Separation anxiety
Separation anxiety tends to occur in the preschool years. Peculiar signs to it include:
- Excessive worry or distress when away from or the thought of being away from a primary caregiver
- Worries or fear about sleeping
- Refusing to go to school
- Clinginess
- Tantrums or panics when being separated from parents
- Worries or fear about sleeping away from home
Another form of anxiety is selective mutism, which involves children not speaking in specific situations. For example, when a child speaks freely and often at home but does not speak at all when in school. This condition typically occurs before the age of 10.