Sadly, many parents don't understand what is going on in their children's lives.
They might know some of their friends or the courses they take in school, but the things that are important to children and their fears often pass unnoticed.
Parents may dismiss a child anxiety disorder as just a passing phase or an attempt to get attention.
By the time the real problem is diagnosed, a child might have suffered a great deal.
Kids are at a disadvantage because they cannot take charge of their own lives.
Parents tell them what to do and when, and this design is for the child's safety.
When there are serious fears and insecurities occurring in a child's life, he or she may not be able to communicate that to the parents, or they may be afraid to try.
Without knowing, parents may send the child into situations that cause them to be anxious.
In many cases, it is years after some harrowing events before an offspring tells his or her parents about them.
The cause of the anxiety might be a very simple situation of a school bully, or it might be as complicated as sexual abuse by a friend or family member.
The inner turmoil that children sometimes go through can be very devastating to them, all the time unknown to anyone else.
There are always signs of this type situation.
These signs manifest themselves differently in individual children, even when the fear and anxiety concern the same thing.
One child might hibernate into a shell and become reclusive, whereas another might become defensive and abusive.
The problem cannot be determined merely by the way the child reacts.
Any time that an anxiety disorder occurs, the first thing is to recognize that there is a problem, not what causes it.
Just as a doctor doesn't treat a disease until he knows there is one, a parent cannot do anything to help a child until they know there is a need.
With younger children, the person who knows when something is wrong is usually someone other than a parent.
This is not because parents are not doing their jobs; it is because they don't identify well with the young mind.
It is also harder to see certain behaviors as problems when you are around the individual all the time.
That is why an outsider often sees the problem before the parent.
Many times a parent will be told by a sibling, the child's friend, or a teacher about a worry that has already reached a critical point.
The great number of child suicides attests to the fact that many children do not get the help they need in time.
Usually the first thing out of a parent's mouth when this type tragedy occurs is that they didn't know there was a problem.
Even parents who have good relationships with their children are left in the dark about some important things.
For this reason, the parent has to observe objectively if he or she hopes to understand if or when their child has a problem.
Stay as close to your children as you can, and you may recognize a child anxiety disorder early enough to have a positive influence toward the child's well being.
If a sibling or teacher comes to you about a problem with your child, keep your mind open and don't be defensive.
They are only trying to help.