NetWellness Anxiety and Stress Disorders (Children)

Identifying Symptoms

Floyd Sallee MD — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:09:00 EST

Question: I have an 11 year old who has been having "spells" since he started walking at 1yr. old. He gets very dizzy and then slips into this unconsious state where he cannot open his eyes and vomits violently for 24 hours. He has had all tests necessary by his pediatric neurologist. All have come back norma . . .

Answer: Seeking an evaluation from a pediatric neurologist was the right thing to do but the symptoms you relate do not seem consistent with an anxiety disorder. I would seek a second opinion from peds neurology.

Ask an Expert: Floyd Sallee MD, Anxiety and Stress Disorders (Children)

Identifying Syncope

Floyd Sallee MD — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:08:00 EST

Question: My son is 11 years old and complains that he suddenly felt as though things were moving in slow motion for a few seconds in school today. He says this happened twice today. I must also tell you that about 8 months ago I met with a terrible accident and when he came to see me in the ICU he fainted. T . . .

Answer: It sounds like your child is experiencing symptoms of syncope or "fainting spells" which is not uncommon in school age children, I would have him evaluated by your pediatrician.

Ask an Expert: Floyd Sallee MD, Anxiety and Stress Disorders (Children)

Aggressive Behavior

Floyd Sallee MD — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:07:00 EST

Question: A 3 year old throws tantums every time you cross him. He hits yells "no" and has been disciplined every time he has these behavior problems. No amount of discipline helps. He hits or messes up other childrens toys. He seems to not have learned and this behavior just continues.

Answer: Temper tantrums at age 3 are natural and expected. How parents deal with tantrums and aggressive behavior often determine the outcome of the interaction. Aggressive behavior is frequently the first sign of behavioral problems in preschool children and is the leading cause of difficulties later on in . . .

Ask an Expert: Floyd Sallee MD, Anxiety and Stress Disorders (Children)

Symptoms of OCD in Children

Floyd Sallee MD — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:06:00 EST

Question: My son has shown signs of anxiety from early on. We adopted him from another country and were united when he was 4 months old. He is very intelligent and enjoys all kinds of sports. The first time I tried to separate from him in a formal child care situation, I was in the same place but a different . . .

Answer: Your child as you describe him is of a shy and sensitive nature and given the right supportive environment lives up to the expectations of adults in his world. It sounds like your child may have obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCD is also an anxiety disorder) with reassurance seeking part of the obes . . .

Ask an Expert: Floyd Sallee MD, Anxiety and Stress Disorders (Children)

Symptoms of Anxiety in Children

Floyd Sallee MD — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:06:00 EST

Question: Hi, I am concerned about my 10 year old son. He is a great kid and very smart. He seems pretty much like alot of kids except he has worried me lately. The past year he has gained weight, and every so often he starts with facial tics. First he blinked his eyes for a few weeks, then he stopped that an . . .

Answer: Tics are common in childhood but if they persist, even intermittently over a 12 month period, you son should be evaluated further for a tic disorder.

Ask an Expert: Floyd Sallee MD, Anxiety and Stress Disorders (Children)

Symptoms of Childhood Anxiety

Floyd Sallee MD — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:05:00 EST

Question: My nine year old son says he has been sleeping with his mother in her bed for the last year. He sometimes says he has an upset stomach on going to bed and has complained of upset stomach at school. Any relationship between the two ?

Answer: The issue may be separation anxiety, which can interfere with going to school and create difficulties with social and family functioning.

Ask an Expert: Floyd Sallee MD, Anxiety and Stress Disorders (Children)

Generalized Anxiety or Attention Defict Disorder

Floyd Sallee MD — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 22:04:00 EST

Question: Can generalized anxiety disorder mimic the signs/symptoms of ADD? My son was tested for ADD at age 7 and the results were borderline (more towards being ADD). He is now 11 and is currently taking Focalin XR 30 mg; it seems as though stimulants have never really helped a great deal with his focus and . . .

Answer: Attention deficit disorder is often combined with other behavioral problems and in fact it is "comorbid" with either anxiety or depression about 40% of the time, so it is entirely possible that you child may have two disorders. I take it that Zoloft is not effective for inattentive symptoms, perhaps . . .

Ask an Expert: Floyd Sallee MD, Anxiety and Stress Disorders (Children)

Why Should Children Sleep Alone?

Floyd Sallee MD — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:04:00 EST

Question: I`ve often been told children should sleep alone in their own bed but for past millions of years every other mammal has their children sleep close and in site of their mother-same with humans until perhaps the past 70 years... Friends I know whose parents made them sleep alone take anti-anxiety medi . . .

Answer: I do not have either a philosophical argument or a cultural one. From a medical point of view there is no right or wrong position, except that we all need sleep. The context in which that biological need is fulfilled is beyond the scope of my expertise. Typically young children will have fears which . . .

Ask an Expert: Floyd Sallee MD, Anxiety and Stress Disorders (Children)

Could My Son Have Anxiety/Stress?

Floyd Sallee MD — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 03:04:00 EST

Question: My son just turned 6 in February and I had another child 5 days after his burthday, about 2 weeks later he complained his throat hurt and he didnt want to eat anything except soft food (ice cream, etc). About 5 days passed and he still was not eating much. I brought him to the Dr. because a couple o . . .

Answer: I would sit down with you child's pediatrician and discuss your concerns. As long as you child is growing and still maintaining his growth chart it is not a true cause for alarm. Certainly your concern and anxiety feeds into the behavior you describe and may actually impair your child's ability to g . . .

Ask an Expert: Floyd Sallee MD, Anxiety and Stress Disorders (Children)

Vomit Phobia in A Seven Year Old?

Floyd Sallee MD — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:03:00 EST

Question: Dear Dr,

My 7 year old daughter witnessed a close friend vomit at school about 6 weeks ago.

Since then she seemed traumatized by the event. She fears she will vomit in school. Last year she had a few stomach bugs which must have been really bad experiences.

She asks me constantly "wil . . .

Answer: Reassurance and CBT should be just the thing in this situation, success rates for CBT approach 80% in the hands of a competent therapist. Simple phobias are extremely common in children and the particular one you mention is just one of a host of various forms that simple phobia takes. Anxiety tenden . . .

Ask an Expert: Floyd Sallee MD, Anxiety and Stress Disorders (Children)