unless a child's phobia hinders his everyday ability to function, he will rarely need treatment by a professional because in time the phobia will be resolved.

Updated and reviewed by: Kim Rutherford, MD
Date reviewed: September 2001
Originally reviewed by: Steve Dowshen, MD, and Richard Kingsley, MD